Lights, camera, climate change action! The glittering world of Hollywood movies seems to be missing a crucial plot point – reflecting the current climate crisis. Cue the researchers donning their caps and setting out on a mission to determine if today’s blockbusters are indeed hitting the mark or missing it by miles.
Picture this: they surveyed 250 movies from 2013 to 2022 and found that most films were as distant from addressing climate change as Mars is from Earth. Only a mere sprinkle of movies passed the “climate reality check” proposed by these investigators. Jason Momoa’s Aquaman might not mind the rising oceans, but it seems moviegoers definitely do! With fewer than 10% of films making the cut, it’s clear that most scripts are set in a land where climate change is either non-existent or just an afterthought.
But hold onto your popcorn, there were surprises in store! Films like Marriage Story and Midsommar managed to sneak past the climate change radar, while explicit climate-themed movies like Don’t Look Up still ticked the boxes for acknowledgment. On the flip side, disaster flicks like San Andreas and oceanic adventures like The Meg missed the boat altogether.
The researchers at Colby College in Maine, along with Good Energy from LA, published their findings in April; receiving nods from peers and eyeing scientific journals for more spotlight. This study isn’t just about pointing fingers; it’s an invitation to filmmakers, writers, and audiences alike to ponder over how our changing world is portrayed on-screen.
Streaming services emerged as surprisingly greener pastures when it came to inclusivity of climate change themes compared to major studios. Harry Winer even chimed in; not directly involved but acknowledging how this study could serve as a reel deal for marketing insights, data collection, and maybe even spurring interest in telling more climate-related tales.
Enter Bechdel-Wallace test but make it about climate change this time! Yup, similar to evaluating gender representation in films with two female characters talking about anything other than men; now we have a litmus test for environmental awareness on-screen. Alison Bechdel herself gave a nod of approval to this new test during this year’s Academy Awards season because hey, keeping mum about our planet’s fate just doesn’t cut it anymore.
So there you have it – Hollywood might need a reboot when it comes to reflecting our current reality. Lights out on overlooking climate change; action on incorporating this global challenge into scripts doesn’t seem like rocket science…or shall we say ‘climate science’ anymore! Let’s hope Tinseltown takes note before we dive into an underwater blockbuster for real!