I'll tell you why movie revenue is dropping... • Hacker News Board

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

#271

Post by erichocean » Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 7:45 PM UTC

jonnathanson wrote: post #268

In its most simple and irreducible form, the challenge is this: big-screen movies need to offer an experience so preferable to home viewing (or video games, or TV, or other uses of leisure time) that customers will pay time and ticket prices for it. That's becoming harder and harder, because all sides of the equation have been getting hit. On the pricing side, it goes without saying that higher prices place a greater…

> They need to wean themselves from the largely mistaken belief that uber-expensive movie stars drive box office attendance (overseas, they do; domestically, there's almost zero correlation).

I hate to tell you this, but the formula of using big movie stars for oversees growth won't be changing anytime soon: Hollywood had another record year in their _actual_ growth market, which is the foreign box office.

I'd love to see a more robust domestic box office, but wishing won't make it so. At the cost of films these days, global box office results will continue to dominate, and I expect 2012 to be even more lopsided.

Before the decade is out, I expect the US to be down to less than 20% of total worldwide box office.

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

#272

Post by jonnathanson » Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 8:33 PM UTC

erichocean wrote: post #271

jonnathanson wrote: post #268

In its most simple and irreducible form, the challenge is this: big-screen movies need to offer an experience so preferable to home viewing (or video games, or TV, or other uses of leisure time) that customers will pay time and ticket prices for it. That's becoming harder and harder, because all sides of the equation have been getting hit. On the pricing side, it goes without saying that higher prices place a greater…

> They need to wean themselves from the largely mistaken belief that uber-expensive movie stars drive box office attendance (overseas, they do; domestically, there's almost zero correlation). I hate to tell you this, but the formula of using big movie stars for oversees growth won't be changing anytime soon: Hollywood had another record year in their _actual_ growth market, which is the foreign box office. I'd love t…

All absolutely true, but what it tells me is that the same product isn't really working in both markets, with the occasional big exception. There's no question that the overseas markets are the growth engine of the business, though.

But I wonder how long the era of one-size-fits-all product for all territories can last. Eventually, specialized studios for each market could swoop in with better localized product using the same stars. It's tempting to think that the era of globalization will give us a homogenous set of middle-class consumers worldwide, all with roughly the same tastes. In practice, though, local culture and preferences still matter in a big way. The question is whether local culture is on its way out with globalization, and accordingly, whether local tastes are simply artifacts of the pre-global marketplace. Or, frankly, if a new global homogeneity is emerging, how likely that standard is to be set outside of the US. Twenty years from now, which consumers will be deciding what's cool for the rest of the globe? The US middle class seems like a largely spent force in that role.

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

#273

Post by w33ble » Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 8:44 PM UTC

"6. Lack of choice. Box-office tracking shows that the bright spot in 2011 was the performance of indie, foreign or documentary films. [...] Instead, all the shopping center compounds seem to be showing the same few overhyped disappointments. Those films open with big ad campaigns, play a couple of weeks, and disappear."

For me, it's always been the quality of the content. SO many movies are such garbage, and, at least to me, that was more true in 2011 than in recent years. Look at all the reboots that came out this year and think how many of them were worth seeing at a premium in theaters...

Ebert came close to hitting it with that point, especially at the end, but missed it a little. I don't think people prefer indie, foreign and documentaries because of what they are, nor because of the theaters they are shown in. Those movies have better turnout because they are better than most of the big Hollywood titles.

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

#274

Post by pbhjpbhj » Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 9:12 PM UTC

joezydeco wrote: post #225

watmough wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Go listen to track 6 of the new Patton Oswalt album...

Because? Also, you could actually name the track. Even better give a link for us to listen to it?

It might be awesome but you're not on reddit now; downzoat.

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

#275

Post by joezydeco » Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 9:52 PM UTC

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #274

joezydeco wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Go listen to track 6 of the new Patton Oswalt album...

Because? Also, you could actually name the track. Even better give a link for us to listen to it? It might be awesome but you're not on reddit now; downzoat.

Um, because I thought posting the link to the pirated YouTube track would be a bit more tacky. But whatever.

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

#276

Post by hansy » Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 11:39 PM UTC

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…

Never been to the Alamo, but I imagine the process of kicking someone out who is using his/her cell phone during a movie must be quite distracting to everyone else, no?

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

#277

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 2:43 AM UTC

joezydeco wrote: post #275

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because? Also, you could actually name the track. Even better give a link for us to listen to it? It might be awesome but you're not on reddit now; downzoat.

Um, because I thought posting the link to the pirated YouTube track would be a bit more tacky. But whatever.

There are plenty of ways to link to music, Amazon previews, bands website, official/certified vid on YouTube, etc., that don't involved copyright infringement.

Basically I'm still at a loss as to what you felt you were adding to the conversation?

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

#278

Post by adamc » Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 5:18 AM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #199

jerf wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't forget "And it's useful for a lot of other things other than movies", which is what really tipped it over the edge for me. Video games, streamed TV, second computer monitor, family photo viewings, etc. We're getting pretty close to "optional monitor for your cell phone", too, in the slow-but-inevitable substitute-replacement of your laptop by your cellphone.

I'd say "I just talked myself into upgrading my home theater setup", but we never go to the movies. We just watch them when they become available to download from iTunes. It's great. We make better popcorn, too (secrets: paprika bloomed in the butter, microplaned parmesan cheese, Spice House cheese powders).

If you want better popcorn, you might give gourmet popcorn a spin. It tastes better and is more tender.

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

#279

Post by pronoiac » Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 5:40 AM UTC

cpeterso wrote: post #142

rdouble wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There used to be one in Oakland.

That was Oakland's Parkway Speakeasy Theatre, now closed. :( http://m.yelp.com/biz/the-parkway-speakeasy-theater-oakland

Good news! They've signed a lease at a new location.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2011/12/29/brea...

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

#280

Post by pullo » Sat, Dec 31, 2011, 7:52 AM UTC

derleth wrote: post #227

electromagnetic wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cineplex here in Canada is getting much better. They've started opening VIP theatres, which because of the drinking age here in Ontario means absolutely no-one under 19. People paying the extra couple bucks don't use their cellphones and don't talk during the movies. In their main theatres they now have stroller screenings where the volume is reduced and the lights stay on low. They've done the sing-alongs. They also…

> Although I've heard several times that they're interested in the cellphone jamming Doctors go to the movies, too. Think about this: A doctor is on-call, meaning that at any moment they might be called in to come to the hospital to save your life. They have a cell phone which is the only way they can be reached when they settle in to watch a film in the local multiplex. The same multiplex that jammed cell phones wit…

your logic is flawed. there are plenty of activities that can make you unreachable. one example pops up ..if you are a hiker, professional or for leisure , you know you will hit spots that have no cell phone coverage.