World news
🎬 Films for everyone vs. critics’ picks
Analysis by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has revealed a growing gap between box office hits and BAFTA contenders.
Over the past 40 years, the tastes of mass audiences and professional juries have increasingly diverged.
In the past, commercial success and critical recognition often went hand in hand. In the 1990s, almost half of top-grossing films carried a 15+ rating.
Since 2016, box office charts have been dominated by family franchises and animated films (U, PG, 12A). At the same time, 74% of BAFTA Best Film nominees are adult-oriented titles rated 15 or 18.
Only 8% of the biggest box office hits since 1989 have gone on to receive a Best Film nomination.
Critics continue to favor complex themes and “adult” content, while cinemas survive thanks to broad-appeal blockbusters that attract the widest possible audience.
