Why Are Modern Movies So Long?

It’s Friday night, and you’re ready to unwind with a movie. You grab your popcorn, settle into your couch, and check the runtime of your chosen flick: 3 hours and 12 minutes. You do a quick mental calculation if you start now, you might be able to squeeze in some sleep before your alarm goes off.

This scenario is becoming all too familiar as modern movies seem to stretch longer and longer. What happened to the crisp, 90-minute storytelling that left us satisfied without needing an intermission? Why does every blockbuster these days feel like a commitment equivalent to running a marathon? Let’s break it down.

The Epic Ambition

One reason modern movies have ballooned in length is the sheer ambition of filmmakers. Directors often aim to craft sprawling epics that immerse audiences in complex worlds and narratives. Think of movies like Avengers: Endgame (181 minutes) or The Batman (176 minutes). These films aspire to deliver a larger-than-life experience, and that often means more time to flesh out characters, subplots, and emotional stakes.

However, while ambition is commendable, not every story needs to be an epic saga. Sometimes, a tightly edited two-hour movie can pack more punch than a sprawling three-hour one.

Franchise Fever

Hollywood’s obsession with franchises and cinematic universes is another culprit. Studios aren’t just making movies; they’re building events. Every installment is packed with callbacks, foreshadowing, and world-building to set up future sequels or spin-offs.

Take the Marvel Cinematic Universe as an example. Each film not only tells its own story but also contributes to a larger narrative tapestry. This interconnectedness often requires additional runtime, leaving audiences with a film that’s as much a standalone story as it is a puzzle piece in a much bigger picture.

Streaming Has Changed the Game

Streaming services have also influenced movie runtimes. In the age of binge-watching, viewers are more accustomed to consuming long-form content. If audiences can watch five hours of a TV series in one sitting, why not stretch a movie to three hours?

Directors and studios are capitalizing on this trend, knowing that audiences have grown more patient—or at least more willing—to invest in lengthy storytelling. Streaming platforms like Netflix even release films with extended runtimes, banking on the idea that people can pause and resume at their leisure.

The Fear of Missing Something

Another factor driving movie length is the fear of leaving something out. Modern audiences are savvy and hyper-critical, thanks in part to social media. If a beloved character or subplot is underdeveloped, fans will notice—and they’ll let everyone know.

To avoid backlash, filmmakers often err on the side of including too much rather than too little. They want to ensure that every plot thread is tied up, every character gets their moment, and every Easter egg is accounted for. Unfortunately, this approach can result in bloated narratives that test audience patience.

The Director’s Vision

Let’s not forget the directors themselves. Many modern filmmakers have reached a level of prestige that allows them to dictate their own terms. Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and James Cameron are just a few examples of directors whose films regularly exceed the two-and-a-half-hour mark.

While these auteurs often deliver masterpieces, their creative freedom sometimes leads to indulgence. Long runtimes can feel justified in masterpieces like The Dark Knight or Titanic, but not every film benefits from such creative latitude.

The Box Office Argument

Here’s the kicker: longer movies might actually be good for business. A three-hour film often feels like a “bigger” event, enticing audiences to see it in theaters rather than waiting for streaming. It also gives the illusion of more value for the price of admission. Why pay $15 for a 90-minute movie when you can get a three-hour epic for the same price?

However, this strategy can backfire. Longer runtimes mean fewer showings per day, which can limit ticket sales. Balancing quality and quantity is a tightrope act that studios have yet to perfect.

Does Longer Always Mean Better?

Not necessarily. While some films earn their extended runtimes (The Godfather Part II comes to mind), others feel unnecessarily drawn out. Too often, long movies are guilty of meandering plots, redundant scenes, or excessive exposition. For example, 2024’s The Fall Guy was a fun movie but felt unnecessarily long at 2 hours and 6 minutes and a drawn out ending. Chop 15-20 minutes off and it goes from good to great.

At its core, storytelling should be about engaging the audience, not exhausting them. A well-edited 90-minute movie can be just as impactful—if not more so—than a three-hour epic.

Final Thoughts

So, why are modern movies so long? It’s a mix of ambition, franchise-building, audience expectations, and director freedom. While some films justify their hefty runtimes, others leave us wondering if brevity might have been the better choice.

The next time you settle in for a movie, ask yourself: is this story worth the time it demands? Because sometimes, less truly is more.

And for those who want to stick to the classics, there’s always the comforting brevity of Toy Story (81 minutes) to remind us that greatness doesn’t always require hours on end.