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I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

rogerebert.com

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Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#101

Post by zecho »

brador wrote: post #13

I'd add two more: 1. Kids get bored quicker, This year, I've left the cinema four times before the movie finished because the kids were bored. This makes me less likely to go back, they prefer to stay home on the xbox/lappy or go out for pizza/bowling instead. 2. Mass appeal movies are shit. There's just no quality or focus anymore, every movie is trying to be everything to everyone and ends up crap. Don't get me sta…

Kids these days?

Or is it that the kids couldn't get through the movie because it was actually boring to them? Isn't it possible that movie-makers are just out of touch with the demo?

Honest question here. I've left boring movies before, too, and it's been awhile since anyone called me a kid.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#102

Post by InclinedPlane »

afterburner wrote: post #83

Countering a few of Ebert's points: "historically the movies have been cheap compared to concerts, major league sports and restaurants. Not so much any longer." I'm not experiencing this. The cheapest concerts in my area are generally $40, with older popular bands going for at least $80. Sports games start at $20 for crappy seats for crappy teams during regular season, more like $100 and up if you want at least one o…

What concerts are you using as comparison? There's a world of difference between a major concert of a band that's been a household name for decades and a live show at a small local venue. If you live in a reasonably sized city with an active music scene then finding live shows in the $10 - $20 per person range is easy. The same is true for major league sporting events as well. I can go see a baseball or soccer game for about the same per person cost as seeing a movie.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#105

Post by JoshTriplett »

ubercore wrote: post #32

One thing that's become an issue for me, at least at my local theater (and I admit I may be in the minority here), is volume. Now, before you pull out "too old" or "don't be a wuss", I'll say that I'm only 29, and I play in a _loud_ rock band, and go to many loud concerts. I am no stranger to loud things, and have permanent tinnitus to prove it. I still enjoy concerts as much as I ever did, but I've found myself brin…

Sounds like a bug in your local theater's sound setup. The local theaters here seem to have it set up about right: loud when it should sound loud, quiet when it should sound quiet, and never painful.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#106

Post by tptacek »

msluyter wrote: post #34

I think Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is doing it right: 1. Food & beer/wine served with movie -- convenient and much preferable to overpriced popcorn. 2. Cellphones must be turned off. 3. They take talking seriously, and preface each film with a strongly (and amusingly) worded statement to that effect. 4. No babies allowed except on specified baby nights. 5. Creative and fun special events, such as quote-alongs, sing-a…

I went to an Alamo in Houston and while I liked the concept, the theater was a bit dank (which I worry is an inevitable result of serving beer and food) and not a place I'd prefer taking my kids --- which is relevant because "family of four" seems to be the core market for blockbuster films.

I like Alamo, don't get me wrong, but there are downsides to the model.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#107

Post by 3lit3H4ck3r »

jordan0day wrote: post #100
3lit3H4ck3r wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

^-Same here. However that is not going to happen due to the fact that Hollywood is devoted to protecting their brick and mortar distribution network, a.k.a, the theater.

I think Hollywood could care less about movie theaters. That said, they can't get people to pay them $10/person to watch a movie at home , so the theater model allows them to take advantage of customers, price-wise. I think there's just way too much inefficiency in Hollywood -- the video game industry provides much better entertainment value-per-dollar (in terms of hours of entertainment, at least). That's partly due…

^ "I think Hollywood could care less about movie theaters. That said, they can't get people to pay them $10/person to watch a movie at home, so the theater model allows them to take advantage of customers, price-wise."

- I stand corrected. I think you just might be right.

"I think there's just way too much inefficiency in Hollywood -- the video game industry provides much better entertainment value-per-dollar (in terms of hours of entertainment, at least). That's partly due to the medium, of course, but I can't help but imagine that if someone could develop hollywood-like films without actually being part of the hollywood apparatus, they'd be poised to really disrupt that market."

I agree. However, is not Netflix trying to go this route as a content producer? I hope they succeed.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#108

Post by b3b0p »

I never go the theater anymore. The largest factors for me are the cost and comfort.

The cost is almost as much as buying the Blu-ray on launch week from Amazon or Best Buy, I'm not including the beverages or popcorn and candy (I don't ever buy those anyway). I can own it or I can watch it once in an uncomfortable, cold, dirty cineplex. Hmm, I've waited this long, what's a couple months more.

The comfort level at all the theaters around me make this an unpleasant experience. Chairs don't recline and are much to upright to sit at for 2+ hours, it's sticky and dirty all around. I get dried out soda and candy on the bottom of my shoes. Usually the air conditioning is set so cold you need a winter coat.

It's just not worth the cost to not have an enjoyable fun experience. I just wait for the Blu-ray.

Re: I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping...

#110

Post by timjahn »

Movie revenue is dropping because it's simply too expensive for the average American family to go to the movies regularly.

I love going to the movies. I love the experience, the big screen, the large sound system, etc.

But it's a luxury that can easily be discarded when it's too expensive. Lower the price of movie tickets to what they were 5-10 years ago and watch Hollywood smile, as more people start going back to the theaters. Drop the price of concessions a bit, same result.

Let me reiterate: I LOVE MOVIES. But movies will never be a necessity, always a luxury. The sooner Hollywood understands this, the sooner they can stop complaining and start brainstorming solutions to what is really a very simple problem.

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