Several recent films, including 'One Battle After Another,' are struggling at the box office due to high production costs and changing audience habits, with the Leonardo DiCaprio film expected to lose around $100 million despite a strong global gross, highlighting the risks of large budgets and the impact of streaming on theatrical performance.
The success of Dune: Part 2 has sparked a debate about the exorbitant budgets of modern blockbuster films in comparison to their visual quality. Despite its lower budget, Dune's visuals have been lauded as a technical marvel, prompting questions about why other big-budget films don't achieve similar results. The pandemic has impacted production costs, but the disparity in budget and visual quality between Dune and other recent releases is evident. The article argues that trusting filmmakers with a genuine vision and giving them creative freedom can lead to better-looking and potentially more profitable films, emphasizing the need for Hollywood to reevaluate its approach to blockbuster productions.