The Town with Matthew Belloni Are Movies Actually Getting Longer? We Found Out.
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Apr 3, 2026 Todd Garner, film producer and former studio exec known for action and comedy hits, shares findings from a 3,600-film study on runtimes. He discusses rising action runtimes, why auteur-driven films are getting longer, theatrical vs streaming incentives, and how pacing and fan culture shape film length.
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Average Movie Length Hasn't Changed
- The overall average runtime of films (1980–2025) has stayed about 102 minutes despite perceptions.
- Stephen Follows' dataset of 36,000+ films shows the widening difference comes from big theatrical releases, not the market as a whole.
Theater Hits Are Getting Longer
- Wide theatrical releases (films grossing >$10M) have lengthened by ~15 minutes over 20 years, now averaging ~120 minutes.
- The growth is driven largely by action films, which rose from ~102 to ~116 minutes on average.
Filmmakers Hold Runtime Power On Big Movies
- Power has shifted toward filmmakers on big-budget projects, so studios often defer to directors' visions on runtime.
- Todd Garner notes producer-driven era (e.g., Jerry Bruckheimer) used preview feedback to cut length, a practice less common now.