Movie Run Times, Definitively Ranked: Filmmakers Weigh In on the Perfect length
LOS ANGELES, CA – The debate over ideal movie length is as old as cinema itself, but a recent discourse among film critics and industry professionals has crystallized a surprising consensus: there is a sweet spot. From the brisk efficiency of 80-85 minute thrillers to the immersive scope of three-hour epics, filmmakers are increasingly purposeful about how long they ask audiences to commit.
The Case for Brevity: 80-85 Minutes
Dubbed the “Long Lunch Run Time,” the 80-85 minute format is secretly considered perfect by many. The length demands ruthless editing, resulting in “a perfect cinematic statement as direct and fat-free as a Raymond Carver story or a Minor Threat song,” according to one contributor. This timeframe allows for a complete cinematic experiance without overstaying its welcome – a crucial factor for weeknight viewings. The list of acclaimed films fitting this mold is extensive,including the original Evil Dead,Toy Story,Before Sunset,This Is Spinal Tap,Persona,Rope,The Muppets’ Christmas carol,Idiocracy,The Killing,Fruitvale Station,Eyes Without a Face,Chicken Run,Run Lola Run,A Nightmare Before Christmas,Where Is the Freind’s House,Shiva baby,the Texas Chainsaw Massacre,The Squid and the Whale,and Locke.The latter, a 2013 film starring Tom Hardy, exemplifies the format’s power: 85 minutes of intense, focused narrative about a construction manager unraveling while driving from Birmingham to London. “The second you start getting antsy, it’s over,” the analysis notes.
The Goldilocks Zone: 90 Minutes
A 90-minute runtime strikes a balance between urgency and ambition, proving a popular length for first masterpieces. Filmmakers like Preston Sturges (The Lady Eve), Terrence Malick (Days of Heaven), Claire Denis (nice work), Alain Resnais (Hiroshima Mon Amour), Agnès Varda (Cleo from 5 to 7), and Wong Kar-wai (Days of Being Wild) all launched their careers with films of this duration.It’s a length that “forces filmmakers to be urgent and economical but still gives them enough room for scope and ambition,” and serves as “the perfect gateway drug for attention-span-challenged young cinephiles.”
The Epic Canvas: 3 Hours
For truly ambitious storytelling, the three-hour runtime reigns supreme. This length, 180 minutes, is the destination for directors aiming for a grand cinematic experience. Landmark films like The Godfather II, Seven Samurai, Titanic, and Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels demonstrate the format’s potential. Martin Scorsese frequently utilizes this length, with hits like Casino and The Wolf of Wall Street benefiting from the extended runtime. “In the hands of a master, those 180 minutes fly by,” one critic asserts, adding, “There’s a reason why a lot of Marty’s greatest hits…run on three.”
The Pitfall: Unnecessary Length
Conversely, one contributor pointedly notes that “the production crew laugh but doesn’t service the plot at all” when films are needlessly extended. This highlights the importance of purposeful pacing, regardless of overall runtime.
