WHEN DID HOLLYWOOD MAKE MOVIES THAT MEN ACTUALLY WANTED TO WATCH?

David Maywald (davidmaywald@hotmail.com)
Editor and Publisher

Abstract

Hollywood used to produce films that appealed to men (and to women, and to children). But it has been a quarter-century since the last big cluster of films that were made for men, around 1999. The lost decade of woke Hollywood has been a desert for positive depictions of masculinity, with superficial strong female leads and diversity-washing that has crowded out any space for healthy masculinity. The weak box office for woke movies has forced the studios to curtail their unpopular product, amidst a corporate and social retreat from DEI.

Author Biography

David Maywald is father to a son and a daughter, and has been happily married for over a decade. Fatherhood brings added meaning to his life. He was a boy during the 1980s, a teenager during the 1990s, studied at the Australian National University, and then worked for two decades as an Investment Manager (specialising in research and analysis). He has served on boards as a Non-executive Director for almost three decades, with a governance portfolio that encompasses charities, foundations, and private businesses. David is proud to be a champion for boys and men, while also supporting girls and women. His book The Relentless War on Masculinity was published on International Men’s Day in 2025. International Men’s Day has been held on November 19 every year since 1999.

Contact details: davidmaywald@hotmail.com

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