Cinema Boss Demands Directors Cut Movie Lengths Now
A top UK cinema executive is calling out filmmakers for making movies too long, claiming extended runtimes are hurting both audiences and theaters. Her bold stance comes as she receives industry's highest honor.
A leading figure in Britain's film industry just delivered a blunt message to directors: make your movies shorter or risk losing cinema screens entirely. Claire Binns, who runs creative operations at Picturehouse Cinemas, issued this warning right after winning this year's BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Her comments target a growing problem across Hollywood and beyond. Recent acclaimed films like Oppenheimer and The Brutalist stretch to three hours or longer. Oppenheimer clocks in at exactly three hours. The Brutalist pushes past three hours and 35 minutes.
Comfort Over Creative Vision
Binns argues directors need to think about their audiences first. "I talk to producers about this and say: 'Tell the director you're making the film for an audience, not the directors,'" she told reporters. "There's always exceptions, but I look at a lot of films and think: 'You could take 20 minutes out of that.' There's no need for films to be that long."
The executive points to practical problems these marathon runtimes create. Theaters can only squeeze in one evening showing when movies run past three hours. This cuts revenue and limits audience access.
Streaming Competition Intensifies Pressure
Movie theaters face tough competition from streaming services. People got comfortable watching from their couches during the pandemic. Binns believes asking audiences to commit to ultra-long theatrical experiences makes the problem worse.
"It means you only get one evening show," she explained. "I think it's a wake-up call to directors. If they want their films in cinemas, people have to feel comfortable about what they're committing to."
Hope for Cinema's Future
Despite these challenges, Binns sees reasons for optimism. "It's been very tough for cinemas," she acknowledged. "During Covid, everybody got used to sitting on couches and watching streaming services. But that's changing. We're working with the streamers to bring people in."
She points to upcoming films with original stories leading the awards conversation for 2026. Titles like Hamnet, One Battle After Another, and Marty Supreme represent this trend toward fresh narratives that could revitalize theatrical experiences.