Jodie Foster Says Superhero Movies are Ruining Audiences, But I Have to Disagree

It’s not hard to ignore that fact that superhero and comic book films are currently dominating the box office. Audiences love them! They are fun and entertaining films with good stories that the fans love to talk about with each other. 

However, actor and director Jodie Foster thinks that these films are having a negative effect on audiences. During an interview with Radio Times, Foster discussed these superhero films and likened this current movie trend to “fracking”, saying:

"Going to the movies has become like a theme park. Studios making bad content in order to appeal to the masses and shareholders is like fracking — you get the best return right now but you wreck the earth.
"It’s ruining the viewing habits of the American population and then ultimately the rest of the world. I don’t want to make $200 million movies about superheroes."

Nope. I'm not buying it. I believe she's wrong and I'll tell you why. The majority of these movies are actually really good well-made films. I seriously doubt that she's watching any of them. Also, going to the movies should be a fun experience! There’s nothing wrong with having a blast at the movies!

There's a great mix of movies that are being released these days. Not all of them are superhero films. There are a lot of other different genres and I go out and see them all. Like all movies, you're going to get a mix of good and bad ones.

For example, this year Lady Bird, Molly’s Game, Wonder, Get Out all fantastic films that I loved and they weren't superhero films. I know a lot of movie fans feel the same way. We only really get about five or six superhero/comic book films a year thrown into a mix of hundreds of movies.

Of course, these superhero movies are going to make a shit-ton of money because they are big spectacular visually stunning films that audiences want to see on the big screen because they’re fun! 

So, I have to respectfully disagree with Jodie Foster's opinion. Ever since movies like the classic Universal Monster movies in the 1930s the studios have been inspired make big spectacle films that fill up theaters. Then in the 1970s, you had films like Jaws and Star Wars usher in the blockbuster movies. Superhero films are just a part of this trend that has been around since the early days of Hollywood! It’s always been about getting people into theater seats! That’s why Hollywood has continued to thrive! The success of these films also allows for the studios to make smaller more intimate films. 

Of course Foster would be open to making a superhero film if it had "really complex psychology." Maybe she should start reading comic books because a lot of comic books do have really complex psychology. Most film is art, even superhero films, some just have bigger budgets than others.

I don't know, I just think Jodie Foster is missing the point of movies. In the end, there's plenty of room to have fun at the movies. 

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