While the Oscars continue to celebrate cinematic excellence, one record from 85 years ago remains untouched and appears unlikely to be surpassed in 2024 or in the foreseeable future. In a time when big-budget blockbusters often push the boundaries of runtime, the trend in contemporary cinema has shifted towards more concise storytelling.
In 2023, major movies struck a balance between entertainment and brevity. For instance, the blockbuster “Barbie” clocked in at just under two hours, while its counterpart, “Oppenheimer,” stretched to a three-hour duration. Most of the year’s top films settled comfortably in between these extremes, reflecting a preference for succinct narratives.
This cinematic trend could have implications for the 2024 Oscars, an awards ceremony renowned for prioritizing artistic merit over box office success in its nominee selection. Many critically acclaimed films from the past year, such as “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Oppenheimer,” fall into the category of lengthy, serious historical period pieces—a genre historically favored by Academy voters.
However, despite the strong competition, none of the contenders for the 2024 Best Picture category are poised to break an astonishing 85-year-old record. The enduring record in question belongs to “Gone With The Wind,” the 1939 classic that stands as the longest Best Picture winner in Oscars history, with a runtime of three hours and 44 minutes.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” comes closest to matching this remarkable duration, with a runtime of three hours and 26 minutes. Still, no other Best Picture nominee in 2024 can rival the epic length of “Gone With The Wind.” While the former faced criticism for its extensive runtime upon release, its chances at the Oscars may face challenges, especially when competing against the slightly more manageable “Oppenheimer.”
“Gone With The Wind” continues to hold its record due to the sheer breadth of its storytelling. While “Oppenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” are also extensive period pieces, they adopt a more critical and immersive perspective on their subjects. Yet, neither can match the sheer grandeur and scale of “Gone With The Wind,” ensuring that its Best Picture record remains unbroken for at least another year.
The changing landscape of cinema and evolving audience preferences have led to a shift away from the sweeping melodrama that defined “Gone With The Wind.” Modern audiences, as evidenced by mixed reviews for films like “Napoleon,” are less inclined towards four-hour epics. The era when movies had intermissions, patrons would join screenings midway through, and double-features were common has given way to a preference for shorter, more efficient storytelling.
Filmmakers with expansive narratives now find a welcoming home on the small screen, where prestige TV series have gained equal popularity and acclaim to major cinematic releases. In the current landscape, a project akin to the scale and scope of “Gone With The Wind“ is unlikely to compete at the Oscars, making the possibility of any future Best Picture breaking its runtime record exceedingly remote.
