The distorted economics of mass media

Video summary

Sequels now dominate Hollywood’s top 20, but cheaper production has fueled a thriving creative long tail.

In 2025, sequels, remakes, and established franchises dominated movies and games: nearly 90% of the top 20 films are now familiar properties, versus about 25% three decades ago. The video revisits Chris Anderson’s long-tail prediction and explains how digital tools lowered production and distribution costs, multiplying songs, films, books, and games without lowering quality. Independent work has found audiences too: by 2012, indie films reached 40% of box-office revenue, while independent games earned nearly half of Steam revenue in 2020. Yet globalization created superstar markets, where a few titles can reach huge audiences; rising blockbuster costs make investors favor recognizable franchises and remakes. The result is not creativity’s death, but a split culture: optimized hits dominate the spotlight while a vibrant long tail thrives. Finding it—through searches for independent recommendations—is the challenge.

Chapters

1. 0:00Introduction: Sequels Near 90% of Top Movies as the Long-Tail Theory Is Revisited
2. 2:25Media in the 1980s: Record Labels and Retail Gatekeepers, Before Harry Potter’s 12 Rejections
3. 4:21Digital Revolution: New Songs Hit 350,000 a Year and Indie Films Took 40% of Box Office
4. 9:25Globalization: Overseas Markets Drive Major Films, Rewarding Franchise Blockbusters
5. 13:55Conclusion and Sponsor: Discover Indie Games and Films; The Economist Offers 35% Off