What happened to movies being like 105 minutes? It feelsl ike eveyr mocie is two and a half hours now, and even though that may be hyperbolic, it’s not that untrue.
A new report from the Hollywood Reporter really puts this into perspective.
Whether it’s Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, or Avatar: The Way of Water, the “epic” runtime is becoming the industry standard.
So even as I lament this, there’s actual proof that movies are, in fact, getting longer. But for filmmakers, the question isn’t just about how long a movie is, it’s about why this shift is happening and what it means for the future of the theatrical experience.
Let’s dive in.
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The Data
According to the findings from THR, the average runtime of the top-grossing films has seen a steady climb.
In the 1980s and 90s, the “sweet spot” for a blockbuster was often between 100 and 120 minutes.
Today, that median has shifted significantly on the longer side.
We’ve seen a nearly 15% increase in average length compared to the 80s, with films over 150 minutes becoming a regular occurrence rather than a rare event.
Why Is This Happening?
The findings don’t name a single culprit behind the expanding runtime. But these are the things I think are probably the biggest reasons we’re finding long movies.
The “Event” Factor
In the age of streaming, theaters have to offer something you can’t get at home. Large-scale, three-hour epics feel like “events” that justify the rising cost of a ticket and the effort of leaving the couch. People see events, and they want epics, and studios are delivering them.
The Death of the “Mid-Budget” Edit
Historically, studios were more aggressive about cutting films to maximize the number of daily screenings. More screenings meant more ticket sales. However, with the decline of the mid-budget drama and the rise of the “Auteur Blockbuster,” directors like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve have the leverage to demand, and get longer runtimes.
It helps that these usually show in IMAX, and therefore, you can charge more for the tickets to make up for fewer showings.
Streaming Habits
Audiences have become conditioned for long-form storytelling through binge-watching. If we can sit through four hours of a Netflix series in one night, studios gamble that we won’t mind a three-hour theatrical experience.
‘The Brutalist’ CREDIT: A24
The Rise of the Intermission (Sort of)
While American theaters haven’t officially brought back the intermission, international markets and certain “Roadshow” releases (like The Brutalist) are experimenting with them again to make these massive runtimes more palatable. I’d love to see these employed even more.
What It Means for Filmmakers
Look, I don’t think you’re selling a 145-page script to break in. People still want stuff that feels “normal” from newbies.
But if you’re an established filmmaker, I think this might be a double-edged sword.
On one hand, more time means more room for character development, complex world-building, and “breathing room” in the narrative. You aren’t forced to kill your darlings just to hit a 95-minute mark.
But on the other hand, just because you can make a movie three hours long doesn’t mean you should.
Pacing is still the most vital tool in a filmmaker’s kit.
And I do think this era has largely ignored the idea of pacing. Many of these long movies could stand to cut themselves down.
A tight 90-minute thriller that leaves the audience wanting more is still more commercial than a three-hour epic that leaves them looking at their watches.
I’d like to see the industry come back to that idea and finance more of those movies that can play a lot of different times and are also crowd-pleasers.
Summing It All Up
The trend toward longer movies shows no signs of slowing down, especially as theaters lean further into the premium experience.
But as storytellers, our goal remains the same: respect the audience’s time and keep them engaged.
What’s your take on all this? Are movies getting too long, or are you happy to spend more time in these cinematic worlds?
Let us know in the comments.