Teh Curious Case of Megalopolis and the Future of Cinematic Ritual
Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis arrived last fall as a cinematic event, particularly in the immersive experience of IMAX.Though, the subsequent strategy of repeated re-releases – now including New Year’s Day screenings - has sparked debate. Is this a genuine attempt to foster a cinematic community, or a director desperately trying to cultivate a cult following? Let’s unpack what’s happening and why it matters for the future of how we experience film.
The initial excitement surrounding Megalopolis is undeniable. Yet, the prospect of paying to hear Coppola expound on the film and its philosophical underpinnings feels, to many, like a step too far. It echoes, somewhat, the extended release strategy for Zack Snyder‘s Rebel Moon on Netflix, attempting to manufacture demand where organic interest wanes.
The cult of Personality vs. Organic Gratitude
There’s a crucial difference between a film becoming a cult classic and having a cult created around it. True cult films are embraced by audiences who discover and champion them organically. Cult leaders, on the other hand, actively seek to build a following, a dynamic that feels inherently different. Movie cults are endearing as they are chosen, not imposed.
Coppola’s current approach raises questions about this distinction. It’s further highlighted by recent reports of the director even selling personal possessions to fund the film’s continued promotion.
A Void in the exhibition Landscape
Despite the skepticism, the re-release strategy isn’t entirely without precedent. Large-format theaters like IMAX often face scheduling gaps between major blockbusters. Recently, some IMAX locations filled those gaps with revivals of films like Sinners and One Battle After Another, even though both were readily available for home viewing.
Furthermore, distributors like Fathom Entertainment and the accessibility of digital prints have brought a repertory cinema sensibility to mainstream multiplexes. The spontaneous tribute screenings following Diane Keaton’s passing, with three of her iconic films playing at AMC theaters nationwide, demonstrate this trend.
Megalopolis as a New Year’s Film?
Interestingly, the New Year’s Day re-release feels surprisingly apt. Megalopolis possesses a certain shiny, audacious, and ultimately hopeful quality – albeit one tinged with artifice. It’s a film that embraces spectacle and ambition, mirroring the spirit of a fresh start.
Movies routinely receive unsolicited anniversary screenings or thematic revivals. Why shoudl only established classics be allowed to become “events”? Coppola clearly believes the ideas within Megalopolis are too potent to be easily dismissed.
Beyond Ideas: The Value of the Experience
though, the film’s philosophical pronouncements are frequently enough vague and open to interpretation. Megalopolis doesn’t offer concrete solutions for societal advancement. Instead, it delivers an experience – a bold, quixotic attempt to revitalize in-person cinema.
This echoes the purposeful scarcity surrounding Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria, which initially played in only one theater at a time and remains challenging to access. The limited release amplified the film’s mystique and encouraged a dedicated audience to seek it out.
What Does This mean for the Future?
Ultimately, the Megalopolis experiment is about more than just one film. It’s a test case for how filmmakers can engage with audiences in a changing cinematic landscape.
* Rethinking Release Strategies: Conventional release windows are crumbling. Filmmakers are exploring alternative methods to connect with viewers.
* The Power of Event Cinema: Creating a unique, in-person experience can be a powerful draw.
* Cultivating Community: Building a dedicated audience requires more than just marketing; it requires fostering a sense of shared experience.
Whether Coppola’s strategy will succeed remains to be seen. But it’s undeniably sparking a conversation about the future of cinema and the evolving relationship between filmmakers and their audiences. you, as a film enthusiast, are now part of that conversation.
