Hollywood faced a series of challenges, starting with the COVID shutdowns, followed by the writer and actor strikes just as the industry was anticipating a full recovery. The box office did not reach pre-pandemic levels, with a forecasted decline due to the lack of movie releases. Additionally, behind-the-scenes issues like CEO salary disparity, the collapse of the superhero franchise market, and concerns over AI replacing human actors were not widely discussed. The strikes of 2023 had significant repercussions, causing production shortages and hinting at potential future strikes and ongoing industry difficulties.