The Business of Film in an Election Year
The American #movieindustry has long understood the tightrope it must walk in election years. By and large, Hollywood steers clear of #films that are overtly #political, which has largely been the case this year, sticking with #sequels and #remakes delivering on a sheer #entertainment level.
As 2024 rounds the corner toward a #contentious?election, #filmmakers and #studios find themselves navigating the delicate intersection between cinema and politics. This year has seen the release of politically charged films such as Reagan;?based on the life of the former president; the controversial film, The Apprentice,?a biopic about young Donald Trump’s relationship with the political fixer Roy Cohn which will be released before the election;?Civil War, a dystopian thriller about a?future America where a team of military-embedded journalists races against time to reach Washington, D.C., before rebel factions descend upon the White House; biopic?Shirley?about the?first-ever Black congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, who launched a trailblazing campaign to become the president of the United States;?and films that tackle our Christian nationalism and the fusion of religion and politics -?God & Country and Bad Faith. While these films take bold stances, their presence amidst the backdrop of a polarizing election year raises an important question: How much does politics shape the business of film in an election year, and how do audiences react?
#Political Movies and the #Election Year Backlash
Historically, releasing #politically themed #movies during an election year has been a risky endeavor. Often, such films might be lightning rods prompting political discourse. This is particularly true in 2024, as audiences grapple with films like Reagan and The Apprentice, which inevitably align with the sharp divisions in the national political landscape. Films that delve into the personal and political histories of major figures, especially those relevant to ongoing political discussions, risk being labeled as propaganda by opposing factions. The controversy surrounding these films is not new.?
Consider the box office records during past election years: In 2020, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm were caught in cultural and political debates. The same happened in 2016 with Hacksaw Ridge and Snowden, which were seen through the lens of the bitter political battle between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Yet, such movies are still often seen as "too risky" for studios during election seasons. The films might open the door to accusations of bias or propaganda, which can alienate some audiences. Movie studios, like other entertainment industries, are particularly sensitive to cultural undercurrents in election years and must carefully weigh potential costs of political films against their potential for success. Historically, #Hollywood has tended to shy away from overtly political films, particularly as elections approach.
Hollywood’s Dance Around #Politics
Hollywood, as a business, has generally favored neutrality, especially during the high-stakes period leading up to a presidential election. Studios are acutely aware that engaging with political subject matter can be a double-edged sword. For instance, the backlash against political content in 2004, spurred by Fahrenheit 9/11, triggered a fierce debate but also a noticeable wariness from other filmmakers and studios. This hesitancy only increased in 2008, 2012, and 2016, when politically charged films were released amidst highly polarized elections. The election-year climate tends to be unforgiving, and few studios want to risk their films being seen as endorsing or denouncing any political figure or party. Moviegoers during election years often seem to seek out entertainment that allows them to escape, rather than engage, with the political climate.
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The Perception of #Cinema as #Propaganda
The long-standing fear in Hollywood is that films released during an election year, particularly those that touch on political themes, will be perceived as propaganda. Whether intentionally or not, political movies can fuel partisan debates and leave studios vulnerable to criticism. Even neutral films that explore political events or figures can become lightning rods, as audiences and commentators inevitably view them through the lens of the current political landscape. This can result in unintended cultural firestorms, as filmmakers find their creative choices thrust into the national conversation, often in ways they did not expect.
Conclusion
The business of film in an election year is a careful balance between risk and reward. While some filmmakers will take the plunge into politically charged storytelling, Hollywood as an industry largely avoids direct engagement with political issues, especially in such a divided and polarized moment as 2024. Studios are more inclined to bank on the kinds of films that have always done well—escapist fare that draws in wide audiences and keeps them entertained, without risk of controversy. This year, like so many before it, shows that Hollywood prefers to keep its distance from politics, and as long as election years remain so divisive, this trend is unlikely to change.
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