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Hollywood misses chance to spotlight climate crisis in blockbusters
Despite the climate emergency, Hollywood films rarely address the issue, focusing instead on pure entertainment.
In short:
- The film "Twisters" follows a 1996 disaster movie but avoids climate messaging, focusing on entertainment.
- Studies show that only a small fraction of top-grossing films address climate change explicitly.
- Filmmakers struggle to incorporate climate issues due to fears of audience backlash and perceived difficulty in storytelling.
Key quote:
“I just don’t feel like films are meant to be message-oriented.”
— Lee Isaac Chung, director of Twisters
Why this matters:
Hollywood, with its vast influence and global reach, has long been a powerful tool for shaping public consciousness. However, when it comes to addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time—climate change—the silver screen has often shied away.
Related EHN coverage:
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Researchers aim to boost climate change themes in Hollywood movies
A new study reveals that most Hollywood blockbusters fail to address the reality of climate change, despite public demand for more relevant content.
In short:
- A study by Colby College researchers examined 250 movies from 2013 to 2022, finding that less than 10% acknowledged climate change.
- Films like "Justice League" and "Don't Look Up" passed the climate reality check, while many popular movies did not.
- Streaming services featured a higher percentage of climate-aware films compared to major studios.
Key quote:
“They are portraying a world that is now history or fantasy — a world in which climate change is not happening.”
— Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Colby College
Why this matters:
Accurate representation of climate change in movies can raise awareness and inspire action. Ignoring it in popular culture perpetuates a disconnect between reality and public perception, hindering efforts to address the crisis.
Be sure to read EHN’s related coverage:
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Mentions of climate change in scripted entertainment largely absent
While there has been much research on social, political and economic issues in media and its impact on viewers, there has been little to none on climate change. It’s a major topic, as the United Nation’s latest report keeps pleading for more aggressive and accelerated actions in order to avert a climate catastrophe.
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