TV has replaced film as the pinnacle of Hollywood

Deal with it, movie stars

Film stars have long been our pinnacle of celebrity in the U.S. When you hear the term “Hollywood star” you might picture Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, or Ben Affleck. Maybe you’ve noticed that they’ve been campaigning (desperately, I might add - it’s almost embarrassing) to get us back in the theaters, but we no longer crave that “special feeling” any longer. TV is all we need now.

Streaming eclipsed the film experience because they’re creating a cinematic universe over 7 to 12 episodes, sometimes for 8 entire seasons. Fans have a chance to get to know characters on a level that they never get a chance to with film stars. Instead, they’re seeing the same faces in new roles every day as opposed to beloved characters experiencing growth and a range of emotions.

For the same reasons, the television star is shining brighter than ever before, outshining that of their film counterparts. Our Instagram feeds are bombarded with Sydney Sweeney and older artists who previously thought they’d reached their peaks are seeing career resurgences through their TV careers like Jennifer Coolidge. Foreign stars are breaking into the largest world markets due to today’s streaming capabilities as well.

And if you think I’m imagining how many people really view their TV via streaming services, the shift first came in July 2022. Now, more people use streaming than cable. On average, just above half of Americans spend one to four hours daily watching TV, and 22% watch four or more hours every day. Meanwhile, movie theaters continue to struggle.

So, what do you think? Does TV officially reign supreme? And with the box offices in such duress where does this leave the music industry?