Blockbuster Mentality Won't Save Cinema, Says Variety's Owen Gleiberman

In a recent column for Variety, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman argues that the record-breaking opening of 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' does not signal a sustainable future for cinema. The film earned nearly $1 billion globally in just 72 hours, marking the biggest domestic opening weekend in movie history, though it ranked second internationally behind 'Avengers: Endgame'. Gleiberman traces the blockbuster mentality back to 'Jaws' and 'Star Wars' 50 years ago, comparing the industry's pursuit of massive grosses to an addictive high. He notes that after a decade of blockbusters, Tim Burton's 'Batman' (opened June 23, 1989) and Steven Soderbergh's 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' (opened Aug. 18, 1989) heralded the indie-film revolution that rescued the industry. Now, he points to the success of indie horror films 'Obsession' and 'Backrooms' as signs of new artistic energy from outside sources like YouTube. Gleiberman warns that while Hollywood has recovered from COVID, the streaming revolution, and the 2023 strikes, the blockbuster mentality alone cannot sustain movies as a popular art form. He praises Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman for backing both blockbusters and acclaimed films like 'Titanic', 'Moulin Rouge!', and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', and hopes future studio heads will balance commercial and artistic priorities. The column concludes that blockbusters entertain but fail to reveal 'the uncanny depths of who we are', which is essential for the art form's survival.