Modern filmmaking is no longer confined to studios and scripts — it's shaped by TikTok trends and viral potential. Directors now plan scenes with social media in mind, aiming for moments that can explode online. From Saltburn's infamous dance to Smile’s viral marketing and Barbie’s meme-ready visuals, success at the box office increasingly depends on winning the internet first. Today’s films aren’t just made for the screen — they’re made for the algorithm.

Actors' social media presence now impacts casting decisions, as Ethan and Maya Hawke admit. Broadway hires influencers too.