Is it just me, or were movie stars better before social media?

As a saucer-eyed, cinema-mad kid, I had no idea what Michael J. Fox’s kitchen looked like. I hadn’t a clue what Harrison Ford’s workout consisted of. And I was blind to how Jennifer Grey spoke and moved in everyday life. Indeed, I had no concrete conception of the filmmaking machine behind the fantasy. I was fully immersed in watching Marty, Indy, and Baby, believing implicitly in their backstory, reactions, and character choices. 

Then the internet happened. And social media. And my Pandora’s Box sensibilities meant I couldn’t not look. I greedily followed filmmakers and stars on multiple platforms, hungry for every behind-the-scenes tidbit, each glimpse into their lives and a greater context for movie moments. I craved more information, more, more... 

And now, like looking into the Ark of the Covenant, I’m kinda sorry that I peeked. In this brand-building, multi-platform world we now live in, movie stars are prodigious posters, constantly littering my feeds with Insta-stories of domestic drudgery, tweeted pics of meetings or endless junkets, videos of leg day, back-claps to tweets they don’t like, hashtags, hashtags, hashtags... And I know too much. Now it’s hard to separate movie stars IRL from on screen. 

I’m now so aware of Dwayne Johnson’s gym sessions that I can only think of the hours of work that went into carving that bod when I see it in movies. Armie Hammer’s new shower filter is in the back of my mind when watching him emote. I know altogether too much about Kate Beckinsale’s pussy (white fluffball Clive). James McAvoy isn’t actually really intense, Hugh Jackman seems to holiday a lot, Will Smith is not good with a hot pie, Josh Brolin is a poet goofball and not a terrifying granite man... 

All of which means actors are no longer blank pages. Their characters are worn more lightly to me and it’s harder to suspend my disbelief. Ultimately, my cinematic experience is less visceral. I’m starting to think (as my scrolling finger aches and throbs) that it was better when movie stars were actually mysterious and white-noise-free creatures, as inscrutable as the Sphinx... Or is it just me? 

Each month Total Film magazine argues a polarising movie opinion and gives you the opportunity to agree/disagree/tell us we’re mad. Let us know what you think about this one in the comments below and read on for more.

Is it just me, or is binge-watching all wrong?

Is it just me, or is Batman Returns the best Bat-movie?

Is it just me, or is the Martha moment in BvS actually genius?

Contributing Editor, Total Film

Jane Crowther is a contributing editor to Total Film magazine, having formerly been the longtime Editor, as well as serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Film Group here at Future Plc, which covers Total Film, SFX, and numerous TV and women's interest brands. Jane is also the vice-chair of The Critics' Circle and a BAFTA member. You'll find Jane on 12DOVE exploring the biggest movies in the world and living up to her reputation as one of the most authoritative voices on film in the industry. 

Latest in Movies
Claymore
Over 20 years later, live-action adaptation of beloved Claymore manga and anime in development by Heroes star
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things 4
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink joins Spider-Man 4 and fans are already theorizing she might be X-Men’s Jean Grey
This is Spinal Tap
First Spinal Tap 2 teaser reveals release date for comedy sequel that’s over 40 years in the making
Lea Myren as Elvira in The Ugly Stepsister
Cinderella body horror movie that made viewers sick gets release date, and it’s coming very soon
Millie Bobby Brown in The Electric State
All of the Best Picture winners of the last 10 years combined still have a lower budget than the Russo brothers’ new Netflix movie
Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth studio asked Scarlett Johansson to join Instagram, but she refused: "The film will do fine"
Latest in Features
Invincible
Invincible season 4 release date speculation, story, cast, and more
Key art for Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered showing Shay Patrick Cormac in a black and red outfit that's a cross between Assassin and Templar armor, with his ship The Morrigan behind him
Assassin's Creed Shadows can wait – I spent 40 hours mopping up the map in the one game in the series everyone skipped
Avowed screenshot showing a corpse-like figure's face with glowing purple mushroom/spore growths
I thought I was going evil in Avowed, but one quest changed everything I thought I knew about morality in this RPG
Yakuza 0
10 years on, Yakuza 0 is still one of the strongest entry points to a franchise ever made
Mark in the blue suit during the Invincible season 3 ending
Invincible season 3 ending explained: who dies, Eve's new powers, and Conquest's fate
The Witcher 3 screenshot of Geralt
Avowed and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 tap into the same thing that makes The Witcher 3 so compelling – and it's something I'm always looking for in RPGs