Director Danny Boyle Calls 3D Movies a Passing Trend
The acclaimed filmmaker behind 28 Years Later explains why he avoids 3D cinema and predicts the format won't survive long-term, citing practical issues for glasses wearers.
Movie theaters have operated the same way for over a century. You buy a ticket, find your seat among strangers, and watch films projected on a big screen. Simple formula that works.
Cinema chains keep trying to change this. They've experimented with everything from moving seats to surround sound systems to misting audiences during rain scenes. Some innovations like IMAX actually improve the experience. Others just feel gimmicky.
The 3D Problem According to Boyle
Danny Boyle, director of the new zombie thriller 28 Years Later, has strong opinions about 3D technology. The format dates back to 1922 with a film called The Power of Love, which used red and green lenses with dual projectors. It didn't catch on until the 1950s.
Boyle's resistance comes from personal experience. "I don't use 3D. I'm a spectacle wearer, so I hate going to 3D movies because you have to wear two pairs of spectacles, which makes you feel like even more of a prat," he told The Telegraph. "You know how everybody feels a bit of a prat wearing the 3D spectacles – you, as a spectacle wearer, feel a double prat."
Format's Declining Popularity
His prediction about 3D's future seems accurate. "So, I don't know if 3D will survive, to be honest, personally. I think it may be a phase." The numbers support his view.
3D movie screenings peaked in the late 2000s when big-budget superhero films and animated movies dominated theaters. Today, most multiplexes rarely show 3D versions. Those bins overflowing with discarded glasses have mostly disappeared.
Home 3D technology failed even faster. TV manufacturers lost billions investing in 3D-capable sets that consumers ignored. Turns out people didn't want to wear special glasses while watching regular television shows.
Limited Future Applications
Some filmmakers still embrace the format. James Cameron's latest Avatar movie, Fire and Ash, uses 3D technology. The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday will likely offer 3D screenings too.
Boyle's own 28 Years Later incorporated different technology choices. Some scenes were shot on an iPhone 15 Pro. Theaters offered 4DX screenings with moving seats, which probably made the zombie chase sequences more intense.
But don't expect to see Boyle in line for 3D showings anytime soon. His double-glasses problem remains unsolved.