The Evolution of Movie Lengths

This chapter explores the historical trends in movie lengths, revealing a plateau since the 1960s after an initial rise. It highlights the transformation of audience expectations, particularly following Alfred Hitchcock's marketing strategy for 'Psycho,' which established films as standalone events. The discussion contrasts historical perceptions of runtime with contemporary box office trends, illustrating that while viewers may complain about long films, many blockbuster hits continue to grow in length.