A-List Stars Flailing at the Box Office (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

The New York Times ^ | August 21, 2009 | Brooks Barnes

[abb]

The spring and summer box office has murdered megawatt stars like Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Eddie Murphy, John Travolta, Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell.

Can Brad Pitt escape?

A-list movie stars have long been measured by their ability to fill theaters on opening weekend. But never have so many failed to deliver, resulting in some rare soul-searching by motion picture studios about why the old formula isn’t working — and a great deal of anxiety among stars (and agents) about the potential vaporization of their $20 million paychecks.

“The cratering of films with big stars is astounding,” said Peter Guber, the former chairman of Sony Pictures who is now a producer and industry elder statesman. “These supertalented people are failing to aggregate a large audience, and everybody is looking for answers.”

Mr. Guber added, “Even Johnny Depp” — starring in the drama “Public Enemies” — “didn’t exactly deliver a phenomenal result.” (The A-list results may be damped partly because Will Smith, a regular summer powerhouse, had no movie open this season.)

Mr. Ferrell bombed in “Land of the Lost,” a $100 million comedy that sold only $49 million in tickets in North America. Ms. Roberts missed with “Duplicity,” a $60 million thriller that attracted $40.6 million. “Angels & Demons” (Mr. Hanks) was soft. The same for “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” (Mr. Washington and Mr. Travolta).

“Imagine That,” starring Mr. Murphy, was such a disaster that Paramount Pictures had to take a write-down. Mr. Sandler? His “Funny People” limped out of the gate and then collapsed. Some of these may simply have not been very good, but an A-list star is supposed to overcome that.

The gradual trend away from big-star vehicles in the summer has been under way for years.

snip

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Maybe if the “big stars” would keep their political ignorance to themselves instead of thinking that their opinions matter more than the rest of ours, they wouldn’be be having this problem.

Well said.

[Joe Boucher]

Josa.
If only they understood how stupid they appear when they open their mouths and spew socialist or unAmerican b.s.

[RayChuang88]

And don’t forget how theatres have let the in-seat experience go to crap.

I HATE the behavior of TOO MANY of my fellow patrons.

Here's my big gripe about movie theaters nowadays:

1) The cost of a ticket is getting ridiculous--especially evening showings!
2) The price of concessions is WAY too high for what you get--theater owners are just too dependent on concession sales to make a profit.
3) The sound and projection quality is getting increasingly subpar if you don't watch a movie in a THX-certified theater.
4) Unless you go to a newer theater, seating is increasingly uncomfortable.
5) The movie audience is getting very rude (like not turning off or disabling the audible tones on cellphones and pagers and talking during the film). I myself blame the TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 for being a HUGELY bad influence on moviegoers because that TV show encouraged people to talk during a film.
6) Too many films espouse the hard-Left views of the producer of the film or the stars in the film.

And you wonder why people are snapping up flat-panel widescreen TV's and home theater systems despite the high initial cost.

[The Duke]

I would *love* to go see many of these movies I'm seeing coming out lately. However, due to the personal costs imposed on me my liberalism the first expense to get the ax is costly entertainment.

Also, due to the social effects of liberalism the audiences have become so unruly and inconsiderate that they detract substantially from the overall experience.

And, to tell you the truth, I'm discovering that I have other things I enjoy doing every bit as much - and which are healthier for me.

I guess all the liberals in Hollywood must be sincere - they are certainly putting their money where their mouths are in terms of lost box office sales.

[abb]

http://cancelthebee.blogspot.com/2009/08/third-floor-in-sacramento-bee-building.html
“Third floor in the Sacramento Bee building seems empty”

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/08/21/2_bidders_for_globe_invited_to_meetings/
2 bidders invited in for tours of Globe

http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/
How publishers can make web content pay

[Drawsing]

All the movies I’ve tried to watch recently (I’ve grown tired of the oldies, and have taken a look at some recent offerings) can be summed up in one sentence: when are he and she going to “do it?”

Thank you for cutting to the chase.

[Richard Kimball]

The last time I went to see a movie in a theater was when I paid to see Rocky (Rocky 1).

You should have seen Rocky III. Rocky III was the best Rocky since Rocky I. Except for maybe Rocky II.

[Richard Kimball]

True. So far this summer I’ve seen Watchmen, Coraline, Star Trek, Harry Potter and Transformers. Watchmen and Coraline were my favorites. Around here we catch a matinee for five bucks or wait til it shows at the dollar movie. The matinees aren’t crowded.

[bert]

From the Sac Bee comments.....

“LIke the Donner Party too. In order to survive, they’re compelled to eat their own. Thus the ghost floor, littered with bones.”

Meanwhile in Washington the San Francisco congressional delegation is working overtime to infrct America with the California plague

[abb]

http://peterfeld.tumblr.com/post/167492167/josephweisenthal-eliminating-web-offerings
The thing is, he’s right and obviously so. Digital has done nothing to staunch the demise of newspapers like WaPo (NYT the verdict is still out), but it has cost them a lot of money.

http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/
Blaming the Editors

[iopscusa]

ABB thanks for the good newz regarding the HW Commies loss of clout @ the boxoffice. I think this is an a small indication that the cold war for the soul of America is winning some battles, the Fox TV numbers, the Townhalls, the desperation of the Left are some other indicators that this war is going better.

[iopscusa]

District 9 is the first in movie theatre movie I have been interested in over the last couple of years.

[Will88]

No doubt the inability of most celebs to refrain from their self-important political pontificating has turned many former customers off. I can’t see, hear, or even read the names of certain ‘stars’ without their political nitwittery coming immediately to mind.

Needless to say I have less than zero interest in any of their ‘art’.

[gthog61]

just another once-successful institution that libs are in the process of ruining

[abb]

http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=138570
Kids’ Upfront to Close Down 10% to 15%

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/328139-FCC_Seeks_More_Help_In_Defining_Broadband.php
FCC Seeks More Help In Defining Broadband

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/328134-Boston_Seeking_Government_Funding_For_Broadband_Stimulus_Proposals.php
Boston Seeking Government Funding For Broadband Stimulus Proposals

[Varda]

Exactly right. We rarely go to a movie anymore and then only to a DLP cinema or 3D. I made a home theater in one of my rooms. The high def projector and screen cost less than a grand. Everything including the popcorn is better at home.

[dools007]

I’ve only seen one movie that I thought had “good movie” potential. It was D. Washington’s/Travolta’s “Taking of Pelham...” I usually am not impressed by remakes, but I like Washington and Travolta always makes a great “bad guy. I was not disappointed. Movie was edge of your seat entertaining. I enjoyed it. I even got the original version out of the library to compare. New version made some subtle changes that gave it freshness.

Other than that, I’ve not seen one title that interests me at all—let along enough to spend $8/head to see.

Also, Washington and Travolta (to my knowledge) have been smart and not gone “political”.

[From The Deer Stand]

People are not a impressed with ‘the stars’ as they used to be. Let’s face it, there are no more Bob Hope’s, Jimmy Stewart’s, Cary Grants, Katherine Hepberns, etc.

Amen to that. Today's "stars" are mediocre at best.

[iopscusa]

Thanks ABB for all you have done to keep us up to date on the Moron Media.

[hflynn]

Let’ not forget Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa (Rocky VI) all of which I have seen on regular or cable TV.