Movie industry in decline

[floydfanatic111]

Early summer movies underperform at box office By Dean Goodman

Mon May 28, 4:32 PM ET

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Moviegoers are not following the script written for them by the Hollywood studios.

 

 

In a sign that big-budget sequels may be losing their allure, North American ticket sales for the first three big films of the lucrative summer season have not kept pace with their respective predecessors.

 

The numbers for "Spider-Man 3," "Shrek the Third" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" are still impressive, and the studios do not seem too worried. For the most part, they blamed increased competition, although -- apart from the big three -- there is little else of significance playing in theaters.

 

The third film in Walt Disney Co.'s "Pirates" trilogy led the Memorial Day holiday weekend with four-day sales of $156 million, setting a record for the busy period, the studio said on Monday. The previous record of $123 million was set last year by "X-Men: The Last Stand."

 

The Friday-to-Monday haul for "Pirates" was boosted by estimated sales of $14 million from Thursday-night previews, drawing moviegoers who likely would have seen the film at some other time during the weekend. Disney's inclusion of the Thursday tally raised eyebrows at other studios.

 

If the Monday and Thursday figures are stripped out, the traditional three-day sum of $115 million pales against the then-record $135.6 million start of last year's "Pirates" installment, "Dead Man's Chest," as well as those of "Spider-Man 3" ($151 million) and Shrek the Third ($122 million).

 

OVERSEAS STRENGTH

 

Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Marketing and Distribution, said he was "as pleased as could be" about the opening, given the tough competition.

 

On a worldwide basis, the film has earned $401 million, with hefty contributions from the likes of Britain ($26 million), Korea ($18 million) and Germany ($16.8 million).

 

The first film, 2003's "The Curse of the Black Pearl," finished with $653 million worldwide, while "Dead Man's Chest" topped out at $1.1 billion.

 

Meanwhile, the previous weekend's champion, "Shrek the Third" has earned $219 million in North America after 11 days. By contrast, "Shrek 2," released at the same time in 2004, had earned $260 million through the Memorial Day holiday. (The earlier film opened two days earlier, however.)

 

The latest installment in DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc's family comedy series earned $69.1 million during the four-day weekend, the studio said. But the three-day portion of $53 million represented a hefty 56 percent slide from its first weekend.

 

Anne Globe, head of marketing at DreamWorks Animation, said she was "very happy" with the new film's performance, and comparisons with "Shrek 2" were invalid because of the tougher competition.

 

Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news)'s "Spider-Man 3" was third for the weekend with four-day sales of $18 million, driving its total to $307.6 million. "Spider-Man 2," also released in 2004, had earned about $328 million in that time.

 

"It's really hard to complain about $307 million," said Rory Bruer, president of domestic theatrical distribution at Sony's Columbia Pictures unit. "Ultimately, we're going to be fine."

 

According to industry analyst boxofficemojo.com, "Spider-Man 3" took 24 days to hit $300 million, two days slower than 2004's "Spider-Man 2" and five days slower than 2002's "Spider-Man."

 

But on a worldwide basis, the new film is on track to beat the $821 million total of "Spider-Man" later this week, said Columbia. "Spider-Man 2," despite a stronger start, finished with $784 million worldwide.

 

 

On a personal note: People either wait for the DVD or rent from Netflix instead of paying $12 for a boring Hollywood movie. I don't watch movies now. I passed out during Mission Impossible III. The only movies in last few years I enjoyed were Million Dollar Baby, Garfield The Movie and United 93. I stick with Goodfellas, Scarface, Falling Down, The Bugs Bunny-Road Runner Movie and First Blood as Hollywood is now BORING!

 

[Mustard Death]

And they wonder why they're declining. At least the music industry has a few excuses for not doing as well... even though I laugh every time I read something about them declining, seeing as how they're still making fuckloads of money.

 

All these big movie studios keep giving people with shitty ideas and bad execution styles movie deals. It's pretty simple. And they're suddenly wondering why "Another Animated Movie About Cute Animals Out of Their Element Part Five" isn't selling too hot...

 

As for the "big three" in that article, I haven't seen any of those yet. But from what I hear, Shrek and Spidey III have disappointed audiences for the most part... dunno about Pirates (which I WILL be seeing, even if I hear bad things... I didn't watch the first two just to NOT find out what happens )

[Jack Aubrey]

It never ceases to amaze me how (on average) smaller independent films have been out-earning so-called blockbusters. It's called ORIGINALITY, Hollywood-types! Not remakes and friggin' shark-jumping sequels!

 

(I think I just set a new personal record for the use of the most hyphenated phrases in one post! )

[Mustard Death]

QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ May 29 2007, 01:41 PM)

It never ceases to amaze me how (on average) smaller independent films have been out-earning so-called blockbusters. It's called ORIGINALITY, Hollywood-types! Not remakes and friggin' shark-jumping sequels! (I think I just set a new personal record for the use of the most hyphenated phrases in one post! )

I just ordered your trophy...

 

But seriously,

[ILSnwdog]

Because I have 2 kids that are under 4 years of age, I don't get out to a lot of movies. The only ones that got me out to the theater within the last year were Casino Royal and Borat. Both were outstanding at least.

 

[Atomic.Feedback!]

There's only so many different movie ideas out there... they've got to milk each idea for as long as they can.

 

I was talking with my dad the other day about some article in the newspaper about John Wayne, and apparently, he made 150-something movies... the majority of which were westerns. Now THAT's a genre I don't get... oh sure, there are a few good ones (Tombstone, Rio Bravo), but... oh, whoops, I don't know where I'm going with this.

 

I s'pose I should say *spoiler warning!*

 

Back to the topic at hand: sequels. Spider-man 3? Biggest P.O.S. movie I've ever seen. It was mildly amusing sometimes, but definitely not worth all the hype. I think that's all they were banking on, all the McDonald's ads, the shirts and posters... I wouldn't watch that movie again if you paid me. And I'm a Spider-man fan (a REAL one, not somebody who saw the movies and now says "OMGILOVESPIDERMAN!!"), so that says a lot. (I mean, they killed Venom! WTF?!?! That was the only reason I went and saw the damn thing!)

 

Pirates of the Caribbean 3? *YAWN* If it was the only one they made, it would have been good, but... 3 hours is a little bit of a stretch for a sequel's sequel. The fight scenes were uninspired and pointlessly choppy, the whole "Davey Jones' Locker" sequence could have been SO much better; the whole thing seemed sort of rushed. It was sort of bland and tasteless too -- I really don't remember any specific parts; normally, I'll be quoting a movie for the next week if it was any good at all.

 

Shrek 3? GAHH!! SOO STUPID!! I hated Shrek 1, which almost made me miss out on Shrek 2 (which was MUCH better than 1 or 3, (but that isn't saying much)). The failed attempts at marriage humor, the failed attempts at high school humor, the failed attempts at musical humor... Arghh.

 

Ocean's 13? I did enjoy the first 2 of those... they're well written, and I always enjoy a good heist (who doesn't?); but basically, the name of that game is "Let's see how many big names we can get into the same film!". Although, there is a reason they're "big names"... They aren't half bad.

 

And how bout that "Let's take an obscure sport/hobby and make a comedy out of it, staring Will Ferrell!" I blame Dodgeball for starting that whole mess. Now everyone and their mom thinks, all of a sudden, they've got a sense of humor because they can spout jokes written by professional comedians! Sure, some of it's funny... the first time!

 

...wow, I've got to stop. I'll eventually start blathering on about something not even movie related.

 

But yeah, the movie industry is dead to me. Although I did enjoy Pan's Labyrinth, Children of Men and Stranger Than Fiction; with the exception of "Children of Men" (see: "Handmaiden's Tale") they were all rather original.

[-D-RocK-]

I believe some of the problems are: over-exposure of A-list actors, heavy dependence on CGI effects, weak script writing......

 

These are some of the reasons why I haven't sat in a movie theatre in a year and a half.

[floydfanatic111]

Last movie I enjoyed was Flight 93 (which my dad rented) but MI : III was a snoozefest. Movies I have basically given up upon.

 

Here are movies I can still sit through for pleasure are basically older titles:

 

Falling Down (I can sympathize with D-Fens character)

Scarface (I find most of the movie to be comical in its one-liner sense)

First Blood (killer flick)

Goodfellas (Scorsese's finest hour IMHO)

The Running Man (Arnie's best non-Terminator flick, cameos by Mick Fleetwood and Dweezil Zappa)

Heartbreak Ridge

The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie

Dragnet (with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd)

The Exorcist (excellent film)

Animal House

any Dirty Harry movie

Flash Gordon (I know its cheesy but to hear the alternate versions of Queen's film score is worthwhile)

[Atomic.Feedback!]

QUOTE (floydfanatic111 @ May 31 2007, 12:22 PM)

Last movie I enjoyed was Flight 93 (which my dad rented) but MI : III was a snoozefest. Movies I have basically given up upon. Here are movies I can still sit through for pleasure are basically older titles: Falling Down (I can sympathize with D-Fens character) Scarface (I find most of the movie to be comical in its one-liner sense) First Blood (killer flick) Goodfellas (Scorsese's finest hour IMHO) The Running Man (Arnie's best non-Terminator flick, cameos by Mick Fleetwood and Dweezil Zappa) Heartbreak Ridge The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie Dragnet (with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd) The Exorcist (excellent film) Animal House any Dirty Harry movie Flash Gordon (I know its cheesy but to hear the alternate versions of Queen's film score is worthwhile)

The Running Man?

 

Hm... that's interesting.

 

The book was much better.

[floydfanatic111]

QUOTE (Atomic.Feedback! @ May 31 2007, 02:15 PM)

QUOTE (floydfanatic111 @ May 31 2007, 12:22 PM) Last movie I enjoyed was Flight 93 (which my dad rented) but MI : III was a snoozefest. Movies I have basically given up upon. Here are movies I can still sit through for pleasure are basically older titles: Falling Down (I can sympathize with D-Fens character) Scarface (I find most of the movie to be comical in its one-liner sense) First Blood (killer flick) Goodfellas (Scorsese's finest hour IMHO) The Running Man (Arnie's best non-Terminator flick, cameos by Mick Fleetwood and Dweezil Zappa) Heartbreak Ridge The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie Dragnet (with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd) The Exorcist (excellent film) Animal House any Dirty Harry movie Flash Gordon (I know its cheesy but to hear the alternate versions of Queen's film score is worthwhile) The Running Man?   Hm... that's interesting.   The book was much better. Killian was The Running Man. Richard Dawson as the sadistic game show host was hysterical. "I have the brains. You have the talent. Better yet, you have talent, you have charisma and you got b*lls!". LOL!

[lerxt1990]

QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ May 29 2007, 12:41 PM)

It never ceases to amaze me how (on average) smaller independent films have been out-earning so-called blockbusters. It's called ORIGINALITY, Hollywood-types! Not remakes and friggin' shark-jumping sequels! (I think I just set a new personal record for the use of the most hyphenated phrases in one post! )

They just dont f-ing get it. And its right there in front of their faces. Morons.

[Mustard Death]

QUOTE (Atomic.Feedback! @ May 31 2007, 03:15 PM)

QUOTE (floydfanatic111 @ May 31 2007, 12:22 PM) Last movie I enjoyed was Flight 93 (which my dad rented) but MI : III was a snoozefest. Movies I have basically given up upon. Here are movies I can still sit through for pleasure are basically older titles: Falling Down (I can sympathize with D-Fens character) Scarface (I find most of the movie to be comical in its one-liner sense) First Blood (killer flick) Goodfellas (Scorsese's finest hour IMHO) The Running Man (Arnie's best non-Terminator flick, cameos by Mick Fleetwood and Dweezil Zappa) Heartbreak Ridge The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie Dragnet (with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd) The Exorcist (excellent film) Animal House any Dirty Harry movie Flash Gordon (I know its cheesy but to hear the alternate versions of Queen's film score is worthwhile) The Running Man?   Hm... that's interesting.   The book was much better. Really? I didn't enjoy the book too much...

[anagramking]

QUOTE (lerxt1990 @ May 31 2007, 10:11 PM)

QUOTE (Jack Aubrey @ May 29 2007, 12:41 PM) It never ceases to amaze me how (on average) smaller independent films have been out-earning so-called blockbusters. It's called ORIGINALITY, Hollywood-types! Not remakes and friggin' shark-jumping sequels! (I think I just set a new personal record for the use of the most hyphenated phrases in one post!  ) They just dont f-ing get it. And its right there in front of their faces. Morons. Actually, they do get the dollars and cents part of it. Remakes and sequels (and sequels of remakes, in the case of the Oceans movies) are a relatively low risk proposition for big studios. There won't be any home runs, but there is a virtually guaranteed income stream that makes the projects worthwhile for them.   Original ideas, on the other hand, have real risk attached to them. Great if they work out, but potentially very costly if they fail.   Indie films can be great, but they too do not provide a guaranteed income stream. Bigger studios would be more involved if they could see a positive expected value without much downside risk attached to them. Many indie films are long forgotten a few years after they're done, and some never even see the light of day.   Sadly, that is why we have a lot more sequels and remakes (and sequels of remakes).

[Mustard Death]

QUOTE (Atomic.Feedback! @ May 30 2007, 04:31 PM)

with the exception of "Children of Men" (see: "Handmaiden's Tale") they were all rather original.

See: 1984.

 

Although Handmaid's Tale was pretty enjoyable... and I STILL haven't seen Children of Men