Brian Cox Thinks The Film Industry Is In A 'Bad Way'

By Andrew Sanford | Celebrity | August 19, 2024 |

By Andrew Sanford | Celebrity | August 19, 2024 |

It’s impossible to deny that the film industry has changed dramatically. What used to be a landscape full of variety is now relegated to big-budget franchise films or small-budget horror movies. Both have their place! They can make a lot of money for the people involved. However, their “dominance” has affected not only what is released but what is even made. People used to be able to go to the movies on the weekends and find something for everybody.

Movies are still getting made that don’t involve spandex or demonic possession; they just don’t often get wide releases. No film ecosystem pumps them out as regularly or with such force and coverage as the next adventure of Spider-Man or… people tangentially related to Spider-Man. Independent film is great and should exist, but, as cliche as this may sound, big studios aren’t interested in creating movies for adults. They’ll take a superhero movie, or another genre, and put it through an “adult lens,” but the results are often mixed.

Yes, there are superhero movies that cover adult themes. Some are even rated R! Gasp! They still lack the emotional reality that can be gained by telling a story about people who are just that. Those don’t need to be the only things out there. The same goes for superhero movies and franchises. There should be a rich tapestry of releases. Now, you’re more likely to find that on television. Something Brian Cox lamented over the weekend.

Cox spoke at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Saturday and was asked about the rise in critically acclaimed television or “prestige TV.” “What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do,” Cox mused. “I think cinema is in a very bad way. I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC, and all of that. And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.”

Whether or not superhero movies are imploding will be a matter of debate until they disappear from dominance (if that happens at all). There’s a reason they continue to be churned out. They make f***ing bank. Something Cox realized, saying that the films are “making a lot of money that’ll make everybody happy, but in terms of the work, it becomes diluted afterwards.” That said, Cox had to acknowledge his role in them in the past. “You’re getting the same old… I mean, I’ve done those kind of [projects].” The Succession actor played William Stryker, the creator of Wolverine in X2.

Cox can’t fault his fellow actors for making money at the end of the day (which is wise, given that he is currently the voice of McDonald’s). “So it’s just become a party time for certain actors to do this stuff,” Cox told the crowd. “When you know that Hugh Jackman can do a bit more, Ryan Reynolds… but it’s because they go down that road and it’s box office. They make a lot of money. You can’t knock it.” A layered take?! In the year of our lord 2024?!

Superhero movies are fun! A lot of people love them (me included). They also shouldn’t be the only movies dominating cinemas. That isn’t the fault of audiences, either. They’ve been trained to want or expect one thing. Hell, they’re being trained to avoid the theaters altogether if they wait three weeks for a VOD release. But avoiding spoilers and having $200 million of questionable CGI shouldn’t be the only thing getting butts into seats and it likely doesn’t have to be.