James Gunn Says The Movie Industry Is 'Dying' Due to Unfinished Screenplays
James Gunn, director for the highly anticipated forthcoming reboot of Superman, has been in the news quite a bit recently, and in rather blunt fashion.
The 58-year-old filmmaker has made headlines for casually and confidently responding to fans "trying to restore the SnyderVerse"—in reference to Man of Steel director Zach Snyder—who have laid out a pretty ridiculous set of plans with ways to essentially "bomb reviews" of Superman, along with other ways to keep moviegoers away.
Gunn offered up a funny, albeit condescending reply on X of, "Lol I think we will survive. I'm not sure the eight people that listen to that guy (I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it's a guy) are going to impact the course of events."
While he's also taken to putting fans in their place who have been incorrectly spreading rumors that Batman II is canceled, Gunn also dropped another blunt take on the movie industry as a whole, explaining what he believes is the true reason the movie industry is "dying."
"I do believe that the reason why the movie industry is dying is not because of people not wanting to see movies," Gunn said in a profile from Rolling Stone. "It's not because of home screens getting so good. The number-one reason is because people are making movies without a finished screenplay."
"I know some people that were my former workers at Marvel — people who made some of the worst movies," Gunn explained. "There were people that were lazy and didn't put their time in. And then there were other directors that worked really hard and maybe didn't have the best movie come out, but they did everything they could."
Gunn's overall point comes across as pretty fair and logical, and was in response to a reference about Eddie Murphy once stating that every bad movie happens because of Hollywood's apparent habit of setting a production date before they have a finished screenplay.
One has to believe this problematic habit of Hollywood rushing films to production without a finished product, which has to induce somewhat of an extra massive strain on all the major players involved in any given film, has probably only gotten worse over the last decade with the strong, competing presence of continuously growing streaming platforms.
Gunn appears to be adamantly backing up his take with DC Studios' polar opposite approach to Batman II's incessantly-discussed production status.
"We don't have a script [for Batman II]. Matt's [director Matt Reeves] slow. Let him take his time. Let him do what he's doing. God, people are mean. Let him do his thing, man."
Gunn's Superman reboot starring David Corenswet is right around the corner, slated to hit theaters on July 11.James Gunn Says The Movie Industry Is 'Dying' Due to Unfinished Screenplays first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Summer Blockbusters Could Kick Cineplex Stock Into Recovery
Written by Demetris Afxentiou at The Motley Fool Canada Are you invested in Cineplex (TSX:CGX)? Canada's largest entertainment company has remained stuck since before the pandemic in a perpetual state of being ready for a recovery. As the summer blockbuster season kicks off, Cineplex stock may finally get the recovery it desperately needs. And that could be good for investors. Cineplex's movie segment follows a simple business model that's been around for over a century. In short, Cineplex charges an admission to an exclusive show and then offers patrons concessions to enjoy (at a steep markup). While there are many problems with that aged model, at the forefront is the growing variety of alternative methods to enjoy that show, all of which are eroding that exclusivity aspect — more specifically, streaming and on-demand services. Those services charge the equivalent of a single movie ticket (or less) for an entire month of unlimited access. The other, equally concerning problem is the quality of content. Cineplex is largely at the mercy of whatever comes out of Hollywood. In recent years, we've seen both writer strikes and a lack of quality content emerging from the studios, leading to less-than-stellar box office results. That underlying market volatility and lacklustre box office performance made its way to Cineplex's stock price. As of the time of writing, Cineplex trades at just over $11. That represents a near 60% improvement over the past year, but it's still far behind its pre-pandemic stock price. In other words, something is needed to kick Cineplex stock into recovery. Most Canadians are aware of Cineplex, associating the entertainment company with its massive portfolio of theatre screens across the country. And while Cineplex does offer the largest number of theatre screens, the company offer investors something additional. That includes Cineplex's digital media business (known as CDM), which provides digital signage solutions for a variety of brick-and-mortar businesses. That includes everything from fast food menus and banking screens to interactive digital information maps in shopping malls. The segment also includes ad sales, further increasing the appeal of the segment. Incredibly, Cineplex's digital media business has customers operating in over 30 countries around the world. That impressive coverage also represents some of the largest, most well-known, and respected names in business. And that's not all. Cineplex also boasts an entire amusement and leisure segment. This includes venue-focused entertainment offerings such as Playdium, the Rec Room and Cineplex Junxion. These venues combine dining, entertainment and gaming into a single experience. Collectively, these non-theatre segments account for a growing part of Cineplex's revenue. In fact, in the most recent quarter, media revenue surged 38% year over year, and the amusement and leisure segment saw an equally impressive (and record-setting) 10.5% year-over-year increase. So, does this mean the market has finally kicked Cineplex stock into recovery? Not quite, but the summer blockbuster season might change that. The summer blockbuster season could be one of the best opportunities for Cineplex to shine. Following a spring season that included multiple highly anticipated blockbusters such as the Thunderbolts and the Minecraft Movie, there are even bigger movies slated for the summer. This includes the latest installment from the Mission: Impossible franchise, which opened in May and has already surpassed US$500 million at the global box office. Other franchise favourites, such as 28 Years Later and Pixar's Elio, both of which came out in the past week. Finally, that's not even accounting for other highly anticipated films coming later this summer. That list includes The Naked Gun reboot and Marvel's upcoming Fantastic Four movie. In short, Cineplex's finances are improving, and the company remains highly discounted. More importantly, this summer blockbuster season may finally kick Cineplex stock into recovery. In my opinion, investors who can handle the risk may be inclined to add a small position in Cineplex (while it's still down) to any well-diversified portfolio. The post Summer Blockbusters Could Kick Cineplex Stock Into Recovery appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Motley Fool Canada's market-beating team has just released a brand-new FREE report revealing 5 "dirt cheap" stocks that you can buy today for under $50 a share. Our team thinks these 5 stocks are critically undervalued, but more importantly, could potentially make Canadian investors who act quickly a fortune. Don't miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover all 5 of these stocks now. Claim your FREE 5-stock report now! More reading Made in Canada: 5 Homegrown Stocks Ready for the 'Buy Local' Revolution [PREMIUM PICKS] Market Volatility Toolkit Best Canadian Stocks to Buy in 2025 Beginner Investors: 4 Top Canadian Stocks to Buy for 2025 5 Years From Now, You'll Probably Wish You Grabbed These Stocks Subscribe to Motley Fool Canada on YouTube Fool contributor Demetris Afxentiou has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Watch: Lions legend Barry Sanders lights it up at the Meijer LPGA Classic pro-am
The women's professional golf tour recently made a stop in Michigan and a Lions legend enthusiastically took part in the celebrity pro-am portion of the festivities. Barry Sanders was one of the primary draws for the LPGA Meijer Classic in June, which takes place in the Grand Rapids area. Sanders played in the pro-am and clearly enjoyed himself. He even showed off some impressive golf skills. Advertisement The Lions posted some footage of Sanders in action on the links. The Hall of Fame running back made some highlights with his golf game. The fans loved seeing Barry Sanders on the course. This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Barry Sanders lights it up at the Meijer LPGA Classic pro-am
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why is everyone crashing out?
It was abundantly clear to everyone that Huda wasn't doing well. Huda Mustafa, the breakout villain on Love Island USA's seventh season, spiraled after viewers voted to separate her from Jeremiah Brown, with whom she'd developed an intense connection early in the current season. Over several episodes, she eavesdropped on Jeremiah's conversations, interrogated the woman he was re-coupled with, and broke down repeatedly. Her despondent face became a viral meme. Viewers, and later Huda herself, had a simple and notably Gen Z explanation for what she was experiencing: The lovelorn reality star had officially 'crashed out.' Justin Bieber received the same label recently, for his strange behavior on social media and a viral standoff with paparazzi. While some of his fanbase voiced more serious concerns over the state of his mental health, many tagged the singer's antics as telltale signs of a typical 'crashout.' View Link It's not just celebrities. Go on TikTok, and users are posting videos of themselves venting, sobbing, or throwing physical tantrums with some sort of caption claiming that they've 'crashed out.' In other cases, they're describing 'crashing out' in response to other people. The catchall phrase is shorthand for the unfiltered actions of a person who is angry, anxious, confused, stressed out, or experiencing mental health issues. It can describe a range of behavior, from emotional outbursts to altercations to withdrawals. There are a lot of ways that 'crashing out' can look, but like obscenity, you know it when you see it. The term has floated around on the internet for a while now; Know Your Meme credits its popularity to rapper NBA YoungBoy, who used the term in his 2017 song, 'Stepped On.' Since the 2020s, the concept has been used both humorously and in earnest to discuss the fallout from issues as global as the state of the world, as personal as relationship or work stress, or as low stakes as struggling with a hairstyle. Practically any problem, big or small, can warrant a 'crashout.' One of the most striking things about the phrase is how general it is. Why is a generation raised on pop-psychology jargon, with more access to mental health resources and experience talking about their own needs, painting these episodes with such a broad brush? Is Gen Z abandoning traditional routes of managing their mental health, or has a burnout generation found a more radical way to cope? It's no secret that Gen Z is particularly stressed out. According to a 2024 Harmony Healthcare IT study, nearly half of Gen Zers struggle with mental health issues, with 1 in 3 taking prescription medication for mental health. Anxiety and depression are the most common conditions. The Covid-19 pandemic has been seen as a cause for the Gen Z mental health crisis, while other studies point to social media as a huge factor. Meanwhile, research suggests that Gen Z might be growing more resistant to traditional therapy. A study in the American Journal of Psychology this year found that 37 percent of participants born between 1997 and 2012 said that seeking counseling was 'mentally weak.' This was a higher percentage than the 27 percent of millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers that were surveyed combined. If therapy's relatively unpopular, social media is booming, and it seems like many teenagers and young adults have turned to their favorite influencers and online advice to get through tough times. On TikTok, for example, 'crashouts' are often encouraged as a necessary form of catharsis. Even if you aren't naturally experiencing these outbursts, users posit them as a quick and easy fix for stress and anger. One user, @masonblakee, posted a video of himself looking relaxed in a car with the caption, 'How it feels when you finally crash out on someone after keeping your mouth shut for a while.' Another, @gazellechavez, made a video sharing the supposed benefits of occasionally 'crashing out.' 'Once you hit rock bottom, there's only one way you can go — up,' she says. View Link Still, professionals are more skeptical of these viral directives, as they're being confronted with them at work. Rebecca Hug, a clinical counselor and core faculty in clinical mental health counseling at University of Phoenix, says she regularly encounters clients who've 'absorbed the idea that emotional 'crashing' is a valid coping strategy.' 'This mindset discourages the development of essential skills like self-regulation, resilience, and perspective-taking,' Hug says. While she says these sorts of reactions are 'developmentally appropriate for teenagers,' it's a more crucial problem for people in early adulthood. New York-based psychologist Sabrina Romanoff shares similar concerns about these viral 'crashing outs,' saying that TikTok has become 'a double-edged sword for mental health.' 'On one hand, it's a space where young people can find validation and connect with people who share similar experiences,' she says. 'On the other hand, it's a platform with a high circulation of unqualified advice, often oversimplifying and promoting unhealthy ideas.' For instance, several videos frame the act of 'crashing out' on other people as a joyful and even empowering experience. But at what point do these emotional eruptions become abusive or signal one's failure in communicating with others? Romanoff adds that there's a danger to the internet automatically labeling these sorts of behaviors as 'crashouts' without acknowledging possible underlying causes. 'When we see repeated posts about these breakdowns, it can inadvertently create a culture where these moments are expected or even glorified rather than seen as a signal that something deeper needs attention,' she says. Prior to the 'crashout' trend, Gen Z had already built a reputation for publicizing their emotional meltdowns online. TikTok and Instagram Stories have become increasingly popular sites for influencers and average users to cry and vent. Hug says viral 'crashouts' reflect how 'emotional dysregulation is increasingly externalized and even socially validated.' Rather than having these intimate moments in private with friends or family members, users can receive immediate support from strangers that they may not receive in real life. This public sharing seems, in part, symptomatic of a loneliness epidemic affecting Gen Z. According to a Pew Research Center study this year, the cohort experiences higher rates of loneliness than previous generations. However, vulnerability has also proven to be a recipe for virality and a strategy to build loyal audiences. Hug says the visibility of emotional struggles can 'blur the line between authentic expression and performative vulnerability.' Hence, there's an obvious incentive for certain people to discuss and post their crashouts. Not everyone may come from a particularly dire or desperate place. After all, Hug says that many of these posters' concerns seem to reflect 'normal developmental stress rather than clinical pathology.' Still, she says that it's important for young people to develop self-regulation skills and utilize mental health resources rather than normalizing these reactions under the guise of 'crashing out.' Unfortunately, emotional maturity doesn't get as many likes.
