Study Shows Hollywood Movies Fail To Adequately Reflect Climate Change Crisis
A recent study has revealed a significant gap in Hollywood's portrayal of the climate change crisis, with the vast majority of blockbusters to acknowledge the issue. The research, conducted by Colby College in Maine and Good Energy in Los Angeles, scrutinized 250 popular movies released between 2013 and 2022. Their findings indicated that less than 10% of these films passed a "climate reality check" designed to assess their recognition of climate change, a startling disconnect given the growing public desire for movies that reflect contemporary global challenges.
According to AP reports, the criteria for passing the test were straightforward: a film had to present a narrative where climate change is recognized as existing, and at least one character must be aware of it. Notably, the 2017 superhero film Justice League passed the test, thanks to a line from Jason Momoa's Aquaman. However, such acknowledgments were rare, with fewer than 4% of movies mentioning climate change in two or more scenes.
Matthew Schneider-Mayerson, Colby College English professor and the study's lead researcher, lamented the industry's failure to capture the world as it is. "They are portraying a world that is now history or fantasy — a world in which climate change is not happening," he said. The study, which was peer-reviewed in April and seeks publication in scientific journals, aims to encourage more accurate representations of climate change in film, serving as a tool for audiences, writers, and filmmakers.
The research also yielded some unexpected results. Films like Marriage Story, Glass Onion, and Midsommar passed the climate reality check, despite their seemingly unrelated themes to environmental issues. Conversely, movies with more explicit references to climate-related disasters, such as San Andreas and The Meg, failed the test. This disparity highlights the nuanced ways films can incorporate or ignore climate change, beyond the surface level of disaster narratives.
Another interesting finding from the study was the higher prevalence of climate change themes in movies on streaming platforms compared to those produced by major studios. This distinction points to a potential shift in how different segments of the industry are addressing or neglecting environmental issues.
Harry Winer, the director of sustainability at the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, underscored the study's importance. He suggested it could serve as a marketing tool, a source of data, and an incentive for filmmakers to engage more deeply with climate change narratives. "The audience will be more open to hearing a dialogue about what is right and what is wrong," he said, emphasizing the potential of movies to initiate meaningful conversations about climate change.
The findings of this study illuminate a crucial gap in Hollywood's narrative landscape, underscoring the need for a more accurate reflection of the world's current environmental challenges. As the industry moves forward, there is a clear call for filmmakers to integrate climate change into their storytelling, engaging audiences with one of the most pressing issues of our time.
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