Frontline Season 20 Episode 8 The Monster That Ate Hollywood

The Monster That Ate Hollywood is the eighth episode of the twentieth season of Frontline. The episode takes an in-depth look at the business of Hollywood and how it has transformed over the years. It explores the influence of box office potential on the films that get greenlit, the rise of big-budget franchises, and the impact of streaming services on the industry.

The episode begins by examining how Hollywood has always been a business that has put profit above all else. It looks at how the success of films like Jaws and Star Wars in the 1970s paved the way for a new era of blockbuster filmmaking in which studios put all their resources into films that they believed had the potential to make hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office.

The episode then goes on to explore the rise of franchises and sequels, which have become a staple of Hollywood filmmaking in recent decades. It looks at how making films that are part of an existing brand (Star Wars, Marvel, etc.) is now seen as a safer bet for studios than taking a risk on something new and untested. The episode also examines how this trend has affected the creative process of filmmaking, with many filmmakers being forced to work within the constraints of established franchises rather than being able to tell their own stories.

The Monster That Ate Hollywood also delves into the impact of streaming services on the film industry. The episode looks at how companies like Netflix and Amazon are changing the way films are financed, made, and distributed. It examines how the rise of streaming has given filmmakers more opportunities to tell unconventional stories, but it has also led to a more crowded marketplace in which it is harder for films to stand out.

Throughout the episode, various experts in the film industry offer their insights into the current state of Hollywood. These include producers, directors, actors, and film critics who offer a range of perspectives on the trends and challenges facing the industry today.

Overall, The Monster That Ate Hollywood is an illuminating exploration of how the business of Hollywood has evolved and how it continues to shape the films we see today. It offers a thought-provoking look at the challenges facing the industry and the ways in which it is responding to them.