Sometimes, when movie people are banging on the drums and doing interview after interview, they get to a point where they just let it all out.
British filmmaker Sam Mendes – director of 1917, Skyfall and now Empire Of Light starring Olivia Colman – has reached this place.
Mendes dropped quite a bombshell when he said of his latest film – plus Oscar-winning The Fabelmans, Babylon, Armageddon Time and Bardo – “No one’s seen it! Cinema is clearly in trouble.’
Let it all out: Director Sam Mendes has shared his fears about the future of cinema as he said: ‘Nobody’s been looking at his latest film Empire of Light and other Oscar front-runners
The director explained his remarks, saying: “Although people are talking about admissions rising almost to pre-Covid levels throughout the year, the admissions figure is in terms of 20 or 25 films, not 200 films. It’s for a very small number of big films.
“And the smaller films? People think, well, we can stay at home and see this on our streaming service in three or four weeks, or even right away in the case of a Netflix movie or a movie for Apple.
And then there’s the price… “something that’s really obvious that people don’t talk about much.”
He warmed to his theme: “When you go to a restaurant there’s a difference in the type of ingredients you get if you pay more money.
Reveal: Explaining his remarks, the director said that while admissions have increased since Covid: ‘Admissions are for 20 or 25 films, not 200 films. It’s for a very small number of big films” (pictured with Olivia Colman at the screening of his latest film Empire Of Light)
“If you want a cheap meal, the food adapts — but it’s cheap. In other words, there is a price difference. If you go to the theater to see a big show, it will cost you $200.
“If you go to the edge, it’ll cost you $20, right?
“But every film costs the same amount of money.
“If Avatar is £10 and Empire Of Light is £10 and you’re a teenager, you’re going to see Avatar. It is obvious. And until there’s an appreciation of the difference between the big movies and the little movies, the big movies will overwhelm you.’
Mendes knows what he’s talking about. “I did a Bond film; I did 1917 – it’s an event film, not a franchise; and I’m making a little film like this.
Speaking: Mendes knows what he is talking about. “I did a Bond film; I did 1917 – it’s an event film, not a franchise; and i’m making a little film like this
“And this film is ten times harder to release. And it gets ten times more criticism than a Bond film because people hope it will stand up for cinema, not just for itself, but it has to be a masterpiece to get people to see it.
“In a world where Spielberg’s film and Damien Chazelle’s film and Alejandro Inarritu’s film, James Gray’s film, this film… nobody went to see them… all I can say is: It’s clearly in trouble!”
“Many of these films have had excellent reviews. You know, The Fabelmans is one of the most reviewed movies of the year. It grossed $15 million at the US box office. It has almost finished its theatrical run. What hope is there for anyone?’
Earlier this week, Avatar director James Cameron similarly said at the Golden Globe Awards that he wanted people to come back to theaters.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Empire of Light’s new movie is a romance/drama centered on a single woman with mental health issues
The Canadian director, 68, arrived at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday night to bask in the box office hit Avatar: The Way Of Water.
Having grossed over $1.6 billion in the three weeks since its release, James took the opportunity to say he’s excited about the success because he’s happy people are getting back to theaters want.
He told Variety at the ceremony, “We say as a society, ‘We need this! We have to go to the theater.”
“Enough with the streaming! I’m tired of sitting on my ass.’
He added: “They’re even coming back to theaters in China where they’ve got this big COVID surge.”
Success: James Cameron said he was “tired” of streaming services after the success of Avatar 2 became the third of his films to make the top 10 highest grossing films of all time
James now has three films in the top ten highest-grossing films of all time.
Number one on the IMDB list is the first Avatar film, released in 2009, grossing $2.922 billion.
Third on the list is Cameron’s Titanic (1997), which also earned him an Oscar for Best Director in 1998 – grossing £2.203 billion at the box office.
And now his latest film, Avatar 2, has grossed $1.7 billion in just three weeks, putting it at number seven on the list.
Director: James, who has grossed over $1.7 billion in the three weeks since its release, took the opportunity to say he’s pleased with the success because he’s glad people are coming back to theaters want (pictured with his three Oscars in 1999).