Vanity Fair declares the end of the old-school movie star, the rise of Hollywood’s ‘vulnerable’ leading men

Vanity Fair s latest Hollywood Issue declares the end of the idealized hypermasculine movie star arguing that in the current era s leading men have ushered in a new era of vulnerability and accessibility The annual cover story titled The Hollywood Issue Let s Hear It For the Boys spotlights several of Hollywood s biggest male actors including Glen Powell Andrew Garfield Jonathan Bailey Paul Mescal Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler The feature frames them as symbols of a cultural shift away from the industry s golden age male archetype In Hollywood s golden age studios turned regular men into secular gods changing their names hiding their flaws opens the cover story written by author Ottessa Moshfegh The era of the remote matinee idol is over and the dawn of the almost approachable appealingly authentic modern actor is in full swing Meet the new class of leading men the story reads Moshfegh wrote They re still fantasy men yes but boyfriend-shaped accessible kind vulnerable and recognizably human MEN ARE CRYING OVER A SHIPWRECK AND IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT MODERN MASCULINITYThe article argues that the new generation of male stars often called the internet boyfriends is intentionally designed to appear more relatable and emotionally available The once-untouchable movie stars such as Tom Cruise or Marlon Brando have been replaced by actors who share their feelings and intimate life details online We want to know them how they feel what makes them tick writes Moshfegh VOGUE OP-ED STIRS DEBATE AFTER CALLING BOYFRIENDS EMBARRASSING AND SAYING DATING NOW FEELS REPUBLICAN We follow their playlists their breakups their skin-care routines The piece says Hollywood s version of masculinity is now expressive and safe adding that big d--- power doesn t mean dominance but presence sincerity and authenticity But not everyone in the industry has agreed with Hollywood s softer rebrand Actor Anthony Mackie known as Marvel s new Captain America has pushed back on the shift He s announced that traditional masculinity still matters MASCULINITY WARS MISS THE POINT HERE S WHERE THE REAL BATTLE IS BEING FOUGHT In the past years we've been living through the death of the American male Mackie explained on The Pivot Podcast in March They have literally killed masculinity in our homes and our communities for one reason or another but I raise my boys to be young men Whether audiences view Hollywood s new leading man as progress or an overcorrection Vanity Fair s feature suggests the shift is here to stay