Should movies start acknowledging the pandemic?

[CyberpunkCentral]

I'm not saying make movies about the pandemic, but it's a tad bit weird that we no longer live in that same norm anymore. For example, a romantic comedy about a boy meets girl in 2020. That's automatically a fantasy at this point.

[kylor]

Or a romantic comedy where boy and girl meet corona in 2020.

[HarcourtMudd]

Movies are an escape for me, and the pandemic is the last thing I want to be reminded of. So, no. The first movie that has the term 'social distancing' in it will be the last one I patronize...

[Lee A Stewart]

I am sure there will be plenty of documentaries in the pipeline about the CV-19 Pandemic. Movie(s) - maybe after it's all over.

[Monterey Jack]

No.

[Bubbles-11]

no thank you

[kylor]

Well, I personally lost family to covid, but a movie is a movie. There have been plenty of movies surrounding other real world disasters so, I don't see why another disaster should be any different. Besides, I can choose not to watch those kinds of movies if I feel so bothered by it.

[Monterey Jack]

Movies should not glorify a pandemic that is strangling theaters to death.

[Michael24]

No. I think most people are tired enough of this crap in real life that they don't want to have to see it in their movies and TV shows.

And I wish people would stop saying "the new normal." There's nothing normal about what's been going on this year.

[starsteam]

I guess it wouldn't be much different than a movie set in the 1930's acknowledging the Great Depression even if it isn't relevant to the plot - but generally movies that aren't period pieces don't try to date themselves to their release year.

It would be pretty weird to sit in a theater in a couple of years watching Jurassic World: Dominion and the characters are walking around wearing masks and making references to distancing.

[filmbuffTX]

Current TV series are already working the pandemic into their shows. Two that I’ve personally watched: This Is Us and The Connors.

It makes them relevant to current events and relatable to audiences. Just like when they discuss politics during an election year, recognize a holiday, or acknowledge natural disasters or wars.

I don’t care either way. It doesn’t bother me if it’s included into the plot.

[Foggy]

I think you guys are missing Cyber’s point. I’ve seen a couple things set this year, or at least concurrently with current events, and it feels weird that it’s like nothing has shifted in their behaviour like the pandemic is going on. It’s certainly going to be covered in documentaries and a few direct fictional films and TV shows, but is 2020 and the majority of 2021 now a write off for a few domesticated stories that don’t require a mention of Coronavirus.

Elaborating on the example above, a workaholic woman can’t really meet cute with a slacker intern over Zoom calls because everyone works from home now, say they work at a rep company of Sports stars, that’s been completely overhauled by COVID guidelines. Sure we can get away with Batman and James Bond skipping over Coronavirus references, but it has had such a huge impact now that a lot of stories we used to tell have been shaped distinctively. Like it baffles my mind how Soderbergh has managed to make a film on a Cruise with Meryl Streep.

[dallywhitty]

Can't wait for us to get 2023's Oscar bait event COVID. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, it'll star Mark Wahlberg as an Ordinary Guy™ who'll single-handedly create a cure for the virus and save the human race from extinction.

[The Debts]

If we are to tackle such a subject, it should be done allegorically or a film should be made to reflect the mindset/feelings one would have during times such as these. Making it so blatantly about said subject can be cringe inducing at best and downright tasteless at worst.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Movies should not glorify a pandemic that is strangling theaters to death.

[Dr Lenera]

I think that filmmakers have every right to refer to the pandemic if they want to; it'll be interesting to see if this puts off many viewers or not. For now, I think I'll skip. especially as there now seems to be more light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine news, at least in Europe....not sure what the situation is in the US.

[HarcourtMudd]

I am more concerned that all of the movies being filmed now will be but pale shadows of what might have been. I cannot find the links, but I think I read somewhere that "Jurassic World: Dominion" was being scaled back due to filming restrictions. If so, this is just the start, and I would not be surprised if movies from here on out are merely neutered versions of what was intended...

[Damon1281]

Originally Posted by HarcourtMudd

I am more concerned that all of the movies being filmed now will be but pale shadows of what might have been. I cannot find the links, but I think I read somewhere that "Jurassic World: Dominion" was being scaled back due to filming restrictions. If so, this is just the start, and I would not be surprised if movies from here on out are merely neutered versions of what was intended...

That would be devastating. They may have to concentrate on the writing!

[Nvidia]

I think they will add an alternative ending to movies such as 007: No Time to Die where at the very end Bond will put his mask.

[Captain Flint]

Absolutely hell no. If I see a movie that references social distancing, a new normal (whatever the hell that even means), or characters all wearing masks, I'm out. Terribly stupid idea.