Why Is It So Hard to Make a Good Blockbuster?

Sometimes I forget just how many classes I took on the history of cinema — or that I used to teach a class on it! — but then I have a conversation like the one you’re about to listen to and remember: oh right, I am a huge film history dork. This episode, featuring the brilliant Hannah McGregor, travels all over the past, present, and future of the blockbuster, from the theory of the “whammy,” to Hannah’s book on Jurassic Park, from Barbie to Twisters, from why we started going to the movies to why we’ve (largely) stopped. It’s a ROMP and incredibly listenable — perfect for wherever you’re driving or to have on in the background while you chop one million brussels sprouts.

Show Notes:

• Read Hannah’s Jurassic Park book, Clever Girl!!!

• Follow Hannah on Instagram

• I appeared on Hannah’s podcast Material Girls to talk about ATHLEISURE, you can find it here

• Oh do you want a really nerdy book on the history of picture palaces? Here we go! And here’s another! Even more nerdy!!!

• We didn’t talk about this in the ep but here’s a great way to look up and see if there was a picture palace in your hometown

• An explanation on why these kinds of movies are called blockbusters

• A graph on the number of movie tickets sold over time:

We’re currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:

• KIDS TOYS! This is an expansive one with a kids toy expert, so you can really take it wherever you want

• The rise of therapy speak

• The future of (downhill) skiing and livability of ski towns just generally

• Why does it feel like thrifting sucks now

• Anything you need advice or want musings on for the AAA segment

• You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here (this is the subscriber-only form!)

For today’s discussion: What makes Wicked work as a blockbuster? What makes Gladiator II fail? Or: Is it even possible to make a blockbuster anymore without existing IP?

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