Denis Villeneuve Calls IMAX “the Future of Cinema”

I’m not entirely sure if I’m down with Denis Villeneuve’s recent comments about IMAX being this prophetic savior of cinema. Or maybe I’m just in total denial that this is the actual future.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Villeneuve tackles the financial success of “Oppenheimer, and, particularly, the 70mm IMAX screenings of the film, which offered fans an experience not possible to replicate through home viewing:

“The future of cinema is IMAX and the large formats,” he said. “The audience wants to see something that they cannot have at home, that they cannot have on streaming. They want to experience an event.”

I get what he’s saying, and I do like IMAX, but I sure hope it isn’t the “future of cinema.” This would mean that most people aren't gonna go to movies unless it’s a social event, major event, or incredible experience above what they have at home.

That’s why “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” did so well; they were big event movies driven by relentless marketing. It’s what Scorsese has called the “Marvelization” of movies. Maybe ‘Barbeheneimer’ doesn’t necessarily fit in Scorsese’s warning of moviegoers only wanting to pay for “rollercoaster rides,” but it hints at something just as concerning.

What about the smaller-scaled movies? Not the IMAX juggernauts, like ‘Dune,’ ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Avatar,’ not the one’s driven by spectacle, or shot on fancy cameras. What happens to them? The mid to low budget movies that thrive on art rather than commerce; will these adult-oriented films be tossed aside by this IMAX future?

Villeneuve seems to be implying that for a lot of people to pay what tickets cost these days, the experience needs to be better than at home. Notice how more theaters are using recliner seats. The experience must be optimally designed with not just the best audio and visual experience, but also the comfiest of seating.

That’s where we’re at now. According to Villeneuve, the future of cinema is not the inherent qualities a movie might have, but rather the way it’s shown — on the biggest, most pristine screen available. There’s no way for me to really disagree with him on that, but it’s kind of depressing when you think about it.

A filmmaker like Villeneuve has no problem with this being the future of movies, he has the clout and freedom to make the kinds of movies that IMAX would want to screen, but what happens to the little guys? The ones not names Villeneuve, Nolan and Cameron. There has to be a better way forward and the answer isn’t just IMAX.