Posted on 06/21/2005 9:37:47 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Hollywood's current box office slump is poised to become the worst since entertainment analysts began keeping detailed records of movie grosses.
Despite the debut of 'Batman Begins' last Wednesday, this past weekend saw overall revenues decline for the 17th straight week (as compared with the previous week's totals)
That streak ties a 17 week slide in 1985, which previously held the record for the longest series of declines ever.
And with the remakes 'Herbie: Fully Loaded', 'Bewitched' and George Romero's 'Land of the Dead' --none of which is expected to rack up blockbuster totals--set to land in theatres this week, it's possible that the current slump may very well become the new benchmark for poor box office performance.
Studio executives continue to blame the drop on poor movies, rather than a potentially underlying market shift in moviegoing habits caused by the rise in DVD's and internet downloading.
'Certainly we need to look at that, but I believe you can't do that by looking a six months. I think you need to take a couple of years to look at it,' Dan Fellman an executive of Warner Borthers, tole the Associated Press.
'We're still product driven, and even though there were and will continue to be strong films in the summer, I dont think there have been enough of them.'
This year has seen a number of lackluster big releases including 'Constantine,' 'xXx: State of the Union,' 'Kingdom of Heaven,' and 'Cinderella Man.'
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
I'll vote for bad films, high ticket prices and DVD rentals.
Although if there's a big heat wave, will people go to a movie theatre for the air conditioning?
Don't they make as much or more on DVD sales or is it the studios don't want to share with the distributors? Anyway, good!
My life is a Movie.
I don't have to see the Hollywood Junk !!
You make bad movies and people stay away. What was the name of Ridley Scott's Crusade pic? I have already forgotten it! Of course they have always made bad movies and people came anyway, but nowadays people have better alternatives. Here's a prediction for another couple of flops: BEWITCHED and WAR OF THE WORLDS.
put out something decent and folks will come see it. sequels, remakes and rehashings don't cut it. too much competition for people's time these days for them to go out and indulge in the garbage that fills theaters these days.
High ticket prices and concessions are also a factor. Why go see Herbie and pay $20 for the whole fmaily when you can buy the DVD in 5 months?
The early reviews for War of the Worlds have been shaky, one said it was more like 'Signs' than 'Independence Day.'
Tom C has been acting so loco of late I think he may be alienating his fan base (no pun intended wrt WOTW!).
Herbie, Bewitched, Batman - not an original thought in the group. No thanks, I'll read a book instead.
True.
There are very few movies I can't wait to see. If it's a "Titanic" type film - big production, good film - then it's good for the big screen. But even at that I feel I've seen my share of "epics."
Without Star Wars, this year would have been a disaster!
all time record. Of course prices are higher. Any discussion of box office must include actual tickets sold.
True. They slap the name of a '60s sitcom on the average lame script and get enough people in the door the first weekend to make enough dough.
At least that used to work . . .
Speaking just for myself, I can no longer get sucked into the Hollywood stories and fantasies. The stories make no sense, coherent plot lines are not required and actors are phony, they look plastic, are not credible, Ive seen it all done before and much better. Maybe Im just getting older
By actual tickets sold, I believe movie attendance peaked in the 1940's or 50's...
I vote for 'all of the above' plus a general distaste for Hollywood.
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