Part 8/10:
The current landscape signals a crisis in confidence. Hollywood appears to be facing a "new world order", with diminishing returns raising fears that moviegoing may never revert to pre-pandemic levels. Many industry veterans worry that the audience has either shifted away from theaters altogether or become highly selective about what they spend their money on.
This bleak outlook contrasts sharply with earlier optimistic narratives, which painted a picture of a thriving industry on the cusp of a resurgence. Now, insiders are questioning whether current strategies—more product, more franchises—are enough to sustain the industry or if fundamental shifts in audience behavior have permanently altered the landscape.