Paul Thomas Anderson makes great films, full stop. And his new film, “Licorice Pizza,” is no exception. But just because the award-winning filmmaker creates some of the best examples of cinema today, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy a bit of blockbuster schlock from time to time, as he has already admitted to earlier this year. And to further explain his enjoyment of superhero films, Anderson wants people to know he isn’t afraid of those features dominating the box office, as long as it brings people back to movie theaters.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2021
In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Paul Thomas Anderson talks, of course, about his new film, “Licorice Pizza,” but he also talks about the state of the film industry. And he admits there are plenty of “sky-is-falling questions” surrounding film nowadays, but he doesn’t subscribe to many of those fears.
“Obviously it’s gotten even more complicated with streaming and the sort of overabundance of superhero movies,” said the filmmaker. “Most of the stuff I don’t take too seriously. I mean, it seems that there is a bit of a preoccupation with superhero films. I like them. It seems to be something that’s popular these days to sort of wonder if they’ve ruined movies and all this kind of stuff. I just don’t feel that way.”
He added, “I mean, look, we’re all nervous about people getting back to the theater, but you know what’s going to get them back in movie theaters? ‘Spider-Man.’ So let’s be happy about that.”
The last comment comes as the world prepares for the release of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which early tracking is predicting will blow away most pandemic-era box office records and bring totals that are more reminiscent of the good ol’ days of 2019, when “Avengers: Endgame” was breaking all records. While many are (perhaps rightfully) concerned cinemas are growing more and more dependent on blockbusters and superhero films, Anderson thinks getting people back to the theater is the most important thing right now.
And perhaps after they’re done swinging from the rooftops in ‘No Way Home,’ some of those movie-goers will stick around for a Christmas Day showing of “Licorice Pizza?” If they do, they’ll be greeted by what we consider the best film of 2021.
“Licorice Pizza” is available in select cinemas now and will expand with a wide release on December 25.