First I would note the truism “the camera adds ten pounds” is absolutely true (because it flattens you out essentially). You’re a 3 Dimensional object being made into a 2 Dimensional object any time you are photographed or filmed. That’s part of why actors are usually pretty small (men and women).
Also, it’s easier to work off small as a default. For example, action hero Mark Wahlberg is probably around 5′8″ - which is not tall. He’s pretty muscular at that size as well. If you need a henchman to beat him up in a movie it’s pretty easy to cast someone in the 6′0″+ range and make that person look intimidating.
For romantic movies, it’s easier to work with women and men of similar heights. In the real world, many couples are 5′0″ woman with 6′1″-6′2″ guy - at least that’s often presented as a heterosexual ideal in my opinion. On-screen that would look pretty terrible. It would take some milk crates and camera trickery to make that couple look good together. Worthy of an art project maybe, but when you’re talking a big-budget mainstream movie there is a very particular way they get shot.
Great film.
You have some exceptions here worth noting. The current Superhero craze, similar to the Westerns, utilize men often over 6′0″. I believe this is due to the larger than life nature of these characters. When you frame a hero on screen you often want them to have a big and imposing presence.
This is the original superhero film.
Otherwise most actors are average to short, and often very thin naturally.
Image source Wikipedia
Thanks for Reading
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