Reviving the Movie Industry: Simple Strategy – Produce 100 Must-See Movies Annually!

Imagine encountering an array of problems, all intertwined, immobilizing you to the point where action seems impossible and hope dwindles or vanishes. Then, one morning, it hits you—you might just need professional help, right?

The film industry is in dire need of this kind of intervention.

Of course, the industry needs several things, primarily a steady flow of successful movies. But even though hits are still being made and there are audiences filling theaters, the question arises: why does the prospect of a flourishing industry—a consistent hit-maker like in the decades of the ’90s and 2000s—seem increasingly elusive?

Here’s where therapy might help. Just as you’d unpack your burdens during initial therapy sessions, let’s dissect the pervasive ‘Doom Loop’ now synonymous with the film industry.

1. The pandemic reshaped the landscape, deterring people from visiting cinemas. 2. The rise of streaming services during the pandemic became a new norm. 3. The cinema experience has declined in quality (think smartphones, endless previews, costly snacks) and attempts to upgrade it have barely made a dent. 4. Millennials and Gen Z’s disinterest in traditional movies—they prefer scrolling through TikTok.

So, should we just give up and hide under our blankets forever? I believe, however, that the answer is already before us.

Each year, hundreds of films are released, with only a handful achieving notable success. The blockbuster model, the industry’s backbone for years, remains robust and active. Marvel movie fatigue doesn’t equate to the death of the cinema. Admittedly, the production costs of many of these films need to be revisited.

What the industry needs, according to a hypothetical therapist, is a clear definition of what success looks like. Picture this: 100 films each year that truly resonate with audiences. That’s a realistic goal.

Reflecting on the industry’s golden years in the ’80s and ’90s, it’s evident that the magical number was never more than 100 films. Today, we might see 50 or 60 films connecting with viewers annually—many are blockbusters, but not exclusively. Films aimed at adults, such as last year’s “A Complete Unknown” and others, still have their place and need to be more frequent.

In a recent The Bangin Beats article, Chris Johnson, CEO of Classic Cinemas, made a poignant remark: “[Blockbusters] matter, but variety is crucial. I’d rather have six moderately successful films than one blockbuster that overshadows everything else.”

He’s essentially advocating for a revival of mid-budget adult cinema—a segment that hasn’t disappeared but has been overshadowed. Look at “Anyone but You,” a significant hit with no follow-up rom-coms. This reductionist ‘blockbuster or bust’ mentality has spread through studio corridors, and it’s slowly strangling the industry.

The film sector comprises fiercely competitive entities, yet it once thrived on a communal ‘rising tide lifts all boats’ philosophy. Today, there’s a critical need for a unified front to confront and tame the streaming behemoth, which continues to dominate unchallenged.

Consider films like “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and others that went straight to streaming but could have bolstered a thriving cinema industry. These are not merely potential award contenders but mainstream entertainments that could invigorate the box office.

The films I’ve mentioned are primarily commercial, middlebrow content—the type Hollywood once proudly promoted. What we need is not an industry that’s lost faith in itself and seeks therapy, but one committed to producing and showcasing 100 resonant movies annually.