Danny Boyle Calls Out 3D Films as a Passing Fad

For more than a century, heading out to the flicks has been a pretty straightforward affair. You grab a ticket, settle in with a bunch of strangers, and watch a story unfold on a massive screen. It’s a simple formula that’s stood the test of time, but that hasn’t stopped cinema operators from trying to jazz things up. Danny Boyle, the bloke behind 28 Years Later, has seen his fair share of these attempts to shake up the experience.

From overpriced snacks to seats with more buttons than a TV remote, cinemas have tried all sorts of tricks to get punters to part with a few extra dollars. There’s surround sound, mist sprayed in your face to mimic rain, and even the odd whiff of something meant to match what’s happening on screen. Some of it, like IMAX, actually adds to the night out. Other ideas—like being jostled about in your seat or sniffing odd smells—are a bit much for most Aussies. Not everyone’s keen to be rattled around pretending they’re inside a dinosaur’s gob while watching Jurassic Park.

3D Films: A Gimmick or the Future?

3D technology isn’t exactly new. It’s been around since the early 1920s, with The Power of Love using coloured lenses and two projectors. But it didn’t really catch on until the 1950s. Boyle’s latest project, 28 Years Later, did dabble in some modern tech—some scenes were even shot on an iPhone 15 Pro. When the zombie sequel hit screens, you could catch it in 4DX, which basically means your seat shakes about to match the action. Still, Boyle’s not sold on 3D. He once told The Telegraph,

“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 added,

“You know how everybody feels a bit of a prat wearing the 3D spectacles – you, as a spectacle wearer, feel a double prat. So, I don’t know if 3D will survive, to be honest, personally. I think it may be a phase.”

The Rise and Fall of 3D at the Cinema

There’s no denying that 3D films have lost a fair bit of steam since their heyday in the late 2000s. Back then, big-budget superhero flicks and endless animated features for kids seemed to be everywhere, and 3D was all the rage. These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find many 3D sessions at your local. The bins overflowing with discarded specs are a thing of the past.

At home, 3D telly was a flop. TV makers poured heaps of cash into the idea, only for most people to realise they couldn’t be bothered wearing sunglasses just to watch the footy or a soap. The novelty wore off quick smart. Still, the odd blockbuster—like James Cameron’s latest Avatar or the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday—keeps the format alive, at least for now. Just don’t expect to bump into Boyle in the queue for a pair of 3D glasses.