I don’t see a decline of comedy - just a decline of comedy movies. TV produces funnier material than Hollywood these days, and so do informal online spaces. My

I don’t see a decline of comedy - just a decline of comedy movies. TV produces funnier material than Hollywood these days, and so do informal online spaces. My diagnosis? The “theatrical Hollywood movie”, as a format, has become too expensive. Despite it never being easier for anyone to record video, theatrical productions have never been more expensive to produce, market and release. And so they are first and foremost a financial investment, with all the modern consumer-analytics-driven optimization that comes with that. It sucks the life out of a project. It’s a safe, risk-conscious decision for producers to steer clear of edgy material. Put simply, there’s too much money at stake. TV is cheaper, and other formats and mediums cheaper still. And those are where you go for jokes today.