This chapter explores the perception that movies have been getting longer over the years, with data showing that movie lengths have essentially plateaued since 1960. It discusses the shift in how people experienced movies and the influence of Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' in changing the movie-going experience. Despite complaints about movie lengths, longer movies are the ones that people prefer to see based on box office earnings, leading Hollywood to continue making them.
No, movies aren’t getting longer. Even though, yes, it definitely does feel like they are. Slate’s Sam Adams makes it make sense.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Isabel Angell, engineered by David Herman, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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