By June Peers

With the power of advertisements, social media, and a plethora of A-list actors, the movie industry has become increasingly saturated. Hit 2023 films like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” wowed audiences, cementing themselves as the zeitgeist of a post-Covid World. Though notable works, the growing popularity of blockbuster films have come at the expense of independent feature films, more commonly known as “indie” films.

Recent indie films include “May December,” “All of Us Strangers,” and “Earth Mama.” These titles are celebrated for defying cookie-cutter storylines, and delving into real-world problems and complex emotions. For many actors, such as Paul Mescal in “All of Us Strangers,” indie films serve as a gateway to reaching an A-list status and signing onto bigger projects.

However, for every successful indie film, there are thousands more that are left penniless and buried deep in the movie archive. According to the Indy Film Library, “In 2023, indie movies counted for more than 21 percent of box office sales. But in 2024, that portion has sunk to 18.5 percent.” We may be seeing this trend due to extreme inflation and slow wage growth amid the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. As a result, people started prioritizing essential commodities over buying movie tickets. Global box offices took an incredible hit in sales, but this impacted indie films most significantly.

The unprofitable nature of most indie films is a key reason why movie theaters tend to stray away from screening them. The majority of indie films, 97 percent, fail to turn a profit, leaving producers, studios, and distributors feeling hopeless.

To avoid this problem, theaters have turned to sequels, viewing these films as money-making machines. Throughout 2024, movie sequels “Moana 2,” “Inside Out 2,” and “Sonic 3,” dominated theater screens. Rather than taking a risk with a new, original storyline, theaters seek films that are comfortable and familiar to audiences. In turn, theater-goers are left with a selection of titles with little range and minimal creativity.

However, it may not be entirely fair to blame theaters for the declining popularity of indie films. After all, many audiences are actively choosing sequels even with indie films at their disposal.

Though most sequels are expected to reap mass profits in comparison to their indie counterparts, perhaps not all sequels are beloved. An “American Psycho” sequel that is expected to release this year, starring Austin Butler, is a perfect example of that. This announcement has elicited little positive feedback with fans calling it the “sequel nobody asked for.” More importantly, “American Psycho” lovers view Christian Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman as a role unique to his acting career. With his commitment to becoming Patrick Bateman through method acting, it is commonly believed that no other actor could embody the character as accurately or intensely as Bale. Furthermore, many are speculating that the sequel is primarily driven by profit, a desperate attempt for film studio Lionsgate to raise its stock. 

Indie films have suffered as a byproduct of movie theaters preferring financial stability over challenging film standards. This has inadvertently caused innovation in the film industry to experience a steady decline. 

In the 20th century, the movie theater was a place to discover new titles. Now, it has succumbed to modern societal pressures where “time is money” and deliberately planning out a plotline’s intricacies is primarily associated with a loss of financial resources. In other words, the more time studios spend writing and filming, the more they have to pay everyone involved in the project. 

We can reverse this trend by actively seeking to broaden our cinematic experience. Visiting local, small theaters and exploring indie titles is a productive way to support struggling businesses while also protesting against a world with predictable media. Indie films need our support more than ever. All we need to do is watch.