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Shift in audience preferences: Audiences are becoming more discerning, favoring quality and originality over franchise fatigue, which hurts overly expensive productions.
Actor salaries and inflated expectations: Films often allocate large sums to big-name stars, such as Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones or veteran actors demanding hefty paychecks, inflating budgets further without guaranteed success.
The Rise of Smaller, Nimbler Films
Interestingly, the industry is seeing success with smaller films that leverage quality storytelling, tight budgets, and strategic marketing:
- John Wick franchise (John Wick: Chapter 4) continues to do well due to a dedicated fan base and manageable budgets.