The Strange Evolution of Masculinity in Cinema

Is masculinity in movies evolving—or disappearing?

From the raw muscle-bound icons of the 80s like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Wesley Snipes, to today’s superhero-heavy stars like The Rock, John Cena, and Jason Momoa—this video essay explores what it means to be “manly” in cinema now versus then.

Why do modern action stars feel less grounded? Why does it seem like iconic characters have been replaced by generic IPs? And is it even fair to compare the two eras?

This isn’t a rant, it’s a conversation. Let’s talk about the evolution of masculinity in Hollywood and how it reflects changing ideas of strength, identity, and entertainment.

Thank you to my incredible Patreons for continuing to support this channel. You guys are amazing.

These include the lovely people “Matthew McKinley", "Adam McCarter", "FloNess" and "ThatEvilCanadian” at the time this was made.

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This video is made under Fair Use for purposes of criticism, commentary, and education.
https://www.copyright.gov/title17/92c
https://www.copyright.org.au/ACC_Prod