🗿 Are Movies A Dying Art Form?

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GM. I recently listened to actor Danny McBride on Theo Von's podcast, where he mentioned something startlingly honest: his kids simply don't care about movies.

Turns out, they’d rather watch Mr. Beast or scroll through clips of The Rizzler.

It got me thinking about the future of cinema in a world dominated by TikTok, Youtube, Fortnite, and endless scrolling. Can movies reclaim their magic?

Without Further Ado. ☕ *knuckle cracks* ☕ Let’s get into it.

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Cinema’s Been On Decline For A While

US box offices have been stagnating for a while.

Ticket sales hovered around ~ $10-11 billion annually throughout the 2010s, despite rising ticket prices. Globally, sales reached a record $42.2 billion in 2019. But revenues dropped to $12 billion in 2020. Though recovery has started (global revenues hit around $33.9 billion in 2023), attendance numbers remain sluggish.

It makes sense, younger audiences are simply finding other ways to spend their time and money. TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, gaming, etc.

Americans now spend significantly more time watching YouTube and playing video games than they do in movie theaters. Video games alone generated around $220 billion globally in 2022, nearly six times the global box office revenue.

Movies now compete directly with new media. The two-hour cinema experience feels more costly, both financially and in terms of time and attention.

Films Are Easier To Make, Yet Harder To Make Successful

Making films today is technically easier than ever. Cameras are cheaper, editing is digital, and distribution is theoretically straightforward. Yet, it’s really hard to make a successful film that gains traction.

The indie film landscape is crowded. Streaming platforms offer access, but their algorithms often bury smaller projects, and licensing fees rarely cover production costs. In the past, indie films could rely on DVD sales or cable deals; today, those revenue streams are nearly extinct.

What happened to the mid-budget drama… those $5-30 million films that didn’t make billions of dollars but stimulated conversation and developed contemporary culture.

Hollywood's response has been more Marvel and less innovation, doubling down on established franchises.

While lucrative short-term, audiences are starting to experience franchise fatigue. Recent disappointments at the box office, in my opinion, suggest viewers crave originality over endless sequels and recycled IP.

Movies historically captivated audiences by blending artistry, storytelling, and craftsmanship. Today, much of that feels lost to corporate formulas and amusement-park-style spectacles aimed at maximizing short-term profit.

A Path to Cinematic Revival

All is not lost. Films that are for-the-art and feel authentic can and do resonate widely. Cinema isn't dying, its priorities just need recalibration.

Hollywood must redefine its success beyond billion-dollar blockbusters. Investing in distinctive voices and original stories can pay dividends culturally and financially. Streaming services can embrace indie films as essential rather than supplementary, fostering an ecosystem where creativity thrives.

Theaters must innovate too, transforming cinema-going into experiential events that can't be replicated at home. If moviegoing feels special again, audiences will come back.

My prediction is that movies will survive and thrive by embracing what they're uniquely good at: depth, craft, and emotional connection. Authentic storytelling and artistic vision can recapture audiences fatigued by superficial spectacle.

McBride’s observations should serve as a wake-up call. If cinema is to remain relevant, the industry must rediscover and champion its roots as a medium of magical storytelling, not just amusement-park attractions.

Movies aren't dying. They're waiting to be reborn.

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