State of Modern Cinema

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Modern cinema is dead. The box office may still heat up, but movies can’t hold a candle to television.

I looked up the top ten grossing movies right now. Three are book adaptations (four if Big Hero 6 counts). Two are direct sequels with Penguins of Madagascar being a spin-off of the Madagascar series. Only three of these ten movies are original. Such a lack of innovative titles in theaters ought to be alarming, but there are plenty of other problems for Hollywood.

Storytelling is the core of any movie or television show, and storytelling is also the core of movies’ issues. A film’s plot resolves within the hour or three that it runs. But television affords more opportunity for plot development and complex narrative. A movie like Cake spends two hours to tell its story about one woman while a show like The Killing can spend twenty hours on one murder. Even if quantity alone isn’t enough, television writers still have extra time to craft an intricate storyline. House of Cards weaves an interlaced story with various subplots in a way that a movie such as Blackhat can’t.

In the same vein, characterization and character development are stronger in television. Riggan from Birdman may redeem his washed-up acting career, but he doesn’t plummet from typical chemistry teacher to calloused methamphetamine cook like Walter White does in Breaking Bad. Movies simply don’t have time for the proportional and detailed character progression found in television.

Television is inherently versatile. Given the episodic format, television can fluctuate in tone and mood in a less constricting environment. The antics of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia can vary by episode from lighthearted humor to satirical misanthropy. Dumb and Dumber To can’t enjoy nearly as much mobility in its comedy.

Finally, television has an edge even before the viewer receives the product. Between competing networks and smaller budgets, only the best television series survive. A television show has to rely more on its quality and originality than a movie does. But while movie studios can hurl money at marketing campaigns, the battle for distinction is still hard fought. Pushing a familiar remake or a generic movie proves easier than shifting the tastes of an entire audience with a unique film.

None of this is to say that one should only watch television. Many movies still shine despite the constraints of the medium. But I’d still much rather binge watch Cosmos than go see 2014: A Space Odyssey — I mean Interstellar.

Dean Sublett

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