Hollywood Chief Urges Directors to Trim Run Times for Sharper, Streamlined Films

Here's a topic that always stirs up debate (and maybe some groans from your bladder): the ever-expanding runtimes of movies. Clare Binns, who's the creative director over at Picturehouse Cinemas (that's a UK boutique theater chain, owned by Cineworld), just came right out and said what a lot of us have been thinking — movies are too long, and it's making life harder for both theaters and the people actually watching the things.

Cut the Fat — Audience Comfort Matters

Binns didn't just complain about it to a friend; she went on record with The Guardian, telling filmmakers, essentially, to trim it down unless they've really got something spectacular to say (spoiler: most don't). She's had these conversations with producers plenty of times. There's a quote from her that really sums up the mood behind the projection booth:

'Tell the director you're making the film for an audience, not the directors... There's always exceptions, but I look at a lot of films and think: "You could take 20 minutes out of that." There's no need for films to be that long.'

Long Movies, Real Problems

It's not just about numb posteriors and desperate dashes to the restroom. Longer movies are actually a thorn in the side for theaters trying to survive right now. Binns explained that if a film's running well over two hours, theaters can't squeeze in as many showings per evening. Sometimes, it's down to a single primetime screening — which obviously isn't great for business, especially if you were hoping for some popcorn sales between shows.

She said it herself: 'It means you only get one evening show. I think it's a wake-up call to directors. If they want their films in cinemas, people have to feel comfortable about what they're committing to.'

Plus, if you've gotten used to pausing for a bathroom break on your couch (and who hasn't post-pandemic?), sitting through a marathon at the movie theater is a big adjustment. Some chains — Picturehouse included — will actually schedule a break (an intermission, remember those?), but that only works up to a point.

The Post-Streaming World

Here's something else: making movies more audience-friendly isn't just a plea from a cranky exec. The last couple of years have been brutal for cinemas across the board, thanks to streaming habits that took over during COVID lockdowns. Binns admitted it's still tough, but she sounded (cautiously) optimistic that things are getting better. She said theaters are doing what they can to work with streamers to get people off their couches and back into the auditorium.

Context: Why Listen to Clare Binns?

• Clare Binns was just handed this year's BAFTA honorary award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
• Picturehouse is a well-known boutique cinema chain, not some fly-by-night operation. They know their audience.

So, if directors want their latest masterpieces to fill real seats (not just rack up views on a laptop at home), maybe it's time to start thinking less epic saga and more tight, actually enjoyable movie night. In other words: sometimes, less really is more — and your audience's lower backs will probably thank you for it.