Key Takeaways:
– Sean Baker, the director of ‘Anora’, is calling for more original films in cinemas.
– Industry experts believe that movie production is overly focused on the opinions of younger audiences.
– Many believe that films inspired by original characters and stories, like ‘Anora’, have lost their place on the big screen.
– The spread of streaming platforms has led audiences to prefer watching films at home.
– There is a potential for mid-budget movies to make a comeback if audiences demand them.
Hello fellow movie-lovers! Do you ever miss the days when you could see an original movie on the big screen that wasn’t about superheroes or based on existing characters? Well, you’re not alone. Sean Baker, the director of the upcoming film ‘Anora’, has voiced his concern about this very issue.
The Film Industry’s Infatuation with IP-Based Movies
Baker recently pointed out that over half of next year’s big movies are based on existing intellectual property, or IP. Yeah, you read that right – Over 50%! That means many of the movies where you see characters you already know from books, comics, and old films, basically retreads of stuff we’ve seen before. He also quite dramatically expressed his longing for the ‘good old days’ by asking, “Where are the mature films for adults that had human stories, that didn’t have explosions or superheroes or were horror-based?”
Smart Films for Mature Audiences: Where Are They?
Now, we all know that movies don’t just have to be about big explosions and flashy powers. They can also be stories about regular people that have relatable problems. You might be thinking of films like ‘TAR’ or ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, but sadly such films struggle to lure a decent-sized audience into movie theaters.
Richard Linklater, another talented filmmaker, paints a pretty grim picture of the current state of cinema. He boldly stated that studios seem to only make films for children now, forgetting about the adult audience altogether.
Streaming Platforms: The New Home for Mature Content?
The good news? It’s not that adult-oriented films have disappeared altogether. In fact, there are tons of incredible movies with strong, human-driven stories. They’ve just found a new home – on streaming platforms. These platforms seem to be a safer bet for mid-budget films to find an audience, rather than conventional theaters.
Bringing Back the Mid-Budget Films
Baker, Linklater, and many others certainly have us thinking about a return to the golden age of cinema. Mid-budget movies, focusing on character studies and good storytelling, might just be the solution we need. Wouldn’t it be great if studios invested in an array of diverse films rather than pouring millions into a single blockbuster?
The Shift in Movie-Going Culture
However, for this to happen, we, the audience, have a role to play as well. We need to show our appetite for these kinds of films so that Hollywood has a reason to produce them. Sadly, the reality is that watching movies from the comfort of our homes on streaming platforms has become a lot more appealing. High ticket prices and the pandemic have also made going to the theater a somewhat luxury experience now.
In a nutshell, the days might be long gone when a film like ‘Dances With Wolves’ became a massive hit, bringing in millions of dollars at the box-office. But perhaps with a spark of interest and demand from the audience, we can bring back the glory days of intelligent, original cinema. Let’s hope ‘Anora’ starts this much-needed trend – fingers crossed!
