As six out of ten films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar award are over two hours long, including Oscar winning Oppenheimer, new research has lifted the lid on the nation’s film-watching habits by surveying 2,000 UK residents, and it’s bad news for those epic-length flicks.
In agreement with ‘Wonka’ film actor, Hugh Grant, who complained at film runtimes when delivering the Bafta award for best director recently, 44% of those surveyed said ideally films should be no longer than two hours. But a further 29% said films any longer than an hour and a half long are pushing it.
It seems women might have a shorter attention span when it comes to movie marathons, with 35% opting for flicks under an hour and a half, compared to 23% of men. But when it comes to the two-hour mark, it’s game on, with 43% of women and 44% of men giving the thumbs up.
Only two brave souls out of the 2,000-strong sample size (0.11%) championed films stretching over the three-hour mark. And perhaps unsurprisingly, both of them agreed they’d be darting out for a loo break mid-movie.
But what’s driving this need for shorter movies? It could be our dwindling attention spans. A study by the Centre for Attention Studies at King’s College London in 2022 found that nearly half of the adults surveyed felt their attention span had taken a nosedive.
Our cinema refreshment habits could also be a contender, especially those gargantuan drinks. According to the NHS, a standard bladder can only hold a pint (568ml). So, if you’ve supersized your drink to wash down that popcorn, you might find yourself missing more than just the trailers.
40% of those who prefer films no more than two hours long said they would need a toilet break, and 31% of those who prefer films no longer than 90 minutes agreed. Interestingly, the survey unveiled that a whopping 45% of the under-24 crowd are feeling the call of nature, compared to a more stoic 33% of the over-55s.
Streaming stats
When it comes to TV vs the cinema, 40% of respondents confessed their preference for binge-worthy TV series over the latest Hollywood blockbusters. In stark contrast, only 27% expressed a fondness for films, signalling a seismic shift in viewing preferences.
For new film releases, the nation appears to be evenly split. Thirty-one percent opt for the convenience of streaming movies at home, while an equal proportion still enjoy the traditional cinema experience – though streaming movies at home does just scrape the majority with 31.25% to the cinema’s 31.15%. Ten percent, meanwhile, would prefer to stream movies on the move.
Digging deeper into the demographics, age emerges as a significant factor influencing viewing preferences. Those under 34 prefer the cinematic experience, while those aged 35 and above gravitate towards the comfort of home streaming.
Regionally, the majority of UK areas seem to favour the cosy confines of home viewing. However, Greater London goes against national trends with 40% of respondents in the capital opting for the cinema compared to 30% who prefer streaming at home.
But amidst the gloom for cinemas, there’s a glimmer of hope. Cinema advertising agency Digital Cinema Media and Pearl & Dean reported a 6% increase in cinema attendance in 2023, despite disruptions caused by industry strikes and the strain of the cost of living on households. While still shy of pre-pandemic footfall highs, the sector shows signs of a steady recovery.
According to the UK Cinema Association, the average price of just one cinema ticket is now £7.92, which although is cheaper than Netflix’s lowest ad-free subscription at £10.99, it can’t compete with access to over 6,000 TV series and films available on the streaming service.
Christopher Wilkie, spokesperson for Heart Bingo, who commissioned the survey, said: “We’ve got an enduring love affair with the cinema, there’s no denying that. But let’s not overlook the practical realities for us mere mortals in the audience.
“While we’re all for a captivating story that transports us to another world, films pushing past the three-hour mark can feel like embarking on a transatlantic flight without a neck pillow. We’re eager passengers, but we’re also hoping for a smooth ride.
“Even though we might squirm a bit in our seats during those marathon films, it doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the cinema. It’s just a reminder that sometimes less is more, when it comes to a comfortable viewing experience.”
2024 Oscar Best Picture nominees – ranked from shortest to longest feature length
PAST LIVES, 1hr 46
David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers
THE ZONE OF INTEREST, 1hr 46
James Wilson, Producer
BARBIE, 1 HR 54
David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers
AMERICAN FICTION, 1 HR 57
Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers
MAESTRO, 2HRS 9
Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
THE HOLDOVERS, 2 HRS 13
Mark Johnson, Producer
POOR THINGS, 2hrs 21
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers
ANATOMY OF A FALL, 2 HRS 32
Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers
OPPENHEIMER, 3 HRS
Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, 3 HRS 26
Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers
