Box office slump

[Jedi Master Carr]

I posted this in another thread, but I feel this deserves its own thread
Wwhy is the Box office having such trouble? We have had a big disappointing May. Everything film this month did less than was thought.
Iron Man 2 looks to end around 310
Shrek 4 I would say 250 which is a big drop off from the last film
Prince of Persia and SATC 2 will be lucky to hit 100 million. Robin Hood around 110. I think part of is quality, Shrek 3 was awful and that hurt Shrek 4. Prince of Persia and SATC 2 looked awful. Robin Hood was a radically different take on the story and Iron Man 2 just didn't increase on the last one. Hopefully, we will see a turnaround in June with Toy Story 3 on the horizon.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I liked Prince of Persia a lot. :3

I blame the economy. People are probably being choosier about where they put their dollars. I know I am. I can't go see every movie I want to, so I have to pick the one I want to see the most. Or rather, the one my hubby wants to see the most. ;)

[Lykaios]

I'm with LD on this one. It's just not feasible to make it to every movie out there, so we've become a lot picker in regards to what we see in cinemas vs waiting for it on Netflix.

[CMJ]

Historically speaking - boxoffice is actually way up during bad economic times. It might be counter-intuitive, but look it up. The theory is the movies remain a cheap form of entertainment as compared to concerts/live theater/theme parks/etc that DO show marked drop offs during a downturn in the economy.

I believe it's more the films that have been released than anything.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

All I know is that I've been seeing less movies lately. :p

I have heard that though, that people see more movies when the economy is down. Just not me, I guess. :)

[Dasquian Belargic]

At least personally, I'd rather not pay the same price (or more) to see the movie in the cinema that I will pay to own it on DVD - so I rarely go and see anything now. I used to go every week and see something, anything that was on, but when a cinema ticket is £12 and you can get DVDs for £3, there is just no contest.

[Crusader]

I think Jenny has got a point if the experience is not 3D we can have it in our living room today. A lot of people have HD TVs and 5.1 systems and even more people give a damn about this fancy stuff because they can't tell the differenz.

BTW the same thing happened to the video game industry last month as well. Maybe all the money for movies and video games this year went to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Avatar during the holiday season.

[Rutabaga]

All I can do is speak on a personal level, and for me, it's simply a lack of films I'm interested in. Most summers I end up going to the movies almost every weekend, but this summer is proving to be much different already. I've seen Iron Man 2 twice, and that's it so far. There's not a whole lot more coming out that I'm interested in. I think the next one on my list is Toy Story 3, and after that, I'm not really sure.

[Sanis Prent]

I would rather just wait for the DVD unless it's something amazing

[Xavier Synik]

I think that the upgrade in technology is a big factor for the movie industry as well as a lot of sports too. Here in Toronto there is a constant talk about why there is only 11k-15k people at a Jay's game during the week. Part of it is that the stadium is a big of a 'blech' in terms of amenities and cost once your there, but part of it is that you can just watch at home and it's as good if not better, short of the "atmosphere".

Also this is probably not a blanket statement, but I think in a lot of areas there has been way better weather in May then in the past this year. I know personally I've spent a few nights on a patio with friends where as in the past we might have gone to see a movie or something like that.

[Crusader]

Another reason might be the fact that the quality of TV has so much increased in the past years. A lot of shows like Galactica, Lost and especially the shows from stations like HBO have similar production values like movies and a much better accessability than 10 years ago like watching them on demand through the internet.

I think the future will show that many more TV shows will end up getting more movie endings like 24 and Sex and the City.
Hell Joss Whedon made money at the movies with a "cancelled" TV show called Fire Fly and don't get me started on the 80s shows remake.

I think that the intrest in TV shows on the small and on the big screen is very dominating right now. Even the big blockbusters have become mini series since each movie needs to establish another sequel.

[Darth Turbogeek]

How on earth can you be saying things about the Box Office being slow when the biggest movie ever has not long ago stopped screening? And last year had all sorts of records fall? The reasons for the Box office being low arent TV or piracy or whatever, as last year and Avatar shows yet again - put something on the screen compelling people WILL go.

To put it bluntly, it's the movies and you even said so yourself. Why is there even a question when the big tentpole so far have been either awful (Old hags and the shitty, Bleck 4), no one cared about (Poof of Persia, Some guy with a bad accent shooting arrows) and Yeah not bad but dont want to see it again (IRON MAN 2 starrign Scarlett Johnasson's superb ass in tight outfits)

That's all there is to it. crap on the screen.

[Jedi Master Carr]

How on earth can you be saying things about the Box Office being slow when the biggest movie ever has not long ago stopped screening? And last year had all sorts of records fall? The reasons for the Box office being low arent TV or piracy or whatever, as last year and Avatar shows yet again - put something on the screen compelling people WILL go.

To put it bluntly, it's the movies and you even said so yourself. Why is there even a question when the big tentpole so far have been either awful (Old hags and the shitty, Bleck 4), no one cared about (Poof of Persia, Some guy with a bad accent shooting arrows) and Yeah not bad but dont want to see it again (IRON MAN 2 starrign Scarlett Johnasson's superb ass in tight outfits)

That's all there is to it. crap on the screen.

There is nothing wrong with discussing it especially when we just had one of the worst Mays years. I do think it has been the films but we shall see what happens in the next few weeks. We have the A-Team and the Karate Kid in two weeks and then Toy Story 3 so thing might turn around by then.

[The Original BuffJedi]

Ok, before I get blasted, I am mostly saying this for old times sake and CMJ...;) The box office take is what ever the studios want it to be...give or take a few million. I will never...ever ..ever believe that Titanic and or Avatar did the business they claim or that TPM did the low level business they claim..Just never will.

[CMJ]

Ok, before I get blasted, I am mostly saying this for old times sake and CMJ...;) The box office take is what ever the studios want it to be...give or take a few million. I will never...ever ..ever believe that Titanic and or Avatar did the business they claim or that TPM did the low level business they claim..Just never will.


You are beyond wrong, and look ridiculous everytime you say it. I work for a company that has access to the figures before the studios do. If the studios fudge numbers (and sometimes they do) it's for one weekend for the papers. And then normally the difference is made up Monday thru Thursday.

I don't work in said department, but last summer I was filling in upstairs for a few weeks and every morning had the figures before they appeared on Boxofficemojo or whatever. And I fielded calls from studios.

Don't test my patience on this.

[The Original BuffJedi]

Ok, before I get blasted, I am mostly saying this for old times sake and CMJ...;) The box office take is what ever the studios want it to be...give or take a few million. I will never...ever ..ever believe that Titanic and or Avatar did the business they claim or that TPM did the low level business they claim..Just never will.


You are beyond wrong, and look ridiculous everytime you say it. I work for a company that has access to the figures before the studios do. If the studios fudge numbers (and sometimes they do) it's for one weekend for the papers. And then normally the difference is made up Monday thru Thursday.

I don't work in said department, but last summer I was filling in upstairs for a few weeks and every morning had the figures before they appeared on Boxofficemojo or whatever. And I fielded calls from studios.

Don't test my patience on this. LOL!! I'm not Just picking on you..wow..I thought I was supposed to be the hot head :lol

[CMJ]

Not mad...just irritated. And considering you've been using the same company line for about ten years now, I wouldn't say I'm a hothead.

[The Original BuffJedi]

Not mad...just irritated. And considering you've been using the same company line for about ten years now, I wouldn't say I'm a hothead.*meant to read Just picking*

And you lost me on the company thingy?Just remember I'm picking on you..I promised you years ago I would never seriously bring it up and argue and fuss about it, but you of all people I figured could take a joke ..:p

[Jedi Master Carr]

Ok, before I get blasted, I am mostly saying this for old times sake and CMJ...;) The box office take is what ever the studios want it to be...give or take a few million. I will never...ever ..ever believe that Titanic and or Avatar did the business they claim or that TPM did the low level business they claim..Just never will.


You are beyond wrong, and look ridiculous everytime you say it. I work for a company that has access to the figures before the studios do. If the studios fudge numbers (and sometimes they do) it's for one weekend for the papers. And then normally the difference is made up Monday thru Thursday.

I don't work in said department, but last summer I was filling in upstairs for a few weeks and every morning had the figures before they appeared on Boxofficemojo or whatever. And I fielded calls from studios.

Don't test my patience on this.

I see why you have an advantage over us :p Just teasing though I think it does show the unpredictably of the box office. I do agree with you, I have never bought that conspiracy crap.

[CMJ]

I had an advantage on you for a couple of weeks last summer(I think I did well - but I don't think I had weekends like this last one) because we also are in discussion with the studios about what we think they'll do for the weekend on Thursday & Friday mornings. And when I was covering - I got to hear our execs on the phone with the heads of all the major studios discussing what they figured.

But at the end of the day it's still just a best guess type of deal.

My normal day to day duties I am not privy to this info however.