For the past decade, the term "popular entertainment" has become shorthand for a very specific business model: the multi-billion dollar franchise. Walking into a multiplex today, you are less likely to find a standalone original screenplay and more likely to find a "cinematic universe" or a "legacy sequel." After reviewing the 2023-2024 slates from the "Big Five" studios—Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Sony, and Paramount—one thing is clear: the technical polish is higher than ever, but the creative risk has never been lower.
We are currently in a "hangover" phase. The MCU's Endgame was the peak of the shared-universe model, and studios have been desperately chasing that dragon ever since. The result is a popular entertainment landscape that feels less like art and more like algorithmic content. For the past decade, the term "popular entertainment"
When these studios break the mold ( Barbie , Spider-Verse , Top Gun: Maverick ), they produce ecstatic, communal theatrical experiences. The bad news: For every Barbie , there are ten Shazam! Fury of the Gods —films that exist solely to fill a release date, not a creative need. The MCU's Endgame was the peak of the