At the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Giancarlo Esposito has turned his attention to the state of Hollywood itself.
Reflecting on what has been described as the worst summer for movies since 1981, the Breaking Bad star urged the industry to rethink its approach to getting audiences back into theaters.
“This summer has been the worst summer for movies since 1981. No one is going to the movies. Well, we stacked it upon ourselves, right? So the article points to the reboot as done because it’s been used too many times, right? So that’s been the strategy to get us all back. But there has to be a new strategy, a new thinking, and some compassionate understanding that money isn’t everything. You got to give to get. It’s a circle,” Esposito said in a video posted by The Hollywood Reporter.
For Esposito, the reliance on reboots and recycled IP has left audiences uninspired. He challenged studios to return to bold, original storytelling that can reignite excitement about the movie-going experience.
“Why not give and take a little bit and bring some enthusiasm back into the theaters so we can all see movies together,” he added.
Esposito also emphasized the importance of reinvesting in Los Angeles as a hub for film and television production.
“Coming back to working in L.A., we work within the community first. And then it works out, it spins out to the world. We have the ability, we have the artisans, we have the filmmakers, we have the directors, and we have the money. So why not… bring productions back to L.A.?” he asked.
The actor’s remarks underscore a larger conversation happening in Hollywood as studios weigh the cost-benefit of filming elsewhere against the cultural and economic importance of supporting the city that built the industry.
The 2025 box office slump has left industry leaders searching for solutions, while audiences continue to demand stories that feel fresh and meaningful.
His call for compassion, community, and creativity offers a reminder that the film business, at its best, is about more than profits; it’s about connection.
