“You could afford to not make all of your money”: Matt Damon Knows the 1 Reason Why Hollywood Hasn’t Seen a Successful Rom Com in Ages

Matt Damon’s foray into Hollywood has been nothing short of extraordinary, a captivating journey that has left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. His ascent to stardom can be attributed to his unparalleled talent and remarkable versatility, making him a celebrated personality in the realm of entertainment. Beyond his on-screen performances, Damon has also shown a keen insight into the inner workings of the Hollywood business.

In a notable interview, the actor shared his thoughts on the intricacies of the industry, providing a rare glimpse into the mechanisms that drive success in every movie. Damon delved into the complexities of the Hollywood business, shedding light on the challenges of its profit-making process.
The actor also articulated a compelling perspective, pinpointing a specific reason behind Hollywood’s struggle to produce good rom-coms that resonate with contemporary audiences.

Matt Damon Investigates the Factors Behind the successful Rom-Com’s Disappearance in Hollywood

Beyond the glitz and glamor of Hollywood’s exterior lies a complex web of inner intricacies, as highlighted by Matt Damon in a revealing interview with Sean Evans on the YouTube show Hot Ones. The seasoned actor delved into the profound changes that have shaped the industry’s evolution, particularly addressing the enigma behind Hollywood’s struggle with the romantic comedy genre.

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Damon pointed out a crucial factor contributing to this shift – the diminishing presence of mid-budget films. In an era dominated by high-budget productions aimed at broader audiences, the once-thriving mid-budget category has become a rarity.
The Oppenheimer star disclosed that the increasing necessity to double the film’s budget for marketing made profitability a challenging gamble, especially for rom-com films. Matt Damon told in First We Feast,

“The idea of making a hundred million dollars on a story about like this love affair between these two people yeah i love everyone in the movie but so that’s suddenly a massive gamble.”

In Damon’s eyes, this new dynamic has impacted the industry’s ability to produce successful rom-coms. While explaining his own 2013 movie Behind the Candelabra as an example, Damon told Evans,

“I talked to a studio executive who explained it was a 25 million dollar movie,” Damon said. “I would have to put that much into print and advertising (P&A) to market it… so I’d have to put that in P&A, so now I’m in 50 million dollars. I have to split everything I get with the exhibitor, right, the people who own the movie theatres, so I would have to make a hundred million dollars before I got into profit.”

The era when such films were viable, as seen in the Nineties, has seemingly faded. The actor pointed out that the shift not only affected the romantic comedy genre but also had a personal impact, as it disrupted the trajectory of his career, which had once thrived on such projects.

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Matt Damon Explores the Impact of DVD Decline on Film Production

In a compelling revelation, Matt Damon dissected the seismic shift in Hollywood’s business structure during a Hot Ones interview. According to Damon, the fundamental transformation was driven by the decline in DVD sales and the rapid advancements in technology.

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Damon underscored the significance of DVD sales as a traditional revenue stream for the industry, emphasizing how its decline reshaped the landscape of filmmaking. Matt Damon told Evans,

“The DVD was a huge part of our business, of our revenue stream. Technology has just made that obsolete, and so the movies that we used to make, you could afford to not make all of your money when it played in the theatre because you knew you had the DVD coming behind the release.”

As DVD sales continue to decline, studios find themselves navigating an evolving landscape, prompting a pivot towards high-concept films. Matt Damon’s insights shed light on the interconnected dynamics of technological advancements, changing consumer habits, and risk aversion within the industry.