Death Of The Hollywood Blockbuster

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*Death Of The Hollywood Blockbuster*
Hollywood had a number of ups and downs in 2023, and there are a lot of factors contributing to that. Why did so many movies bomb this year? Why are theaters closing around the US? Let’s take a look in this video essay.
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#mcu #marvel #starwars #disney #disneyplus #hollywood #napoleon #appletv #netflix #godzilla #themarvels #videoessay #avengers #dceu #warnerbros

[@LuisSanchez-by7mh]

Hollywood should do what they’ve done in the 70’s and 80’s. Make more original works but let creative and talented filmmakers make them.

[@39mack23]

Originals DONT SALE What do yall not understand?

[@chasehedges6775]

Exactly

[@Danny01474]

@@39mack23 weird how that's not the case? Originals don't sale 1B but they also don't cost 400M to make.

[@z-e-t-aanimations8823]

​@@39mack23anything would be better than the woke propaganda that's currently around.

[@theoldgods8229]

Yep, break these tent pole movie budgets down from $200 million for one film and use those funds to produce 4 mid budget movies

[@daviddaniel6949]

I think theatres should do more screenings of older films. I would love to see The Terminator on the big screen.

[@JStorm90TV]

i bought and watched that right here on youtube its my all time favorite movie

[@MrsStormtrooper]

Totally agree. If I could watch Inglourious Basterds on a theatre my life would be complete lol

[@crazyralph6386]

I’d love to see the first Pacific Rim film in theatres

[@Kaiserboo1871]

I would love to see Interstellar in an IMAX theater.

[@yourhistorybase279]

Watching films like Interstellar on IMAX or Mission Impossible on 4X would be nice

[@mr.punisher5100]

Overdone franchises are Hollywood's best friends. That most likely won't be the case at some point because we've seen a ton of films flop

[@ParkerCS2]

Exactly. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Jurassic Park, Scream, Halloween, Fast & Furious are examples of ruined film series that are going under due to bad products and bad storytelling.

[@adamkalb1]

Exactly. 2023 is the beginning of the end for overdone franchises because, only the best of them can get the financial success that they want in a really competitive market where they all collide into each other in the same year.

[@nerychristian]

If they keep it up, they will end up destroying their own business model. Eventually people will stop going to the movies. No one wants to spend 20 bucks to see another mediocre film.

[@ParkerCS2]

@@nerychristian yep

[@brandonscott5544]

DISASTER DISASTER DISASTER HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS ATTACKING THE CUSTOMERS AND AUDIENCES SERIOUSLY UNFORTUNATELY

[@NelsonStJames]

We've definitely come a long way when at one time a single flop like Heaven's Gate bankrupted a studio, ruined a then prominent director"s career, killed a genre, and caused all the studios to pump their brakes. Now we've got a single studio dealing flops like it's Halloween candy and their still going, other studios not doing much better and following the same game plan, nobody's career takes a hit and Hollywood is like "damn those incel fanboys".

[@BloodyArchangelus]

printed money and tax evasion

[@kenv9191]

How about cutting budgets in half and then hiring better writers, better directors, and less of the high cost stars and over-the-top VFX?

[@LukeLovesRose]

The 1990s was one of the greatest decades in the history of film. Almost every kind of movie could be a hit blockbuster and most of those movies have become classics.

[@neomatrix4412]

and 80s

[@Transilvanian90]

@@neomatrix4412 Very true; the 80s aesthetic remains amazing, even for films that are otherwise flawed (such as David Lynch's Dune)

[@neomatrix4412]

@@Transilvanian90 esb terminator rotj aliens etc

[@joejoe2658]

every decade was one of the greatest decades in the history of film

[@Transilvanian90]

@@joejoe2658 The 2010s is pretty lackluster.

[@PaladinCiel]

Man did you see that Godzilla Minus One cost only some 15 million to make??? It looks so much better than Gareth Edward's movie that cost 160 million. And I'm hearing nothing but glowing reviews for it.

[@ameysingh997]

Exchange rates, poor labor laws in Japan, etc. are major factors that are ignored by everyone. Also, that 15 mil report has been debunked by the director

[@BoatsNhoes824]

Yeah, 15 million cause they got a bunch of slaves to build set pieces and forced FX creators to work without pay.

[@freeyaw29]

that's already huge with their currency 😂

[@windowsVD]

Nah. Aside from the poor color transfer of the video release making the climax too dark, Gareth Edwards Godzilla (2014) definitely looks better effects-wise than Minus One. That being said, Minus One is still a way better movie and looks incredible given their budget.

[@superspies32]

@@ameysingh997Or Hollywood just make you ignore the fact that Vietnam CGI Outsource contractors can done the background CGI with a mere fraction of what the CGI team in Hollywood requested? Japanese Anime uses CGI outsource from Vietnam a long time ago, there is a studio in Da Nang has done that job for all legendary anime, even to God of War 3 and Avengers: Endgame.

[@DarksideGmss0513]

Streaming killed it. Because back in the 90s if a movie didn't do well in theaters you still had the DVD sales to fall back on. That's not the case today it's either you make All your money in the extremely limited time it's in theaters for or you bust. We have to change the way film is created if we want more blockbusters.

[@jakedizzle]

Yeah. You would think they would do physical releases first, then release the movie on streaming six months to a year later.

[@amandam480]

@@jakedizzle agreed. Why go to see something in the Cinema when you can stream it like 2 weeks later?!! Lol Films arent in the cinema for long enough either. 4 weeks in the cinema is not enough imo films need to be shown for longer. just wanted to add that the hype for Netflix movies are nearly non existant. Like most of their movies that get released in the cinema, dont get enough hype or publicity.

[@Emanon...]

Rule of thumb: If it's part of a franchise I'm not watching it anymore. The Creator was the last movie I saw in theaters and it was great!

[@eli_da_man_]

I don't think the creator got enough attention, it was really good in my opinion. I'm glad to see someone else acknowledge it online!

[@rosamy2017]

I just saw it last night and it was really good! There were a few parts I could critique but overall it was great and after the midpoint it was phenomenal

[@OneDapperFrog]

Eh, I usually wait for reviews with all movies. I then listen to a bunch and use those to decide if I'm going to spend my money there. For example, I'm looking forward to seeing Godzilla Minus One bc every review I've seen says it's one of if not the best Godzilla movie ever, and I've been a Godzilla fanboy since I was 7.

[@BoatsNhoes824]

@@OneDapperFrogmore like Godzilla bussy boiii

[@Ninjersey1]

Same I had to see that in the theaters loved it,hope more movies are made in that universe

[@j.peters1222]

I'm just sick of the trend of reboots and constant sequels. Hollywood is so creatively bankrupt that they are scared to death of taking any major risk. Like 3/4 of the films releasing in theaters these days are some sort of reboot, remake, or sequel. It's getting ridiculous at this point.

[@hatuletoh]

The other day I watched the movie "Ronin" with Robert DeNiro for the first time in probably 20 years. I saw it in the theater way back in the day when I was young enough that my friends and I had to get someone's parents to drive us to the theater. I clearly remember leaving the theater after seeing "Ronin" and feeling that it been a solid but unoriginal action/spy thriller. As always, DeNiro was enjoyable--"what color is the boathouse at Hereford?"--the supporting actors were all solid; the action was decent, and the story was reasonably compelling. But there were no real surprises, nothing novel or new for an action/spy thriller. A solid 6.5 or 7 out of 10 sort of film, a nice way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. Better than "mediocre" but less than "excellent." Except that watching it again now, it seems fantastic. It was so much more fun and intelligent than most films that have come out in the last few years, especially action films. The pacing is perfect--or it feels that way now--and every single scene is interesting, and either important to the plot, important for character development, or both. What 20+ years ago seemed like a pretty standard genre film now looks like what would be one of the most successful, well-liked films of the year if it was released today. Look.at "Top Gun: Maverick": it had about as standard a plot as one could imagine, but it also had likeable characters and absolutely beautifully shot, exciting action with very little cgi, and that was enough to bring an entertainment-starved audience back to the cinema again and again. I'd say studios should take note, but most are clearly actively resisting the lesson..

[@chancetempleton3829]

"Ronin" is an underrated masterpiece compared to what Hollywood is putting out today. It didn't break any new ground, but it did what it was supposed to do: be an enjoyable way to spend an evening or afternoon. Top Gun: Maverick did the same thing. Neither are "High Art". Neither are pushing some kind of deeper meaning beyond the basic story...and that's ok. We enjoy them for what they are: An entertaining way to tell a short story. BTW, if you enjoyed "Ronin", check out "Heat"...also with Robert DeNiro (among others).

[@NelsonStJames]

A mediocre film from 20 years ago (and older ) still had a lot more creativity and craftmanship put into it than most films coming out of Hollywood today.

[@Wolf-BearChief]

Hollywood just got lazy and relied on our nostalgia and pre established legacy characters whilst adding activism to the films. I think Tarantino is correct about the state of Hollywood, we are in a period like the 70's were the stale landscape will have no choice but to release original ideas. And like the 70's television was very popular, a different type of course. But now smaller studios like A24 are churning out good original pieces others will eventually follow

[@wplains]

Hollywood is too busy pushing their woke message on audiences who couldn’t care less….

[@vaiyt]

Top gun absolutely had tons of cg/vfx, it was just seamless/invisible. Studios like to *sell* the idea, just see the marketing around Barbie which is awash in vfx. Not a knock against the movies at all, Hollywood has always been about getting away with as much fake as you can. If it's good enough for Hitchcock, it's good enough for me.

[@Enigma75614]

1:20 Napoleon only flopped because the movie sucked.

[@SirFrasier5]

It was mediocre but not bad

[@sabersin7694]

Wtf are you talking about!? Did you even see the movie how could you say that!?

[@mrsam0496]

Any Napoleon movie would suck. His story isn't as cinematically captivating compared to his world conquerer peers like Alexander, Hitler or Ghengis Khan

[@trahapace150]

​@sabersin7694 because it did suck...it was incredibly rushed, inaccurate, and joaquin phoenix admitted he had no idea how to play the charcter and it showed

[@Artofficial1986]

ridley scott done fell off

[@crossgordon4376]

im still so jealous of people that get to watch movies in theater, in my 35 years ive had to wait for movies to release on video or take a 6-8 hour ferry ride to the next town where the nearest theater is

[@MrsStormtrooper]

I never know if it's best to not have grown up with theatres at all, or to see your favourite hobby get turned to shite...

[@hurleymacfar]

Hollywood has really leaned into 'right, maybe people will like it more if we spend more' . This has led to them cooking the books. Movies don't need more money chucked at them, they need more creativity. Some of the best directors working today were at their best and most creative when working within a tighter budget as this encourages creativity. I haven't seen it yet but going by the trailer and budget Godzilla minus one is the way to do things...

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯. This

[@adamkalb1]

This is why 2024 and 2025 need to give us more movies worth buying tickets to see, or find a way to create original film properties in every genre, whether they begin a new franchise or not. Many writers and actors on strike probably had the same thoughts. I was very happy to watch Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, No Hard Feelings, Joy Ride, Bottoms, The Creator and Holdovers with my mom this year. Why? because we care about supporting original film properties that look good or interesting, and not every movie in the same year should be a big blockbuster because it costs their studios too much money when we the people who buy their movie tickets and give them money, do not have enough to spend on all of them, making 2023 a very competitive year for movies at best. December 1, 2023, 6:00pm

[@bastiangugu4083]

I think you're right on a lot of points. I was a very avid moviegoer for years. But for some years now I very seldom go. The ticket prices are a reason, but the main reason is the quality of the movies and that I can watch every movie with friends on a 77inch OLED in HDR at home. No cinema I know can compete with that. The next movie I'll watch in the cinema will be Dune II, I think.

[@klaykid117]

This is exactly what red letter media says they were on the anti-theater train for years. No one is in your house is eating popcorn and making dumb comments unless you want them to be there. Going to the theater was absolutely necessary up until the moment Home TVs got really good and really affordable

[@itbesilly4544]

It's too expensive to put up with other people's crappy attitudes; nasty stained seats with complimentary bugs you swear you can feel crawling up your legs and damaged eardrums from a combination of horrible sound mixing & dilapidated cinema boomboxes.

[@kosmosXcannon]

Not to mention if you have kids, you can save the hassle of bringing them to the theatre.

[@praisethesunn6541]

Hollywood seems constantly on the back foot. Only reacting, instead of pushing things forward. They’re like a gen x dad trying to figure out the constantly flowing culture of the internet without any of the knowledge. There needs to be a massive shake up.

[@purefoldnz3070]

so movie studios is like a dad. Um okay lmao.

[@greengarnish1711]

@@purefoldnz3070 translation : Hollywood is run by boomers who are out of touch

[@user-eo5sn9yt1u]

@@purefoldnz3070metaphorically, not literally

[@itbesilly4544]

That's somewhat true; studio execs always seem to be a decade behind, you sometimes notice out-of-time political/social commentary.

[@stevep2448]

I ran an independent theater for a few years - and that was a good 20 years ago. We always said that the movie industry is the only industry where the distributers were trying to put the retailers out of business. The studios were buying up theaters left and right and trying to push out the independents. Disney, Sony, Columbia, Warner.. they all own chains. Most of this is correct, though. Contracts for movies pay the theaters better the longer they hold the movie. The first two weeks are terrible, 75% is kinda low. With bigger movies, the contracts are more biased towards the studios. I remember we refused to show that godzilla movie back in 2000. Warner wanted 95% of the ticket sales for the first two weeks. So yeah, theaters really only profit from concessions. Percap is everything - the dollar amount of concession sales divided by the number of tickets sold. I'm guessing when he said in the vid that Disney is the cause of the high concession prices, he was just using it as an example. Back then, Disney was great. Their contracts were fair, starting around 65% and dropping to 50% in a few weeks. Their movies were quality and would pack the house from Nov to Jan. And concessions were through the roof because of all the kids. But god help you if you ever screwed them. You don't eff with the mouse. I have no idea what they do now, i'd bet it's very different.

[@sgtjerry2001]

Thanks for this insight

[@kosmosXcannon]

I would say the Mouse is more like a Rat. Seems like today Disney is getting it from all sides for various reasons. Probably because they have tried to piss off just about everyone. Awhile back they cut their sports content short of their contract because the cable provider did not want to pay what they were asking or the "Disney Difference". Don't know how they sorted it out but now Disney+ I think is now packaged with the cable provider for awhile for "free". What seemed to really hurt them the most was getting into a pissing match with the Florida government and losing their special status. There are some things coming out that makes it sound much worse than people may have thought. I think they were getting the state government to foot the bill for a lot of their projects in like a money laundering scheme. I only know about the Disney news because a channel ClownFish TV has been covering them for nearly half a decade on KZbin, longer pre-KZbin channel. They used to get paid to cover Disney by Disney and one of the things that will get you the boot is reporting anything negative however small about them. They didn't playball and so got the boot but continued their vlog going into KZbin. They also got screwed over from one of their partners and lost their old site. They sound like they learned from their mistakes and are doing much better, and could probably get their old site back but it ain't worth the hassle. Either way that Rat is now broke. One of the definitive proof is all the negative news about them because they cant afford to cut their checks anymore to pay them off. Like that animation where Mickey thinly cuts a slice of bread for Donald and Goofy.

[@pdzombie1906]

Nolan didn't refuse to move Oppeheimer, they had the release date since last year and Warner was the one who tried to F Nolan for leaving them. If they only knew, but the one which should have moved was MI: Dead Reckoning because it got pushed unfairly by Barbenheimer...

[@eddielong8663]

Yep. Pretty arrogant of Paramount to play game of chicken with Barbenheimer just because Tom Cruise has perhaps never been more popular than ever, and Mission Impossible is supposedly his signature franchise. Lesson learned hopefully.

[@hairycoo]

Something the whole Dr. Who debacle reminded me of, and I think is part of your larger point here, is that real art / great films should be capable of both entertaining us, while also challenging *how* we think, rather than telling us *what* to think.

[@sgray001]

Characters & story, characters & story, characters & story. I can't say it enough. In Lord of the Rings there were giant CGI battle scenes with monsters and knights and explosions and castles being destroyed. But at the end of the day, what people cared about most were two little Hobbits climbing up a hill. Spectacle makes us interested, sure. But characters & story make us _care._

[@louisblackforester]

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Does whatever a spider can Spins a web, any size, Catches thieves just like flies Look Out! Here comes the Spider-Man. Is he strong? Listen bud, He's got radioactive blood. Can he swing from a thread? Take a look overhead Hey, there There goes the Spider-Man. In the chill of night At the scene of a crime Like a streak of light He arrives just in time. Spider-Man, Spider-Man Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man Wealth and fame He's ignored Action is his reward. To him, life is a great big bang up Wherever there's a hang up You'll find the Spider-Man.

[@mr.awesome6011]

Ok

[@jodi2847]

"Gone with the Wind" also kept making money in re-releases over the decades, because it's an epic, enduring classic and a masterpiece. No Star Wars, Marvel or Avatar film, if given 85 years, has a hope of ever selling as many tickets.

[@wilfredoUbatuba]

Hollywood forgot not to "bite the hand that feeds you"

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

More people are simply watching films at home on 50 to 60 inch TVs on streaming. Movies are often released within 3 months to 6 months and you can watch it at home. Studios don't get it, but they are now realizing that problem. Going to theatres is just a luxury now as a night out.

[@lumbagoboi1649]

Also with basically every movie sucking as$ now most people are reasonably hesitant to waste time going to the theater when they could just wait for something to come out on streaming and check if it sucks without wasting an entire night out. Theaters will come back when quality movies come back.

[@davidmichael9275]

Look up the movie releases from 1992 or 1994. We will never see a release slate of movies like that again. We used to get a dozen truly magnificent movies every year. Now we get nothing but sequels, prequels, reboots, and trash. We have fallen so far.

[@classic.cameras]

Everyone has a big screen TV these days. It wasn't like that a few years ago. So we can watch a movie, pause it whenever, look at our phones whenever we want to and even decided to stop it. And all for a fraction of the cost of a theater ticket.

[@justinstewart9145]

I would not say that Hollywood blockbusters are dead. I feel like for every other blockbuster flop, you get a blockbuster that impresses audiences, like Puss in Boots The Last Wish, Dungeons and Dragons, Guardians 3, Across the Spiderverse, Barbie, and Godzilla Minus One as of late. There are still people in Hollywood who care about telling something good, but it's more few and far in between. But quality aside, over inflated budgets are a big factor. How is it that Godzilla Minus One only needed 15 million to be stunning?

[@DangerB0ne]

Because Toho had a vision for Godzilla Minus One. To my knowledge they didn't really need to do expensive reshoots after principal photography was done and the talent wasn't Robert Downy Jr. expensive.

[@aninother]

I think part of why modern Hollywood fails is because of the constant soulless rehashing of existing stories or IPs. Like everything nowadays is either a sequel or a movie with a one name/word title. It’s just becoming incredibly sad and lame, because there is no creativity in most modern blockbusters. The movies that actually ARE creative are swept under the rug and forgotten. Modern Hollywood is depressing lmao

[@chasehedges6775]

EXACTLY!

[@Flitalidapouet]

Destroying the character and legacy of all heroes we love out of pure spite and hatred does not help. (Luke, Indie, Galadriel, etc, etc)

[@chasehedges6775]

@@Flitalidapouet 💯💯

[@user-zn5qm2yq9h]

Definitely. How many new ideas have we seen? Barbie did over $1 billion. Oppenheimer got close to $1 billion. Super Mario Brothers did over $1 billion. But the remakes? Indiana Jones bombed. Lightyear bombed. The Little Mermaid bombed. The Marvels bombed. The Rings of Power was a massive disaster. Ditto that for She-Hulk. We've been telling Wokeiewood we want to see new, original movies but they don't listen. And now they wonder why we're not handing over our dollars for the rehash, reboot, reimagined old stuff? Come on. Show us something NEW. Show us something ORIGINAL.

[@Flitalidapouet]

@@user-zn5qm2yq9h Nothing to do with originality, theaters would be full whiteout the destruction of beloved heroes (Indie, Luke, Obiwan, Galadriel) and gender swapping and fitting a story around ESG scores #1 and a story #2 and gender inclusivity hirering of writers and directors. Lack of originality is less then 10% of the problem. If you do original woke pandering "put a chick in it and make her lame and gay" it will not work, no matter the degree of originality.

[@georgewhite1972]

I also think you have to factor in some people being completely obnoxious, loud arseholes in cinemas and acting like they're the only ones in there.

[@markmunroe-hz8rf]

True!

[@NoirNameless]

We’ve gotta start blaming ourselves as consumers here mostly, bro. We don’t have to see remakes, reboots, bad franchise films and sequels to things that don’t need them every year, but we do anyway over things the original things we claim we want more of like The Creator, The Holdovers, etc. Hollywood doesn’t keep doing this for nothing. They’re doing it because we show interest in what we claim we don’t want more of very often. That has to change, but it won’t, sadly. Same with gaming. It’s not trash right now, you just aren’t playing anything. Play what you want to become the standard instead of the corporate sludge served to you yearly by companies who don’t care about gaming, creativity, or you. It’s that simple.

[@adamkalb1]

It can change, because nothing stays the same forever and we have had plenty of KZbin channels this year and last year asking for character-focused mid-budget movies back. My mom and I HAVE seen original movies like Ruby Gillman, The Creator and Holdovers in movie theaters because we truly care about getting new properties with new characters when the current year gives us a rare chance to do that. We also watched Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 and Across the Spider-Verse because those were both good franchise films that warranted a sequel, and both of these sequels were worth watching in their execution.

[@NoirNameless]

⁠@@adamkalb1You’re not wrong, it can change. It’s just hard to see it changing on a mass scale with multiple films because of how we the audience act at mass towards the movies that aren’t franchise films. Some smaller projects might make money cause certain parts of the audience is fed up, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to turn things around. At least not soon. But I could be wrong, and I hope I am. God, I really hope I am. 😭😭

[@chasehedges6775]

Older movies from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s and early to mid 2010>>>>2020-2023 movies

[@Drak976]

It started getting really bad in 2010 onward. 2012 and the other disaster movies of that year just didn't live up to 90s disaster movies. By 2014 they were making Robocop remakes where he plays baseball with his son and it was completely over. Game of Thrones Season 1 was 2011. I'd say by then movies were lower then TV.

[@michaeljennings4787]

Wouldn't say that fully, we have had some good movies like top gun, endgame, etc..

[@chasehedges6775]

⁠@@Drak976👎👎👎. 2010 and 2011 -2012 was pretty awesome. 2019 - 2020 was when it all went to the dogs

[@chasehedges6775]

@@michaeljennings4787 True but still…

[@ninjanibba4259]

@@michaeljennings4787endgame was 2019, and dude said 2020 on….

[@sunso1991]

You need yo figure in inflation, 50 mil in 1960 adjusted for inflation is 520 mil in 2023. Those old movies made bank, and their cost was fairly comparable to current time. What had changed was the quality in writing, acting, and filming

[@meganfisette9163]

Like several of the other commenters on here, I also think that the majority of films today are seriously lacking in the departments of having good stories/plot lines and character development. I think oftentimes what happens (even if they have talented/experienced screenwriters onboard for a project) is a studio will take a “too many cooks in the kitchen” approach. And then the story of the film becomes convoluted with too many side plot lines and little to no growth and change in the characters/one dimensional characters. In that scenario, the film at hand becomes the most generic and boring film that is there for “a certain audience”. Or, the film studios while hire on a bunch of new up and coming screenwriters and etc. who did not grow up reading actual books as much. And the screenwriters did not grow up writing as much in school and etc. and it really shows in the films themselves. In my opinion, there are multiple present day television shows that are having similar problems. These are just my main two theories on why many (not all) of films today are really just not that good. I think there are probably several other reasons as well.

[@spritezilla_the_bebop]

I feel like people have forgotten what you can do with film. You could tell a totally fantastical story with a crazy world with your rules. You could tell a simple story about the emotional weight of daily life. With film, with animation, you can do whatever you want. Imagination has been limited because studios try to pander too hard to fans.

[@adamkalb1]

Imagination is not outlawed or dead. The people who make these films need to learn that it does not sell tickets to pander to a different sort of fans who do not even have that much interest in watching their movies to begin. This is why The Marvels failed as a superhero film when more men bought tickets than women, so now we know that female superheroes and a female villain by itself are not an effective hook to get female audiences to watch superhero films.

[@spritezilla_the_bebop]

@@adamkalb1 yeah thats what i meant by pandering.

[@spritezilla_the_bebop]

@@weilandloveland7207 fr

[@MrsStormtrooper]

It's like folks removed the art of it. Istg, some movies nowadays feel like they were made by AI

[@TorioMason]

How fast did you edit this video, lmao??? The furiosa trailer came out yesterday!

[@nullgod]

We just watched "Talk To Me" last night and it was stunning in every way! Story, theme, characters, plot, sfx, editing and a satisfying resolution. It was refreshing to not be disappointed 🤩😍

[@Jawpuh]

Man I’m so glad I found your channel! You’re hilarious, keep it up

[@gjtrue]

Not helped by the fact social media and whatnot really have ruined the *mystique* many of these actors and actresses.

[@jamilgotcher365]

Yeah, their political opinions are turning lots of people against Hollywood. People like to vote with their money by not going to see their movie. Hollywood should go back to being about entertainment and that way they wouldn't lose half of their fans.

[@RRTNZ]

For me, the word "excellent" is the highest praise. Cynic, this analysis was excellent. Very few soundbites or snarky jokes, because you deliver the facts in such a straightforward and compelling way. You're still wrong about Man of Steel, but there's nothing wrong in this video. Well done Sir, I know a lot of would be commentators who could learn from watching this.

[@archstanton9073]

I don't think the blockbuster will ever die. The blockbuster didn't exist until Jaws but before that there were these big, crowd-pleasing spectacle movies that tried to appeal to everyone and they were flopping everywhere and losing the studios a lot of money. It wasn't until Easy Rider that things really started to changed and money went to smaller budget movies that appealed to the younger, more rebellious set. That youth movement led to young guys like Coppola, Scorsese and Spielberg getting their shot in the 70's. So, yes, the $300 million dollar mega-blockbuster era is coming to an end...but blockbusters overall won't die. (Look for Deadpool 3 to rake in a lot of cash next year). They'll just be smaller budgeted movies with more room to make a profit with a mega-budget movie mixed in here and there.

[@TheFlamingChips]

I’ve been hearing “blockbusters” are dead for over 10 years. Then the biggest blockbusters of all time come out. Repeat

[@Nonamearisto]

Deadpool 3 is the end of its era. Most of the hits left are simply ways to wrap up a franchise, not continue one or start a new one.

[@chasehedges6775]

@@TheFlamingChipsTHIS

[@AmbiguousMan724]

​@@NonamearistoLet's hope Deadpool 3 tanks.

[@Nonamearisto]

@@TheFlamingChips These are unprecedented times. Disney just had 12 of its last 13 movies fail.

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

We need fresh new visionaries being given smaller budgets and a lot more freedom to be original, creative and daring. It happened before starting in the mid-60's and going into the 70's and 80's, and now it's HIGH TIME to get back into that mold and on a whole new level.

[@mxvega1097]

The current state of the mega-studio blockbuster is the artistic equivalent of prog rock, circa 1982. It does sound over-produced, safe, relatively dull, and entirely lacking in passion, imagination or adventure. Some will listen. But most are ready for post-punk and new wave.

[@Andrew_TS]

One of the only times I saw a creator mention theater closures. I used to see one movie a month on average. I went from 2 movie theaters within 10 miles to none. I have to go 30+ miles to see a movie now and I've seen maybe 4 movies in the past few years in theater. It wasnt a tough call, either.

[@anabanana0101]

I used to check for new movie options weekly. I don’t remember last time I had any interest in watching a new Hollywood movie . They’re all trash, filled with cgi, long, with horrible storytelling….not to mention the pandering!

[@Andrew_TS]

@@anabanana0101 Yup. Less cool genre films and all cgi spectacle. Less films focusing on character drama and story. I hope to see more of that but a lot of that stuff has to go to streaming and I don't really follow that.

[@CriticalCinemaClub]

It feels as though Hollywood is more bothered about the assembly line movie as products for people to consume. “This what you’re getting, so eat up” feels like the approach. They spend eye-watering amounts of money to make these films that are, in my opinion, hollow and soulless for the most part. The fast food diet approach to filmmaking. There’s no depth to these blockbusters anymore. And they are beginning to fail because these big studios are out of touch as to what audiences want to consume. We discussed this in one of our videos that there aren’t any big event movies anymore. Not since Endgame (or maybe No Way Home, at a push). None that everyone is excited to go see and everyone’s talking about in a positive way. The pandemic and the strikes had a big part to play in that but the studios still want content for people to consume so the quality, the writing (which feels like A.I. has written for the most part) and the overall productions just don’t stand up anymore. CGI explosions and lots of stuff to fill the screen in these ridiculous battle sequences that are becoming boring seems to be the norm now. Give me the Enterprise vs Reliant moving slowly in space from Wrath of Khan on a fraction of the budget with a great story and depth to the characters any day. Great video by the way. Really enjoyed watching this. Excellent analysis!

[@Bjorick]

Expat living in the philippines (born in the USA) - movie theaters here are busy - ESPECIALLY when it's a locally made movie - hollywood movies here, afaik, has empty theaters so they don't show many unless there's interest, and they're showing more Philippines made movies Currently, there's a movie called 'rewind', went to see it with my life, the theater was PACKED - seriously, PACKED, not an empty seat (we know because we bougt the last 2 tickets for the show) - same size theaters as in the US It's not that people don't want to go to the movies, but the movies are crap and the prices are way to high in the US - in the philippines, we stopped at a cheese steak place, and took our food inside, theater was fine with that - just no 'home cooked' food :P people still buy drinks and pop corn - but for food, you're free to bring your own, so going to the movies is fun, not a 'jump through hoops' experience where you have a million rules you have to follow - make it fun again and people will go.

[@chasehedges6775]

Classic, Awesome Hollywood is dead and the Modern Late 2010s and Early 2020s have killed it.

[@bigbabysld]

I still have faith, just hold on we will get another GODFATHER, CASABLANCA, DEER HUNTER, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST...I'm not saying hold your breath or anything (you might pass out) but right now some young broke unknown screenwriter is in his little apartment writing the next CITIZEN KANE right now eating Hot pockets and drinking Sunkist for dinner...The talent is out there and watch out he's coming and I will be waiting for a great intelligent movie.

[@chasehedges6775]

@@bigbabysld Well said. There is always hope.

[@princewellidk]

Hollywood Is Shit

[@Silent_Fool]

Dude. Not everything has to be perfect.

[@Felarof245]

I had a yearly flatrate for my local cinema, used to go there several times a week and there was not one week i thought all the movies were trash or bad. This year I only went two times and don't have a feeling of missing out on something. I'm so bored by all the trailers and the 287th marvel movie you can only watch if you'll follow 3 series, 4 comics and read a small note on a limited edition cereal carton.

[@thahardman]

I love your commentary, it's so accurate and insightful

[@johnnycrown5097]

Did Jordan Peterson really say all these things about shitting??? It would be funny af...

[@Drak976]

He's a weird guy who wrote like an entire book about his Grandmas muff becoming some kind of tentacle monster that was going to eat him or something. Some HR Gieger banjo stuff.

[@josephsalmonte4995]

​@@Drak976Psychologists are weird. Even Freud thought all men wanted to f*ck their mothers.

[@WabbitHunter47]

I doubt it. You can tell the audio isn't matching with his lips.

[@walkacrossit]

Pretty sure it was Young Thug who said that line, not Gucci Mane. Not important tho

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

Great video! Very well explained.

[@taker68]

The 60s saw the "deaths" of epics, westerns and musicals but then we got the creative New Hollywood. Something like that could happen now. Smaller films, take a chance on something different. Or just keep the budget under $100 mil. There can't be a dozen huge hits every year.

[@NerdyFilmGirl]

Absolutely phenomenal video. Spot on and the footage from Whiplash and Ex Machina were incorporated really well to drive the point home. I might be biased cause I love those movies but still 😂 Great work!

[@GIBBO4182]

Whiplash is an amazing movie

[@etienneveillet6677]

Great topic, with a fresh angle, well done!

[@Jabberstax]

Movie tickets are far too expensive. Back when it cost $5 a ticket, I would go to the movies most weeks. Now, I rarely ever go.

[@wizardgaming6759]

On top of that snacks are expensive as well, and in order to basically watch every after theater, you have to have all streaming services. These studios don’t realize that releasing movies on streaming instead of dvd/blu-ray/on demand is killing them. Matt Damon even talked about the loss of dvd’s is killing Hollywood.

[@infinitebb]

ALSO hollywood stopped making good story telling example.. shawshank redemption and relied heavy on CGI

[@chasehedges6775]

THIS! Style over substance at its finest

[@bigbabysld]

give it time...all these CGI filled superhero movies will die out and implode on themselves...we will get back to great adult movies relying heavily on a good script and great acting.

[@josephsalmonte4995]

​@@bigbabysldYou're right. But it can't come fast enough. The dirge they produce today is appalling.

[@infinitebb]

@@bigbabysld CGI movies run is over. Cant wait till movies with substance come out again

[@Mr.E_Bodhako]

decent stories with solid characters are the only way forward

[@GreenGo731]

You are my favorite channel! Great job bruh!

[@dimebag505]

I know most cinemas make most of their money from concessions, but the food and drinks are so expensive, often being 3 times the amount they normally cost, when i went to watch the creator i paid £23(which was more then the tickets cost) for 2 drinks and 2 popcorn buckets. Its just too much that's why i often take my own snacks.

[@Jimifan57]

They keep expecting everyone to come for characters rather than the story. Give me a good story.

[@neilgriffiths6427]

You didn't even mention Mission Impossible 7, or Top Gun: Maverick. The idea that there are movie stars out there who's number 1 priority is to entertain, and THEY WON'T COMPROMISE on that, is what may yet save movieland...

[@LukeLovesRose]

Dead Reckoning Part 1 shouldve been more successful. Im really shocked that it wasnt. And Oppenheimer pisses me off because its perpetuating one of the biggest government lies.

[@stickfigure31]

Honestly I was already burnt out in the 2010s. I kept falling for the nostalgia baiting in 2010s (the analogy I heard during that time was, it's like ordering a big mac and being given something else and told it's better for you, your just not smart enough to understand), so already by 2015 I stopped going to the theater and consistently watching new films. I can list all the 2010s films I enjoyed and saw in theaters The Dark Knight Rises, Jurassic Park 3D (just the original one brought back to theaters for the anniversary), Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and the joker (that film was the last I saw in theaters untill 2023). I saw the force awakens in theaters and was extremely disappointed, the trailer made it seem like a straight reunion film which I would of preferred. This year I saw Oppenheimer and the Holdovers in theater and for the first time in years I enjoyed new films, but to be honest there is nothing else on the horizon I'm excited about and I'm seeing studios double down on what drove me away in the first place after south park enter the panderverse came out.

[@alexanderalbach468]

Like your swagger❤ Instantly subscribed 🎉

[@maguffintop2596]

I think you've missed the 'Big Picture'. Studio heads still believe "They", the Chosen, shall determine market demand, they will shape culture, decide the next 'big thing'. Let their arrogance be their downfall. They need to start humbling themselves, starting with 'market analysis'. Find out through research what people are interested in - tabulate the findings, and go from there. They are so used to simply filming their personal fantasy they cannot understand why they are approaching bankruptcy. YOU ARE WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. It's not about failing to take risks. They are all about risks! Let's put a homosexual kiss in a children's movie, let's race/gender swap long-beloved characters, let's DESTROY LONG LOVED CHARACTERS! WHO? oh only Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo, Landau Calrissian, not to mention action IP's like MCU, et. al. Secondly, the Woke Mind Virus kills brain cells, destroying both left and right hemispheres.No creativity, no logic, no reason, - BUT WORSE THAN THAT - it kills the human soul. "Let's strip out 'love', normal sexual attraction, heroism of men," etc. Ya. Tell me again how they're not taking risks.

[@halley4032]

Right on the money, very well put !!!

[@chasehedges6775]

@@halley4032 💯💯💯

[@chasehedges6775]

They’re taking risks in ALL THE WRONG WAYS!

[@maguffintop2596]

@@chasehedges6775 👍exactly.

[@ramjam6934]

Dune 2, the new Godzilla kong movie and Furiosa movie are what I am looking forward to

[@FreefallSC]

Incredible that they are making Godzilla movies for $15 mil in Japan and it looks incredible and Hollywood is making $220 million movies and they look like shit 🤦🏻

[@ramjam6934]

@@FreefallSC can’t argue with that

[@cadenadelreino1442]

Godzilla doesn’t even get a normal release over here though…only a few special screenings 😠😡

[@FreefallSC]

@@cadenadelreino1442 it’s in wide release. It has to if it’s in a bunch of theaters around me where I live.

[@Supersurfer12]

I still remember Disney changing their profit deals with movie theaters before TLJ released.......how bad things have become

[@wsc3885]

Wow. That was the best collection of clips that makes me want to rewatch all those movies... in a theater !! Long live the Hollywood Blockbuster. And I will continue to STREAM smaller '70s style films. Don't need IMAX to watch actors act. In fact, it's overkill.

[@Nomadestra]

This is OK. Honestly, we're all going to be OK. The beauty of big cinematic features isn't dead or done, it's just taking a break. Everything that was ever great never reigned forever. This is exactly what we need. To take a breather until we get another inevitable iconic blockbuster that's really fucking good. In the meantime we can still go back and watch everything we love and even more stuff we haven't seen yet.

[@joetheinfant8891]

Your perspective resonates with me the most. The stagnancy of the moviegoing experience does not mean its death. It just means that there’s a need to move on to something new, and I believe we will. But first we’ve got to let go

[@liamcollinson5695]

I also think a major problem particularly with super heroes films is everything has to be world or universe ending I find myself wanting something more intimate

[@MarvinPowell1]

I never even heard of "Talk To Me" before this video. I think I should check that one out!

[@hob976]

I'm pretty worried that the new Mad Max movie is gonna sh*t on the modern masterpiece preceding it... BUT... I also think the Planet of the Apes movies are climbing a "quality" staircase with every new movie. They have heart. I'm real excited for the next one.

[@SolarisKane]

Wait they're rebooting Planet of the Apes AGAIN?

[@ejc5105]

I finally got around to watching, The Raid Redemption. I had actually seen the sequel first way back when it actually came out in theaters (An Indonesian language subtitled film in theaters; wild). The Raid had my full attention for the entire film and blew me away. I looked up the budget afterwards... $1.1 million! Incredible. I understand that it's probably much cheaper to film in Indonesia, but still.

[@Drak976]

I could already guess by Phoenix's apologetic regretful stance for starring in a good well received successful movie so I had already theorized he was going to self flagellate with his next role. I didn't know they'd try and take Napoleon down to do it though. Wasn't he against the Catholic Church and pro Secular government? Anti Monarchy? Wasn't he born of the French Revolution? I always assumed tons of lefties would have loved him. Napoleon's troops were the heroes in Edgar Allen Poe's The Pit & The Peldelum rescuing the protagonist at the end from the Spanish Inquisition. I'm tired of Ridley Scott ruining everything. Just because you made me a good meal once 20 years ago doesn't mean you get to piss in my cereal every morning.

[@Emanon...]

Why would you assume that "tons of lefties" would love Napoleon? He was a tyrant, a military genius and a social reformer. That makes him a very complex individual. No complex historical person is loved by a certain groups unless there is something missing or they're absolutely batshit. Do "tons of righties" love Genghis Khan or Andrew Jackson?

[@richardmattocks]

True “Blockbusters” only really began with Jaws and then Star Wars, so no biggie in not having them anymore 👍

[@nicolojavier]

it won't be long now until they consider their last resort... Gone With The Wind 2.

[@supercriceto]

"This time he gives a damn!"

[@csowande]

Something thats not talked about that much is the studio heads are all stock market guys. They learned to mitigate risk, and thats what the lust over. Its not like the 70s and 80s, which is the time of hollywood people seem to enjoy the most. Back then, the heads were movie people, yeah of course they were business minded but it was more human. Kinda like how some would say analytics and all that killed baseball by removing the human element. Same thing.

[@annonymousannonymous9586]

A Bigger Budget does not always equal success, just look at how successful Hanna-Barbara was back in their early years, Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, the Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, they were all low budget & still became successful & beloved shows.

[@NASkeywest]

Writers and directors making universally hated failures. Then failing upwards to bigger gigs.

[@zaxx]

I love this idea for a series.....great angle. More Randy Savage please.

[@AnnettaDarandri]

I agree that good, captivating movies can cost less (example being Talk to Me and Anytime, Anywhere) but you spoke as if there’s no inflation since the 70s til now 😅

[@frankowalker4662]

Spot on, Cynic. 👍

[@fantisamir]

People in general are just much less enamored with celebrities and fame.

[@davidmichael9275]

You left out a major reason why people don't go to the theater..... The people. Im not paying 30 bucks (after snacks) to smell cheap weed blunts, listen to people's cell phone conversations, or watch a fist fight over some whore. While the decline of the product is definitely an issue, the decline of society has contributed to a decline in sales at the movies, retail, sporting goods, bars, restaurants and more. People act like animals nowadays.

[@JWS1313]

Not to mention streaming kind of killed the theaters since you can see it for cheaper and in the comfort one's own home if you just wait for it. Although personally I am a dino who prefers his hard copies of blu ray and dvds.

[@halley4032]

Totally, the main I reason I gave up (well aside from most films being so garbage that I wouldn't watch them for free). Those of us living in busy, over populated towns, spend our work commute and work time, surrounded by too many people. Here's an idea, why not spend a further 2-3 hours of our OWN time, squeezed into cinema, with 100s of other people, all friggin' about with their phones, chomping, and struggling with the attention span of an insect. Naaaah, me 50" telly and surround sound will be fine, cinema theatres are a declining industry 🤣

[@39mack23]

😂😂😂

[@roadwarrior1459]

9:11 G98 is such a guilty pleasure of mine. I love that movie. Always have always will.

[@gansosmansos]

If I go to the theater once a year, that's a lot!!! I haven't seen ANYTHING this year that makes me want to plunk down even $1 to see

[@ShinAkuma204]

There is alot going on with the decline of movies. My take: First - They made moving making a product instead of an art. The purpose of this is to allow any schmuck to write, direct and act. You don't need talent. As a result the power shifts all the way to the execs and not the talent, because there is no talent. Second - With movies sucking they also filled it with a bloated cultural message. As you noted movies both reflect and influence culture, but now they think they are influencers only. As a result the message doesn't resonate. Good news is even with the uninitiated, there is a bare minimum expectation of quality, that has been jettisoned for the message and as a result nobody wants to see it.

[@SourRobo8364]

*Meanwhile in Japan* Hold my sake. *releases Godzilla Minus One*

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

This industry and the government are both collapsing and that's a good thing

[@chasehedges6775]

Just like the Roman Empire’s

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

@@chasehedges6775 nothing in this realm is allowed to last. It's cycles of history and you either learn and adapt or you are doomed to repeat

[@chasehedges6775]

@@ZeusAmun-pt9dc Exactly. 👍

[@user-rf8ns4tz1r]

Oh yeah, to add to a point you made. That is the reason concession is so expennsive at theaters. When I worked at one, I found out they don't make hardly any money on tickets, so that is why they had us pressing people for snacks and food and popcorn. If it wasn't so expensive, they wouldn't make crap from just showing the movies.

[@andrewbobb3170]

The producers, the director, the marketing . Nothing matters without good writers, and writers cut their teeth on books, not screenplays. Until the book publishing industry gets de-woked, nothing else matters.

[@stealthknight2391]

While cinema is important the money grab was physical media…Matt Damon said it best when a movie does great or not so great in Theatres…the movie sometimes gains a second life in VHS / DVD market sales improving the movies overall longevity and profits…with streaming controlling 95% of the market those sales are now becoming extinct because streaming platforms move movies around like it’s a “football” and are over saturated and overpriced with chopped up or edited movies and TV shows instead of showing in its original form the way it was intended to be.

[@kathleenhensley5951]

Well-spoken.

[@Dommie222]

Hollywood should write down notes on how Godzilla Minus One crushed the competition for this year.

[@yw1971]

Also the Studios becoming public companies with Public offering of stocks - made them into investors' guided businesses, that owe them revenues & not to the movie goers.

[@KawoneCollins]

I think the rise of Japan movies was also the death of modern Hollywood

[@stepneythebluebellengine]

Like example it is Godzilla Minus One

[@ryanroehrig54]

Just saw Napoleon in Imax. There were 4 people there…. Brutal

[@lSeKToRl]

I can't find a reason to go to a theather anymore. 85 inch 1900nit brightness TV along wiht 5.1.4 atmos setup in my modest apartment. Looks and sounds better than most crappy theaters. Thank god 3D was a gimmick.

[@MATT-2042]

TERMINATOR 5 was the last movie i saw in theaters after that i had enough.

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

Honestly I just hope this is the rise of the independent movies and filmmakers. I’m so tired of all these remakes, reboots, etc.