On September 23 and 24, 2026, Brad Pitt appeared at the Kursaal in San Sebastián to promote 'En el corazón de la bestia', due in Spanish cinemas tomorrow. He used the visit to discuss a wider problem: medium-budget films are struggling to reach audiences.
The problem is clear. Major productions can recover their investment through scale, while low-budget independent films can work with far fewer resources. Projects with budgets of 30, 40 or 60 million dollars sit between those two ends. Pitt and several reports put the broader middle-budget range at roughly 30 to 80 million dollars. Films in this segment have found it particularly hard to secure distribution and turn a theatrical run into a profit.
'En el corazón de la bestia' has faced that problem too. Pitt said distributors have struggled to recover the money needed for this type of production. So, fewer films move from completion to a broad theatrical release.
Pitt knows the issue from both sides. Reports say he often works in the medium-budget range, and he approaches the subject as a producer through Plan B as well.
That gives his argument a personal edge.
Streaming has opened more routes to viewers, in Pitt's view, but it has not solved every problem. It has changed how films reach audiences and shifted the balance between cinemas and online platforms. Infobae reported that Pitt does not see streaming as the death of cinemas; he sees it as another path for films to find viewers.
The next possible adjustment could come through production costs. Pitt pointed to new post-production tools and technologies that may reduce expenses. He also said the industry still has a long way to go before medium-budget films regain a secure position.
San Sebastián gave those comments more weight than a routine promotional stop. Pitt described a market split between expensive spectacles and modest independent projects. Films in the middle often have to fight hardest for visibility.
A recent cinema audience report showed how much theatrical attention major openings can attract. The contrast makes the distribution problem easier to see. Cinema attendance has recovered unevenly after COVID. Large releases have benefited most, while medium-budget films still struggle to recover their costs.
'En el corazón de la bestia' is a survival story set after an air accident in Alaska. Pitt plays an ex-Special Forces officer who must survive alongside his combat dog, Odin, in the harsh climate. Pitt worked on the project as a producer through Plan B. The film was also linked to director David Ayer and Paramount Pictures.
That background shaped his comments about financing and distribution. He had a role beyond acting.
Pitt also spoke about the public mood. He urged people to focus more on what they share and listen more closely to different groups. He also called for greater attention to the divisions between them. His starting point was practical: look after the people nearby and make sure they are well.
At San Sebastián, Pitt connected two arguments. Films need workable budgets between blockbusters and ultra-low-budget projects. Public debate needs more attention to common ground without ignoring real differences.
The Spanish release will put the first argument to a direct test. New tools may lower costs, but access to audiences remains the basic obstacle. Variety placed Pitt's comments within a wider discussion of technological change and shifting distribution, including new market arrangements.
