The movie industry is an ever changing business, and the release of many new and unique movies have caught everyone’s attention. One of these movies is “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which has been one of the most popular movies of the past 3 months since its release date on Dec. 16, 2022. 

“This movie is so popular because it is a sequel for “Avatar.” It was also made multiple years later, so the CGI, [or computer-generated imagery,] was developed a lot better than the prequel, and people were excited to see that,” said sophomore Alison Mun.

Mun realized that this movie was an exciting watch for people, not only because of the plot, but because of the fascination of how the movie was made and how realistic it was. The movie watching experience has also been heightened by the use of 3D and 4D.

“I’ve noticed that a lot more movies have been put out in 3D and 4D, and it is becoming common for theaters to offer this as an option,” Mun said.

Another trend in the industry is making movies more relatable to the current generation. “Missing,” a mystery movie released on Jan. 20, 2023, focuses on the use of technology, as the main character unravels the mystery. 

“I think it gained a lot of attention because of the way the movie was created. It was a different take on mystery movies that hasn’t been seen before,” said sophomore Akshadha Venkat.

An additional trend is different celebrities, such as social media influencers and singers, expanding their interests and auditioning for roles in movies. 

“I’ve noticed that singers, such as Harry Styles in the movie “Don’t Worry Darling,” are showing up more often in movies, and that is what makes the movie do well,” Mun said.

Some movies became so popular due to these trends that they are still shown in theaters almost a year later, such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” which is still being played in IMAX and regular theaters today.