A24's Cool Factor Under Scrutiny as Studio Grows and Partners with Big Tech
By
Steven Zeitchik
Summary
This article examines the concept of "cool" in brand culture, using A24 as a central case study. It traces how A24 rose to become the defining cool brand in entertainment through its distinctive film curation, minimalist aesthetic, and savvy marketing. However, as the studio grows, partners with Big Tech (Apple, Showtime), and becomes mainstream, the article questions whether it's losing its countercultural edge. The piece draws parallels with other brands that lost cool status after corporate expansion, and explores how in an era of anti-Big Tech sentiment, even beloved brands like A24 face reputational risk from their corporate entanglements.
Source
Key quotes
· 4 pulledCool is a slippery thing. One minute you have it, the next minute it's out your hands like a water balloon.
We are entering an era when anything Big Tech-associated smells bad, and even the most beloved brands are getting smoke-bombed.
For a younger generation, A24 has been cool for a while.
When he made a deal a few weeks ago with an AI startup and enthused how he'd use it to storyboard, it only reminded of the cool he no longer had.
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