Movies and the Attention Span
Modern cinema is facing a trend where blockbusters are increasing in length, even as younger audiences report difficulty maintaining focus for long durations. This piece explores the tension between the evolving attention spans of viewers and the industry's shift toward longer, more immersive film experiences.
Why it matters
It highlights a cultural shift in media consumption habits that may force the film industry to rethink pacing and distribution strategies.
As young people struggle to sit through even an hour of a film, modern blockbusters are getting longer.
KEHAN CHEN / Getty July 18, 2026, 10:30 AM ET Share Save This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning.
Earlier this year, my colleague Rose Horowitch reported on a new irony in higher education: Students who have chosen to take film classes can’t sit through the films. One professor told her that “his students remind him of nicotine addicts going through withdrawal during screenings: The longer they go without checking their phone, the more they fidget. Eventually, they give in.”
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