So yes, raise the movie. Not just for critics or cinephiles, but for the kid watching their first film, dreaming of what’s possible. Cinema has climbed higher before. It’s time to climb again.
In the golden age of streaming, franchise fatigue, and algorithm-driven content, a quiet but urgent whisper is growing into a roar: We need to raise the movie.
We need to celebrate directors who understand that a long take isn't a gimmick—it's a point of view. We need cinematographers who treat light as a character. We need production designers who build worlds you can smell and feel. Films like Dune: Part Two , The Batman , or Poor Things remind us that every frame can be a painting. Let’s demand that back from every genre, not just prestige dramas. The biggest enemy of raised cinema is risk aversion. Studios now greenlight sequels, reboots, and IP extensions because they feel safe. But safety rarely creates art. Everything Everywhere All at Once —a multiverse film about laundry, taxes, and hot dog fingers—became a phenomenon precisely because it was risky.
