Actor and director Ben Affleck has shared his perspective on the current situation in Hollywood, which is clearly divided between major franchises and the vast streaming catalog. In his opinion, this fracture is not the result of a creative crisis, but rather the economic complexity facing the industry. According to Affleck, the minimum cost of producing and marketing a film amounts to approximately 50 million dollars, and it is necessary to generate at least 100 million at the box office to make a profit. This situation has led studios to develop a risk aversion that conditions their decisions.
Hollywood cannot continue to operate like this
“It’s no longer about whether this is a great movie, but whether it fits into the algorithm,” Affleck commented. This shift in focus has led to a homogenization of content, where sequels and franchises dominate the screens, instead of taking risks with more original proposals. The pressure to follow formulas that guarantee financial success has caused many projects to fall by the wayside.
Moreover, the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video has changed the game. These companies rely on data analysis to determine which projects to produce, prioritizing content that keeps subscribers engaged. Affleck emphasizes that this also influences cinematic creativity, transforming the production process into one dictated by statistics rather than narrative quality.
Although Affleck acknowledges that Hollywood is not in crisis, he does warn that it is undergoing an irreversible shift towards bigger and safer productions. This may distance some creators from the original essence of cinema; however, he expresses that the audience has the final say in deciding which films to support and bring to the box office.