Merchandise Movies: Hollywood's Safe Bet

Hollywood has a new favorite character—the brand. In this episode, we dive into the rise of the “brand biopic,” the genre reshaping movie theaters from Barbie to sneakers, video games, and now Ferrari. These films are sleek, well-crafted, and undeniably entertaining—but they also reveal an industry racing away from risk. Instead of traditional product placement, the product is the story, giving studios a built-in audience and a safer financial bet in an uncertain box-office era. We explore how the dominance of familiar names, franchises, and corporate legends is transforming the stories Hollywood tells — and what it means for the future of originality on screen.https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/12/23/ferrari-is-the-latest-example-of-hollywoods-love-of-brands