UK Cinema Boss Calls for Shorter Films to Save the Big Screen

Claire Binns, creative director at Picturehouse Cinemas, has thrown down the gauntlet to directors, suggesting that if they want their work to be shown on the big screen, they need to start thinking about the audience’s comfort. Binns, who’s just been recognised with this year’s Bafta for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, didn’t mince words about the current trend of films stretching well past the two-hour mark.

Recent blockbusters like Oppenheimer and The Brutalist have clocked in at three hours and three hours thirty-five minutes, respectively. Binns reckons this is a bit much for most punters, especially as more people are choosing to stay home with streaming services. She said,

I talk to producers about this and say: ‘Tell the director you’re making the film for an audience, not the directors,’

and added,

There’s always exceptions, but I look at a lot of films and think: ‘You could take 20 minutes out of that.’ There’s no need for films to be that long.

Long Runtimes Squeeze Cinema Schedules

Binns pointed out that when films run long, it’s not just the audience who suffers. Cinemas themselves are left with fewer opportunities to show each title.

It means you only get one evening show. I think it’s a wake-up call to directors. If they want their films in cinemas, people have to feel comfortable about what they’re committing to.

With only so many hours in a day, longer films mean fewer sessions, which can hit the bottom line for venues already doing it tough.

She’s not alone in her concerns. Many in the industry have noticed that as films get longer, it’s harder to fit them into busy schedules, and punters are less keen to commit to a marathon session at the cinema. The shift towards streaming during the pandemic only made things trickier, as people got used to pausing and stretching out at home.

Hope for Cinemas Despite Tough Times

Despite the challenges, Binns remains optimistic about the future of the big screen.

It’s been very tough for cinemas. During Covid, everybody got used to sitting on couches and watching streaming services. But that’s changing. We’re working with the streamers to bring people in.

She sees a shift underway, with more original stories leading the charge and drawing audiences back to cinemas.

Films like Hamnet, One Battle After Another, and Marty Supreme are making waves in the awards circuit, showing that there’s still plenty of appetite for fresh, engaging stories. Binns is hopeful that with a bit of adjustment—especially when it comes to runtime—cinemas can bounce back and keep punters coming through the doors.