Leonardo DiCaprio questions future of cinemas as audiences shift viewing habits

He reflected on the pace of transformation within the film industry and whether cinemas could become niche spaces

Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed concern about the future of cinema-going, questioning whether audiences still want to experience films in traditional movie theatres as viewing habits continue to change.

Speaking in a recent interview with The Times of London, the actor reflected on the pace of transformation within the film industry and asked whether cinemas could eventually become niche spaces. He said he wondered if “people still have the appetite” for movie theatres and whether they might “become silos – like jazz bars?”

DiCaprio described the current period as one of rapid change. “It’s changing at a lightning speed,” he said. “We’re looking at a huge transition. First, documentaries disappeared from cinemas. Now, dramas only get finite time and people wait to see it on streamers. I don’t know.”

Despite his uncertainty, the Oscar-winning actor said he remains hopeful that future filmmakers will continue to see their work presented on the big screen. He emphasised the importance of cinema as a space for creative ambition and originality. “I just hope enough people who are real visionaries get opportunities to do unique things in the future that are seen in the cinema,” he added. “But that remains to be seen.”

DiCaprio has consistently defended the importance of human creativity in filmmaking. In a separate interview with Time, he criticised the growing use of artificial intelligence in film, arguing that technology lacks the essential human qualities required for meaningful art. While acknowledging its potential as a tool, he said AI could not replace genuine creative expression.

“It could be an enhancement tool for a young filmmaker to do something we’ve never seen before,” DiCaprio said. “I think anything that is going to be authentically thought of as art has to come from the human being.”

He contrasted this with AI-generated content, which he described as fleeting and unanchored, concluding that while such creations may impress briefly, “there’s no humanity to it, as brilliant as it is.”