Summer movie box office sales down 20%

[BoberFett]

I think the problem is a lack of remakes. They're just not rehashing enough old scripts.

 

[vi edit]

Truth is that with the fairly fast release to BR/DVD that videos are doing now and the relative low cost entry to large size TV screens pretty much makes movie theaters pointless to me.

I can wait 3 months for a movie to hit redbox and rent for $1.50 and watch it on a $700 TV that is 65" in size on a relatively decent performing sound system with a fraction of the inconvenience and cost of the theater.

When it comes to kids movies I'll just wait it out for the movie to hit video and spend $20 and buy it.

 

[KeithTalent]

Seems like there have actually been some decent blockbusters this year (DOTPOTA, X-Men DOFP, Edge of Tomorrow), so this worries me since it will make them go with even more boring explody nonsense like Transformers.

I've just been too busy to get to the theatre regularly this year so I've missed out on a lot of stuff, but the couple that I have seen have been decent enough.

KT

 

[K1052]

The 2014 film slate looked weak at the outset so it really isn't much of a surprise.

 

[zerocool84]

Yes snack prices are insane but that's how it is when you're stuck somewhere, go to the fair, theme park, etc etc etc it's all the same. That's the only way they make money. Unfortunately we have to deal with it but that's why you sneak in stuff.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I think the problem is a lack of remakes. They're just not rehashing enough old scripts.

Sadly, that's pretty true. I know you were being sarcastic and lack of originality is a major problem in Hollywood, but the fact is that remakes/sequels are far more reliable than original projects. Over the last 10-15 years remakes/sequels/series dominate the box office charts. In a normal year 75%+ of the top 10 or 12 movies are sequels and only a couple are original. And most originals that do well at the box office will almost instantly spawn a sequel.

Maybe Hollywood gets lazy and just churns out repackaged crap, but which came first, the chicken or the egg? People go to see the repackaged crap and most really successful movies are sequels/series, so of course they're going to keep making them. Instead of blaming the people that make the movies for doing endless remakes blame the idiots that are already lining up to buy tickets to Fast & Furious 14 or Transformers 9. They're the ones that are convincing Hollywood to do remakes.

 

[xSauronx]

Truth is that with the fairly fast release to BR/DVD that videos are doing now and the relative low cost entry to large size TV screens pretty much makes movie theaters pointless to me.

this is why i dont bother. and a lousy theater experience. the one in town sucks, and its a small town. going to the other takes 40 minutes to get there, and i get to see a movie with popcorn and a drink...for a few bucks more i can get sushi instead and just watch a netflix when i get home.

and i love some sushi.

 

[Oyeve]

Tix prices are just way too high. I live in NYC and a non 3d movie is like 14-15 bucks and 3d is like 19 bucks. Too much $$$ when I can buy the blu ray or DVD for around half of that.

I miss being a kid in the 70s and when we had 1 or 2 blockbuster movies than ran longer than 2-3 weeks. Hell, I saw star wars like 10 time in the theater. Now, I can barely tolerate one mediocre movie a year. And hollywood wonders why bootlegs are selling great.

 

[crownjules]

The 2014 film slate looked weak at the outset so it really isn't much of a surprise.

This. I was considering going to the movies last week and the slate of movies out was very underwhelming.

 

[soulcougher73]

Movies are released to disc or rental in like 2-3 months now. I can wait to see them then as they are not good enough to warrent and "omg i must see this now" from me. If the turn around was like a year to disc than maybe id go a bit more..wait i take that back..dont get any ideas movie industry

 

[vi edit]

this is why i dont bother. and a lousy theater experience. the one in town sucks, and its a small town. going to the other takes 40 minutes to get there, and i get to see a movie with popcorn and a drink...for a few bucks more i can get sushi instead and just watch a netflix when i get home.

and i love some sushi.

Or in my wife and I's case...if we want to go out on our own it's another $30-$40 in babysitter costs in addition to the movie tickets. If we are going out at this point, it's for something more interesting than a movie I can rent for for a buck a few months later.

 

[Plenipotentiary]

RIAA blamed sluggish cd's sales on Napster and piracy when it was people no longer wanted to buy a plastic disc with 1 or 2 good songs on it. Sites like Pandora is the best thing to ever happen to music, hardly anyone downloads songs anymore since it's all available for streaming.

Let's look at some of the 2014 movies, shall we:
* Godzilla - horrible remake with hardly any monster battles
* Transcendence - Johnny Depp downloads his mind into a computer and comes back to life, typical Hollywood nonsense
* Edge of Tomorrow - basically Groundhog Day but in wartime.
* Sex Tape - Hollywood still doesn't understand how the internet works.
* Lucy - magical powers comes to people who use 100% of there brain

Yep, Hollywood keeps pumping out crap. With movies tickets around $13, $20 with popcorn. A family of four would spend close to $70 see a movie. We need a Pandora version for movies. You pay one price per month and can view all the newest releases or older stuff instantly.

I predict movie theaters are going the route of the VHS and DVD players.

 

[vi edit]

Yep, Hollywood keeps pumping out crap. With movies tickets around $13, $20 with popcorn. A family of four would spend close to $70 see a movie. We need a Pandora version for movies. You pay one price per month and can view all the newest releases or older stuff instantly.

It's called netflix and it's $8.99 a month. If you need something with more recent releases then redbox for $1-$1.50 a rental.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

There have been quite a few box office successes this summer - but people have been avoiding the blockbusters as they are just recycled sequels.

US Figures:

The Purge - Cost $9M - Opening weekend $29M
Tammy - Cost $20M - $71M to date
22 Jump St - Cost $50M - $180M to date
Earth to Echo - Cost $13M - $32M to date
Think Like A Man Too - Cost $24M - $64M to date
The Fault in Our Stars - Cost $12M - $121M to date
Neighbors - Cost $18M - $149M to date


Proving to the film industry it does not require $210M to make a movie in the hopes you break even. Transformers AoE - Cost $210M - $227M to date.

 

[Imported]

There hasn't been a "must see" movie this summer IMO.. and the home experience is usually better anyways. Just wait 3 months.

 

[manimal]

think there will a paradigm shift in theaters with the movie grills winning out. In 20 years all theaters will have lots more food.

 

[SamQuint]

Another thing is that movies now come to cable/satellite/streaming/redbox/netflix in 6 months or less. It used to be that you would have to wait a year or 18 months for it to go to video. With what I pay for cable I don't need to go to the theater. I just wait a few months and boom there it is in my living room.

As others have said prices are too high, too many rude people ruining the experience for others, and in general it is just a big hassle to go.

 

[dank69]

...

A comedy with a fat, obnoxious blob that has no right trying to carry a movie. Tammy.

...

Chris Farley? Oh, I read that as Tommy.

 

[squarecut1]

Been quite a while since I have watched any of Hollywood's tired old, formulaic fare - either in a theater or dvd.

I still watch some of the old classics from time to time on dvd though.

 

[Jeff7]

...
Piracy was mentioned a few times in last night's news report.
...

Shocking.

Step 1: Imply that your customers are bunch of criminals.
Step 2: Profit!

I think Hollywood needs to get used to the idea that the proliferation of large TVs and affordable sound systems is making the home a more attractive place to watch movies compared to the sticky floored, over priced food\drink movie theater full of annoying people and their bright, non-vibrate mode phones

NO!!!

People will use vinyl records forever, and that's the end of it! We'll prosecute anyone who tries to say otherwise.
First thing that has to die: Radio. Unlimited listeners getting free music? Who do we have to murder to put an end to that? It's going to destroy music forever.

Just the same way player pianos ruined music. Then radio. Then records. Then MP3s and digital distribution.
And now they're whining that yet another distribution method is dying out.

The market isn't going away. It's just decentralizing.




(Another one: Film cameras. Kodak: "Digital photography is just a fad. It'll go away soon."
A few years pass.
"..... shit. I think we screwed up. Anyone know anything about CCDs or CMOS photo things?!? How soon can we get one to market?")

 

[K1052]

I predict movie theaters are going the route of the VHS and DVD players.

A prediction made with every significant advance in home entertainment since TV first came out.

 

[BoberFett]

Sadly, that's pretty true. I know you were being sarcastic and lack of originality is a major problem in Hollywood, but the fact is that remakes/sequels are far more reliable than original projects. Over the last 10-15 years remakes/sequels/series dominate the box office charts. In a normal year 75%+ of the top 10 or 12 movies are sequels and only a couple are original. And most originals that do well at the box office will almost instantly spawn a sequel.

Maybe Hollywood gets lazy and just churns out repackaged crap, but which came first, the chicken or the egg? People go to see the repackaged crap and most really successful movies are sequels/series, so of course they're going to keep making them. Instead of blaming the people that make the movies for doing endless remakes blame the idiots that are already lining up to buy tickets to Fast & Furious 14 or Transformers 9. They're the ones that are convincing Hollywood to do remakes.

Sad truth. As I was typing that, I realized I was mocking a mockery. The average American is an idiot, rehashed garbage is what they want.

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people."

 

[ImpulsE69]

I will say I still really like the drive in, even if the movies are only so so, it's a fun experience with your friends to grill out, hang out and drink and watch some movies on a great weather night and tend to be much cheaper than theaters.

 

[gorcorps]

That should change on August 1st, when the next Marvel movie is out. There hasn't been much in the way of big summer movies yet. The new apes movie is about the only one that people have seemed to like, so maybe there's just too many shitty movies?

 

[manimal]

if they brought back jacking off porn theaters with live entertainment they would have something.


In the OLD san fran that would have flown..