Audiences are sending a clear message: They want movies that look real and are made with effort. The success of films like The Odyssey, Project Hail Mary, Backrooms, and Obsession proves that audiences appreciate analog filmmaking and directors' dedication to creating cinematic worlds that feel grounded and tactile. These films heavily relied on practical effects and communicated their old-school moviemaking efforts in their marketing, setting them apart from franchise films that were criticized for looking overly artificial.
In contrast, franchise films like Masters of the Universe, Supergirl, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and Grogu were derided for their effects and action sequences, which looked slathered in CGI. Even highly anticipated superhero films like Avengers: Doomsday are being criticized for their lack of spectacle. Audiences are tired of movies that feel like they were made on a streaming channel, and they want to experience the effort and craftsmanship that goes into creating a cinematic world.
The rise of AI-generated content has also contributed to this shift in audience preferences. With anyone able to create a short AI film by typing prompts, the story behind a film's creation is gaining value. Audiences appreciate the sweat equity and dedication that goes into making a movie, and they want to see the effort and craftsmanship that goes into creating a cinematic world.
This trend is reflected in the surge in popularity of nonfranchise movies. While franchise films dominated the box office last year, this year has seen a refreshing turn towards nonfranchise titles. Five of the top 10 movies at the domestic box office are nonfranchise titles, and The Odyssey is expected to join their ranks. Audiences are responding to practicality and authenticity, and they are willing to break box office records to see compelling nonfranchise stories from passionate filmmakers.
However, declaring Hollywood trends is a perilous business. Every movie's success is a combination of factors, and just when you're certain that there's been real change, things tend to revert to the norm. It's too soon to say if the superhero fatigue virus is mutating into franchise fatigue, but the tea leaves suggest that moviegoers will continue to show up in droves for compelling nonfranchise stories from passionate filmmakers who can give audiences a feeling of handcrafted reality.
