In this opinion column for The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker Joseph Kahn laments the disappearance of the flamboyant, larger-than-life Hollywood studio executive, arguing that today's more casually dressed, low-key studio bosses lack the presence and authority of their predecessors. He suggests that the old guard's imposing style was not mere vanity but a functional tool of intimidation that commanded respect from artists and kept the industry disciplined and profitable.

Kahn contrasts modern executives, whom he describes turning up to meetings in quarter-zips and Allbirds trainers, with legendary and fictional Hollywood power players such as Robert Evans, and film characters including Griffin Mill from The Player and Jack Lipnick from Barton Fink, all known for their commanding dress and demeanour. He traces the industry's shift away from this culture to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which he says hastened cinema's decline in favour of streaming, replacing box-office takings as the key success metric with subscriber numbers and viewing hours.