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

rogerebert.com

171–180 of 287 posts

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

#171
post #7
post #3

I guess... and of course I defer to Ebert on all things cinematic... but these are all critiques you could have leveled with equal force in 2002. There've been good years in the preceding decade. Except for 3D. But how much of an effect is 3D having? Most movies aren't 3D. I'll say this: I went to see Super 8 at an old 60's-70's style theater in the far-out suburbs, one almost identical to the ones I saw movies in wh…

It seems that at any given time about 1/3 of my local theater's screens are 3D. Also non-3D movies have broken the $10 mark, which I think is a fairly important psychological barrier.

Non-3D here in Australia can be US$17pp. Don't complain too much!

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

#172
post #116

2. Ticket prices are too high. People have always made that complaint, but historically the movies have been cheap compared to concerts, major league sports and restaurants. I had to check this claim, because inflation and purchasing power can fog people's memories. Using average U.S. ticket prices[1] adjusted to 2010 dollars[2], I get the following: Year | Price | 2010 price adj. w/CPI ------------------------------…

Here in Germany, tickets usually cost around 8 Euro now (10.36 USD) ...

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

#173
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The number one reason is your second point (without the CG). The problem is that it's total crap. There's lack of content, bullshit scenarios, nothing entertaining. It's not the overuse of CG, but that it's the only thing they're selling anymore.

Here's the thing, everyone I speaks to agrees that modern movies are mostly crap. But...why, with their big focus group budgets and such, are the movie studios not listening to this? Or is their output really the best they are being pitched?

Because the most money is made from appealing to the lowest common denominator. There are plenty of awesome T.V. shows, but whenever American Idol and the Real Housewives are on, people ignore them.

For every person who loved the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," there are 1000 who just want to see Michael Bay spend $300 million on 120 minutes' worth of animated explosions for a 4th, 5th, and 6th time.

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

#174

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…

This video Alamo posted to youtube of an angry customer bitching about getting kicked out for texting is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs

tl;dwatch:

customer: I was texting and you kicked me out; whine whine whine

alamo: gtfo and don't come back

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

#175
post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which as it turns out are the movies that make money.

When you only make a kind of movie, it's expected that's the only kind that will make you money. Actually, it's the distribution channels that block other kinds of movies from catching audiences. They only want "safe" blockbusters. Eventually, that will be their demise.

133 movies this year opened in more than 1000 theaters. There was plenty of choice, every single weekend of the year.

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

#176
I can't emphasize enough how important Ebert's 6th point about "Lack of choice' is. I live in a very rural area in germany, the nearest cinemas are about 50 Kilometers and while I simply prefer watching movies on my admittedly better than average setup with decent 720p projector and very good A/V receiver and speakers, it's mostly the selection of movies those cinemas offer which keeps me away from them. I enjoy movie that are a little off the radar and those cinemas don't just have little to offer in those departments, there is simply nothing for people interested in documentaries, indie films or other movies that just don't fit into the whole blockbuster concept.

Of course i guess this is a different situation in urban areas where some cinemas certainly cater to interests like mine. However if there's anything to 'the Long Tail' mainstream cinemas are of course still losing audiences. These cinemas serve the purpose of showing big films for a very short period of time before they rapidly become meaningless. With the growing the popularity of on demand services like Netflix, iTunes, amazon and so on this time frame doesn't matter any longer. People can dive into special interests, classics and films that once were only catered to a niche audience and see them immediatelly. So the limited selection and the instant availability from alternative sources hurts those mainstream cinemas twice. That said, the cinemas I know wouldn't see me even if I lived just across the street.

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

#177
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, I believe the majority of films I have ever watched has this plot: The protagonist is put into a situation where he is drawn from a position of security and is force to embark on a journey to resolve the situation. The journey exposes the protagonist to a foreign environment and they must learn how to deal with the new situation. Often given tools to master their destiny. After some time the new situation goes b…

In romantic comedies... - Lonely woman meets strange man, - Man drags woman around, - Woman is *mildly inconvenienced*, this is key, causes conflict, - Situation is somehow happily resolved. Not sure about everyone else, but I am sick of movies where the likes of Jennifer Aniston spend too hours boggling at mild inconvenience. Gahhh. No wonder I haven't set foot in a movie theater for years.

Its generalised quite well with this theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth

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

#178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Costs me $13 in NYC, $15 if I order tickets online. Rarely worth it.

wow, they charge you a fee for buying the tickets online? Ridiculous...

The chain theaters tend to use Movietickets or Fandango for online & phone ticketing, and both charge an extra dollar or two per ticket.

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

#179
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…

I actually find it very difficult to watch Jurassic Park these days. The CG has not aged well at all. With Ghostbusters, the effects look terrible in a few scenes (the claymation dogs spring to mind), but it's not so jarring in the context of a comedy.

I actually feel the exact opposite of this. I recently rewatched both and thought Jurassic Park held up amazingly well (at least the first one) and Ghostbusters looked far worse (as it should being that it's nearly 10 years older than Jurassic Park).

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

#180
post #51

The problem is movies have become too expensive to make. When a movie cost 100-200 million dollars to make, studios believe that to be successful they must make, or more typical take, a brand and develop a movie around that brand. Studios need a brand that ideally people already know that they can franchise into a cartoon, plush dolls, a theme park ride, and 3 sequels in hopes to try and get the 150 million back. Thi…

In the early 2000s, during "the great media consolidation" as I call it, studios were pumping upwards of 300 million into films assuming they'd return twice that worldwide.

* Lord of Rings * The Matrix * Pirates of the Caribbean

I'd say for the most part that money has been made back.

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