Julianne Moore sparks debate after criticising violent movies at Cannes event
The Oscar-winning actress made the remarks during a Cannes Film Festival
Julianne Moore has sparked a heated online debate after saying she no longer enjoys films filled with “explosions and guns,” with critics accusing the Oscar-winning actor of contradicting parts of her own filmography.
The 65-year-old actress made the remarks during a conversation with Variety at the Kering Women in Motion Talk during the Cannes Film Festival, where she reflected on her changing relationship with on-screen violence.
Moore, who has starred in acclaimed films such as Still Alice, Boogie Nights, The Hours, Far from Heaven and Hannibal, said she increasingly struggles to engage with stories built around “high-stakes” action and violence.
“Particularly now at a time when things are really rough globally, it’s very difficult for me to invest in a story that I think is pretend,” she said, adding that she no longer connects with narratives driven by violence without emotional depth.
She continued: “I don’t like someone being murdered. I don’t like explosions and guns. I don’t like histrionics. I don’t like things that raise the stakes without real feeling underneath.”
Moore added that she finds such storytelling difficult to perform in and equally difficult to watch, describing it as “noise” when emotional grounding is absent.
The comments quickly circulated on social media platform X, where users reacted strongly to her stance, with many pointing to her past roles in films containing violence and intense subject matter, including Hannibal.
Some critics accused her of hypocrisy, while others argued she was unfairly being targeted for expressing a personal preference about the kinds of stories she now wants to engage with.
One user wrote that they had “lost count how many movies she’s done with guns,” while another called the remarks “virtue signalling,” referencing her previous filmography.
Others defended Moore, saying her comments reflected a natural shift in taste rather than a rejection of her past work.
“Julianne Moore choosing emotion over chaos is exactly why she’s respected worldwide,” one supporter wrote.
The debate comes as Moore was honoured at Cannes with the Kering Women in Motion Award, which recognises contributions to film and the advancement of women in the industry.