Talker Research survey finds US adults prefer 88‑minute movies

A Talker Research poll of 2,000 adult respondents in the United States reveals that the preferred length for a film has fallen to 88 minutes, slightly under one and a half hours. The same question asked in 2024 yielded an average ideal length of 92 minutes, indicating a four‑minute decrease over two years.

Only 10 % of participants consider two hours or longer ideal, and just 3 % favor runtimes beyond two and a half hours. Preferences vary by age: Baby Boomers average 93 minutes, Generation X 89 minutes, Millennials 86 minutes and Generation Z 82 minutes. The shift suggests a growing appetite for shorter, more concise storytelling, possibly driven by faster‑paced daily life and the prevalence of on‑demand streaming.

The findings highlight a notable change in audience expectations that could influence film production and distribution strategies.