10 Things We Love (and Hate) About Modern Movies & TV | SIDEBAR FOREVER

It was bound to happen eventually, right?

As longtime cinephiles (and, sure, a little snobby about it), we finally turn our attention to the state of modern movies and TV. On this episode, we dive into what today’s film and streaming landscape gets right—and where it leaves us scratchin’ our heads.

There’s a lot to love: the convenience of firing up a movie at home without tracking down a physical copy, and shorter streaming seasons with storylines that actually pay off. But not everything gets a pass. The success of a crowd-pleasing, throwback film like Project Hail Mary comes with a demanding two and a half hour runtime. And how did we end up in a world where every cast feels like a superhero reunion? (“Wait… is that Killmonger and Electro starring in a courtroom drama with Captain Marvel?”)

Along the way, we ask some bigger questions. How has second screening changed the way we engage with movies and TV—and even how they’re made? Are filmmakers and showrunners now compensating for a distracted, at-home audience? And would ambitious, big-budget shows like Severance and The Last of Us even exist without the rise of streaming platforms?