Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders · Vulture & New York Magazine

It’s Not Just Scorsese. Why Are Movies So Long?

October 17, 2023·28 min·2 clips

Top movies now average over 2 hours, a 13-minute increase from 20 years ago.

Sam Sanders hosts this episode of "Into It" to explore why modern movies are getting longer, featuring Vanity Fair Hollywood correspondent Natalie Jarvie. Jarvie investigated the trend after her personal frustration with falling asleep during lengthy films. She confirms movies have grown longer, citing data that the average top 20 box office film in 2022 was two hours and 12 minutes, compared to one hour and 59 minutes in 2002. The rise of IP franchise films like Marvel and Fast & Furious demands longer runtimes to include more characters, action, and interconnected plots. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Apple compete for prestige by granting top directors like Martin Scorsese creative freedom without runtime constraints, as seen with "The Irishman" and "Killers of the Flower Moon." The decline of powerful "super producers" who once aggressively edited films has reduced pressure on directors to cut down their work. Technological and theatrical shifts, from film reel limits to multiplexes with many screens, have gradually enabled longer movies. Jarvie notes that male directors are the primary offenders, contrasting their lengthy films with Greta Gerwig's successful "Barbie" at under two hours. Studios reportedly dislike long movies for business reasons, but directors with "final cut" privileges can resist edits, as seen with James Cameron's blockbusters. Test screenings sometimes lead to trims, like Alejandro Iñárritu cutting 22 minutes from "Bardo," while Ridley Scott plans a four-hour "Napoleon" director's cut for streaming. A key insight is that audience complaints about length often reflect poor pacing or boredom, not runtime itself, if a film is engaging. The financial risk of longer movies is higher due to increased production costs and fewer daily screenings, but hits like "Titanic" prove audiences will commit time for a compelling story. Jarvie speculates that Hollywood's current cost-cutting and a potential move away from superhero films could shorten movies again. She suggests reintroducing intermissions could improve the theater experience for long films. The conversation is analytical and conversational, blending data, industry anecdotes, and personal viewpoints. Movie buffs curious about film industry trends and casual viewers annoyed by long runtimes would enjoy this episode. Listeners seeking pure entertainment or narrative storytelling might find it too focused on insider analysis.

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