Cannes 2026 Takeaways: Hollywood Stayed Home, AI Came Out of the Closet and ‘Club Kid’ Director Jordan Firstman Made a $17 Million Splash

May 19, 2026 12:45am PT Cannes 2026 Takeaways: Hollywood Stayed Home, AI Came Out of the Closet and ‘Club Kid’ Director Jordan Firstman Made a $17 Million Splash

By Brent Lang

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Brent Lang

Executive Editor

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This year’s Cannes Film Festival had fewer stars, fewer breakout movies and a dearth of studio blockbusters, making it one of the most muted editions in recent history. But even though the red carpets suffered from a lack of Hollywood glamour, the festival provided a fascinating snapshot of the challenges facing the entertainment industry. As Cannes reaches its less-than-memorable midpoint, here are four takeaways from a celebration of cinema that didn’t have so much to celebrate.

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