I like movie theaters because im forced to focus on the screen. No distractions. No temptation to scroll. No kitchen runs. Totally immersive.
soozerain on
Get ready for all the people saying “this isn’t a big deal ho hum. We just need to get on with the times.”
blahyawnblah on
It’s why netflix makes movies that are impossible to follow, then in the third act very explicity explain everything. They expect people to be on their cell phones. Matt Damon even said this in interviews for The Rip.
all_die_laughing on
I have no doubt this is the case with current gen students, but hopefully it’s something that can be addressed going forward.
17 Comments
Ok. Take em back to the early nineties and show them what can be done in 90 minutes or less.
For years now, yes.
r/ nottheonion
Funny I just rewatched the brutalist yesterday as a now working adult… the hard part isn’t sitting through it, it’s having time to sit through it
I taught a film studies class last year and can tell you that this was definitely my experience.
Sounds like they picked the wrong major? Wouldn’t want a chef that doesn’t like food making food for me.
Because their brains have been fried from their phones. It’s okay though, it’s not just that generation, it’s all
Make them watch Sátántangó Clockwork Orange-style. Problem solved.
To paraphrase Roger Ebert, “Most modern film fans think cinema began with Star Wars.”
They can’t be without their phone for five minutes
It’s an actual problem
“Professors report they have even resorted to asking students just to watch portions of films. It’s a phenomenon mirroring what is happening in high school English classes around the country, where students [might just be assigned portions of books](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/us/high-school-english-teachers-assigning-books.html).
Then there not Film students like what are we talking about.
This piece is part of the problem: it’s a brief summary of longer [article ](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/college-students-movies-attention-span/685812/)in The Atlantic.
I love that the image is of The Brutalist
I like movie theaters because im forced to focus on the screen. No distractions. No temptation to scroll. No kitchen runs. Totally immersive.
Get ready for all the people saying “this isn’t a big deal ho hum. We just need to get on with the times.”
It’s why netflix makes movies that are impossible to follow, then in the third act very explicity explain everything. They expect people to be on their cell phones. Matt Damon even said this in interviews for The Rip.
I have no doubt this is the case with current gen students, but hopefully it’s something that can be addressed going forward.