What Killed The Movie Star?

Up until the 2010s or so, the movie star was the main draw to most movies, and there were a ton of iconic lead actors recognizable to just about everyone. Nowadays, though, that's hardly the case, as franchises are much more of a selling point. In this video essay, I talk about how social media and the current studio climate have made it difficult for stars to emerge, and how directors might be able to at least partially fill the void left by movie stars going forward.