For years, people have been comparing things of today to those of the past. It could be the youth, music, cast iron pans, cars, or washing machines. On many occasions, I have heard adults reminisce about the past. They claim that “back in their day,” things were better, faster, more durable, more efficient, etc. In some instances, they may be correct. However, in many cases, they are not. This is particularly true when it comes to movies.

Throughout the nearly century long life of film, new practices and technologies have only improved the immersion and capabilities of movies. Movies like Interstellar (2014) and Avatar (2009) would not have been possible 20 years ago. Clever use of practical effects allowed classics like Star Wars to survive, but immersion was often broken.

Additionally, modern films consistently impress viewers. Films from the last decade such as No Country for Old Men (2007), Django Unchained (2012), and Dunkirk (2017) are being listed among the classics as some of the best movies of all time. The notion that no good movies are being released today is absurd.

Unfortunately, tricks like selection bias and nostalgia affect people’s view of the past such that they believe that things truly were better.

Selection bias is a statistical bias in which sample groups are not properly randomized, interfering with data. This is very relevant to movies. If all someone does is compare classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) or Back to the Future (1985) to the newest Adam Sandler movies, they will find that movies of the past are superior. The problem is these films are not good representations of what film was like in the last half of the twentieth century. Have you ever heard of the 1978 film Rabbit Test by Joan Rivers? I assume not, because it was a disaster. Flops from the past are forgotten, and all that is left to remember is the best.

Nostalgia also plays a large role in the misrepresentation of the past. The Matrix (1999) is often held in high esteem by fans who argue that the film marks a turning point in CGI. Unfortunately, The Matrix aged very poorly. Many people remember the insanity that The Matrix was when it was first released. However, from a modern perspective, The Matrix is just a cheesy action flick with poor quality special effects.

Many people claim that modern films are not like they used to be, and they are correct. Modern films employ new technologies and techniques that improve immersion and quality. Movies of the past simply cannot hold a candle to what is possible today.

Keaton Maier

A&E Editor