Why there is really not much worth watching in the cinema

Paul O’Rourke

IF you’ve been struggling to find something decent to watch at your local cinema in recent times, there’s a reason. And chances are it’s not going to get much better any time soon.  

The current lack of new releases is due partly to the upcoming World Cup, a cinematic phenomenon that comes around every four years – but something more troubling is bubbling under the surface. 

At the time of writing, those in search of a decent flick can choose from the latest installment of the ‘Avengers’ or ‘Star Wars’ franchises, catch the sequel to ‘Deadpool’, or watch a follow up to 2011’s  ‘Gnomeo and Juliet’. 

And at the time of reading, you may struggle to find a single cinema that isn’t showing the sixth film in the Jurassic Park series, ‘Fallen Kingdom’. 

While this may be welcome news for those of you who love your action packed CGI blockbusters, what about the rest of us? 

Hollywood now makes less movies every year, spends more on the ones they do, and while the major studios are consolidating, film executives seem less willing than ever to take a risk on an unproven writer or idea. Aside from the countless sequels, prequels and reboots, it appears the only other way to get a film made is via an adaptation of a successful book. 

Already this year we’ve had ‘Paddington 2’ (sequel AND adaptation!), ‘Peter Rabbit’, and ‘Ready Player One’, to name but three. 

Every so often an original and intelligent movie like ‘A Quiet Place’ or ‘Sicario’ will sneak through the cracks, but the former already has a follow up in the works, while the latter is due to release its sequel in a few weeks. 

With the best writers and stories undoubtedly now on TV and streaming, the days of cinema-going may be on the wane – or at least in need of a good restructuring.

The good news is that the Dublin and national movie industry is thriving thanks to the Irish Film Board, so until we see the release of ‘Brooklyn 2: Infinity War’, or ‘Cardboard Gangsters: Darndale Strikes Back’, there’s still  hope for the future.