Part 4/13:
The executive further lamented that audiences now associate movies with politicized messages—particularly around themes like female empowerment—which they find distasteful. The phrase "make better movies" is frequently trotted out, but this advice is layered with implications: critics argue it’s often interpreted as making movies conform to a specific ideological and gender narrative, reinforcing regressive stereotypes, or prioritizing identity politics over storytelling.
Bob Iger's recent pivot towards more traditional gender roles and avoidance of progressive themes is seen as an attempt to recover audience trust. However, critics question whether these shifts are genuine, or merely superficial attempts to appease critics and audiences alienated by prior politicized storytelling.