The dearth of movie going?
March 21st, 2011 at 6:00:42 PM
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While there is a lot of attention paid to Avatar, 3-D movies in general, foreign ticket sale, better seating and even beer at the movies, the total number of movie ticket sales inside the USA is slipping very badly. Last year was the worse year since 1996 (Independence Day) in terms of total number of tickets sold.
The year 2011 is off by an additional 25% with no certifiable hit movies yet. Just Go With It, the romantic comedy with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston has been the biggest movie so far this year.
The two biggest budget films so far this year, Green Hornet, and Rango have not made back their production budget.
If sales continue at this rate, we may return to the ticket sale levels of the early 1980's with ET, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Indiana Jones.
Taken as ticket sales as a percentage of the population, we are probably going to end up back to the early 1970's before The Exorcist, and Jaws turned movie makers on to the idea of the blockbuster.
The last two wide release movies to be debut in the first quarter are:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Comedy)
Sucker Punch (Action-graphic novel)
Are movies in theaters going to keep on fading away? Have you seen a movie this year?
The year 2011 is off by an additional 25% with no certifiable hit movies yet. Just Go With It, the romantic comedy with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston has been the biggest movie so far this year.
The two biggest budget films so far this year, Green Hornet, and Rango have not made back their production budget.
If sales continue at this rate, we may return to the ticket sale levels of the early 1980's with ET, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Indiana Jones.
Taken as ticket sales as a percentage of the population, we are probably going to end up back to the early 1970's before The Exorcist, and Jaws turned movie makers on to the idea of the blockbuster.
The last two wide release movies to be debut in the first quarter are:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Comedy)
Sucker Punch (Action-graphic novel)
Are movies in theaters going to keep on fading away? Have you seen a movie this year?
March 21st, 2011 at 6:18:26 PM
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The last movie that interested me enough to want to go out and see it on a big screen as soon as it came out was Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Before that, The Blair Witch Project. Needless to say, I rarely hit the theatre.
Maybe back when TV's were tiny and terrible, with sub-par mono sound, maybe then going to the movies was a big deal. But now, with HD, 62 inch screens, 5.1 Dolby and Netflix all being relatively affordable for the majority, going to the movies is no longer some big adventure. Admittedly I rarely to never watch movies even given their availability, but it just seems like back then it was a destination, something special. If there was a movie you wanted to see, you HAD to hit the theatre because there was no Netflix, no Red-Box, no DVD's, no 50 different movie channels on satelite. But now, everything you could want is a click away, minus the gas money, ticket cost, $7 popcorn, and a substance on the floor sticky enough to part your sole from your shoe.
Are theatres going away? Probably
Seen a movie this year? nope
Plan to? Not even a little bit
Maybe back when TV's were tiny and terrible, with sub-par mono sound, maybe then going to the movies was a big deal. But now, with HD, 62 inch screens, 5.1 Dolby and Netflix all being relatively affordable for the majority, going to the movies is no longer some big adventure. Admittedly I rarely to never watch movies even given their availability, but it just seems like back then it was a destination, something special. If there was a movie you wanted to see, you HAD to hit the theatre because there was no Netflix, no Red-Box, no DVD's, no 50 different movie channels on satelite. But now, everything you could want is a click away, minus the gas money, ticket cost, $7 popcorn, and a substance on the floor sticky enough to part your sole from your shoe.
Are theatres going away? Probably
Seen a movie this year? nope
Plan to? Not even a little bit
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
March 21st, 2011 at 6:35:43 PM
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The last movie I saw in the theaters was Star Trek 2009. (Sigh: twice)
I can't even think of the last one before that. It was a few years.....
I can't even think of the last one before that. It was a few years.....
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
March 21st, 2011 at 6:38:33 PM
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Half the movies I've seen in the last few years have been when I've taken my kids to see one. (Like G-Force or Up.) Next weekend I'll be taking them to see Rango. Aside from those types of films, the last few I've seen in the cinema were the Star Trek reboot, Casino Royale, and Cloverfield.
Part of the reason is that the wife & I don't get many nights out to ourselves, so when we do, we generally want to do more than just watch a film. The nights out I get to myself or with the guys fall into the same category - We'd rather hit the casino, sports bar, strip club, hockey game, or something else. I guess I just don't consider it 'premium' entertainment anymore.
Another part of it is the cost. When it was $5-6 plus another $2-3 for popcorn & a soda, no big deal. Now it's $10 + $3 more for 3d glasses, plus $10 more for popcorn and a soda. I'd rather spend that kind of money on a nice steak!
Finally, another part of it is the availability of other viewing options. I can hit Redbox for $1 six months after the movie hit theatres, so for me to want to see something in the cinema, it's trailer had better blow me out of the water!
Part of the reason is that the wife & I don't get many nights out to ourselves, so when we do, we generally want to do more than just watch a film. The nights out I get to myself or with the guys fall into the same category - We'd rather hit the casino, sports bar, strip club, hockey game, or something else. I guess I just don't consider it 'premium' entertainment anymore.
Another part of it is the cost. When it was $5-6 plus another $2-3 for popcorn & a soda, no big deal. Now it's $10 + $3 more for 3d glasses, plus $10 more for popcorn and a soda. I'd rather spend that kind of money on a nice steak!
Finally, another part of it is the availability of other viewing options. I can hit Redbox for $1 six months after the movie hit theatres, so for me to want to see something in the cinema, it's trailer had better blow me out of the water!
"Bite my Glorious Golden Ass!" - Bender Bending Rodriguez
March 21st, 2011 at 6:59:07 PM
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Now that I think about it....
Fuddruckers has (had?) a meal & movie deal. For just a couple bucks extra, you can get movie tickets when you eat there.
The last time the wife and I did that deal, we started to scramble at the tenth month to use them before they expire after twelve months. That was a few years ago.
Fuddruckers has (had?) a meal & movie deal. For just a couple bucks extra, you can get movie tickets when you eat there.
The last time the wife and I did that deal, we started to scramble at the tenth month to use them before they expire after twelve months. That was a few years ago.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
March 21st, 2011 at 7:29:49 PM
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Last movie I saw in theaters was "Dark Knight."
I just don't have the time during weekdays or the will during weekends. Way to many long work days stretching into the night these past few years.
I just don't have the time during weekdays or the will during weekends. Way to many long work days stretching into the night these past few years.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
March 21st, 2011 at 11:01:41 PM
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Took the wife, my son and his wife to see "Battle L A" recently.
Money well spent.
I have a KILLER home theater, high end stuff all around, and it cannot come close to replicating the experience at my local theater, Cinetopia.
The clarity and detail of the image; the jaw dropping power of the sound, especially the bass, is overwhelming.
Probably one of the best venues in the world.
I don't see many first run flicks anymore, I just wait for them to be released and rent the disc.
Usually, but not always.
I love a good alien invasion movie: next up: "Cowboys and Aliens."
Money well spent.
I have a KILLER home theater, high end stuff all around, and it cannot come close to replicating the experience at my local theater, Cinetopia.
The clarity and detail of the image; the jaw dropping power of the sound, especially the bass, is overwhelming.
Probably one of the best venues in the world.
I don't see many first run flicks anymore, I just wait for them to be released and rent the disc.
Usually, but not always.
I love a good alien invasion movie: next up: "Cowboys and Aliens."
"What, me worry?"
March 22nd, 2011 at 12:22:22 AM
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We have a small indy theatre (no first runs) that has a tapas restaurant attached. You can do dinner hit the movie and stop in for desert and nightcap after. I wish we had a Brew and View type of place near.
I have a bewitched egg that I use to play VP with and I have net over 900k with it.
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:12:51 AM
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I have seen 2 movies in the last 12 months--"Money Never Sleeps" and "The Social Network." The later I waited until it was at the $1 theater and as such I actually bought popcorn. Next month I will see "Atlas Shrugged Part 1" when it hits first run. Others should too, it seems to be a prophecy for the USA since 1980 or so.
I only get interested in 1-2 movies a year, Hollywood has long ago given up on making good movies. They would rather pump money into special effects or a big star than a good script. Then they wonder why people are not paying $8-10 to see their dribble.
I only get interested in 1-2 movies a year, Hollywood has long ago given up on making good movies. They would rather pump money into special effects or a big star than a good script. Then they wonder why people are not paying $8-10 to see their dribble.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:24:22 AM
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The movies are no darn good anyway. The trend has been to cocooning ... you stay home and watch the darned video so as not to have traffic jams and parking fees and hooligans in the street as well as noisy hooligans in the theater. A few friends, some good quality coffee, some nachotype stuff thats the product of an all day crockpot session sure beats fender benders in the parking lot of some movie theater whats gonna charge an arm and a leg and serve lousy snacks and cheap coffee.
TV is bad enough. I watch Masterpiece Theater when I can and Dora The Explorer when I have to. HBO tv such as Weeds or AMC-tv's Breaking Bad would be nice from time to time. The Good Wife now and then but usually its just that TV doesn't offer much and the movies don't offer anything at all.
I watched that stupid Avatar stuff and couldn't stand it.
TV is bad enough. I watch Masterpiece Theater when I can and Dora The Explorer when I have to. HBO tv such as Weeds or AMC-tv's Breaking Bad would be nice from time to time. The Good Wife now and then but usually its just that TV doesn't offer much and the movies don't offer anything at all.
I watched that stupid Avatar stuff and couldn't stand it.
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:49:11 AM
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Last time I went to a movie theater was a big mistake. I saw a good movie--Taken--but I chose to see it at Sam's Town theaters on a weekday afternoon. The casino is loaded with penny-machine-playing/welfare-check-squandering local slugs and slobs who live nearby, and the theater had all their punk kids with their loud mouths, cell phones, and out-of-wedlock 1 yr. olds. I still may go to an occasional movie on a weekday nearby where I live in the summer to get away from the day-time heat, but Netflix gives me everything I want in movies these days. The 3D stuff doesn't interest me unless and until they make a TV that doesn't require using those stupid glasses.
March 22nd, 2011 at 5:56:43 AM
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The last time I saw a movie in the theater was Adams Family. The first one, and I'm not that old.
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:08:03 AM
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Just the type of crowd in which you would find a Flea and a Stiff.Quote: RobSingerThe casino is loaded with penny-machine-playing/welfare-check-squandering local slugs and slobs who live nearby, and the theater had all their punk kids with their loud mouths, cell phones, and out-of-wedlock 1 yr. olds.
I think its South Point or Silverton that is said to have the most comfortable movie seats, I don't know which. Probably South Point since I can't recall a movie theater at Silverton. I think that crowd would be less rowdy and its only one dollar more than at SamsTown.
On-Edit: Squandering a welfare check??? Converting the unemployment check to free alcohol, food comps and the chance for wealth is not necessarily squandering it.
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:09:18 AM
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SP does have a decent theater, and the people who go to it are a world apart from the "stiffs" that go to Sam's Town.
March 22nd, 2011 at 9:41:31 AM
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With all the competition of cinemas in casinos in Vegas, I am surprised the freestanding Cinedome-12 still survives.
March 22nd, 2011 at 9:46:46 AM
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Quote: pacomartin
With all the competition of cinemas in casinos in Vegas, I am surprised the freestanding Cinedome-12 still survives.
Well, hehe, if that is their current line up of films, they aren't paying too much in distribution.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:11:11 AM
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"Poker sure is an easy game to beat if you have the roll to keep rebuying."
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:32:23 AM
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What real estate does it sit on?
What are its expenses for a union(?) projectionist?
It offers air conditioning and no casino tie-in... maybe that is an advantage?
What are its expenses for a union(?) projectionist?
It offers air conditioning and no casino tie-in... maybe that is an advantage?
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:47:59 AM
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"Poker sure is an easy game to beat if you have the roll to keep rebuying."
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:55:04 PM
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Quote: FleaStiffWhat real estate does it sit on?
What are its expenses for a union(?) projectionist?
It offers air conditioning and no casino tie-in... maybe that is an advantage?
Cinedome Henderson is a standalone theater about 17 years old on 851 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015.
The closest competition to Cinedome Henderson is which Fiesta Henderson Regal Cinemas 12 opened only 3 miles away about 2 years ago.
Regal Cinemas Fiesta Henderson is 3.3 miles from Regal Cinemas Sunset Station or 5.2 miles from Regal cinemas Green Valley Ranch.
So you have three cinemas from the same company in the different casinos owned by the same company nearby.
For a dying form of entertainment, they sure build a lot of venues. For Vegas to have 300 screens, that works out to about 60 tickets per day per screen if Las Vegas is average. And they usually have 4 performances per day.
Philadelphia has about 70 screens in 9 multiplexes, and they have 1.5 million people.
March 23rd, 2011 at 2:12:20 AM
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Labor costs are low, I guess once they have the theater they might as well just keep going after that nth customer and selling expensive candybars. Casinos provide a stream of potential customers and probably a good percentage of their business is comps. Non-casino screens provide air conditioning and a refuge from gambling. Perhaps their customers there are from Gamblers Anonymous and just want to get out of the house and go somewhere that is air conditioned.
March 23rd, 2011 at 4:55:45 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffLabor costs are low, I guess once they have the theater they might as well just keep going after that nth customer and selling expensive candybars. Casinos provide a stream of potential customers and probably a good percentage of their business is comps. Non-casino screens provide air conditioning and a refuge from gambling. Perhaps their customers there are from Gamblers Anonymous and just want to get out of the house and go somewhere that is air conditioned.
Don't underestimate air conditioning, back in the 30s the theater was among the only air conditioned places you could go. You have to wonder how many overheated people asked for a ticket not caring what was showing.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:15:48 AM
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Yeah, during a heat wave somewhere a movie marquee was changed to "Who cares? It is cool inside."
Movie tickets are now sold via the internet.
Movie tickets are now sold via the internet.
March 23rd, 2011 at 9:01:36 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffYeah, during a heat wave somewhere a movie marquee was changed to "Who cares? It is cool inside."
Better than that Drive-In flick "Closed for the Season" I once saw--I heard it was the most boring movie ever, like watching a blank screen.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
March 23rd, 2011 at 6:11:06 PM
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Last year ticket sales were down to 86 tickets per day per theater screen. I know that most of the time they show a movie four times per day on any given screen. And ticket sales are going down by close to 30% this year!
Hell, they should just put Oprah up there in the afternoon on those digital screens. Put football games up in the evening. If they don't charge for the tickets they can't get in copyright trouble. You just can't bring your own food.
They make all their profit on candy and popcorn sales anyway.
Hell, they should just put Oprah up there in the afternoon on those digital screens. Put football games up in the evening. If they don't charge for the tickets they can't get in copyright trouble. You just can't bring your own food.
They make all their profit on candy and popcorn sales anyway.
March 28th, 2011 at 7:42:03 PM
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Movie Ticket Sales are still down 20% from last year (by price). "Rango" and "Just Go With" just squeaked by the $100 million although Rango cost $135M to make.
Sucker Punch looks like it probably won't make back it's $82 million budget. Ever since 300 made a fortune, people have been trying to reproduce that success with a graphic novel.
Any thoughts on the upcoming bunch?
"Your Highness" is something new. It's an R-rated comedy, mixed with a fantasy special effects action movie. Several R-rated comedies have been huge hits in the past few years, but they were always been realistic movies like "The Hangover", "Wedding Crashers", "There's Something About Mary", and "Scary Movie", that people just thought were hysterical.
Sucker Punch looks like it probably won't make back it's $82 million budget. Ever since 300 made a fortune, people have been trying to reproduce that success with a graphic novel.
Any thoughts on the upcoming bunch?
"Your Highness" is something new. It's an R-rated comedy, mixed with a fantasy special effects action movie. Several R-rated comedies have been huge hits in the past few years, but they were always been realistic movies like "The Hangover", "Wedding Crashers", "There's Something About Mary", and "Scary Movie", that people just thought were hysterical.
| 29-Apr-11 | Fast Five | Action |
| 6-May-11 | Thor | Action / Adventure |
| 8-Apr-11 | Hanna | Adventure |
| 15-Apr-11 | Rio | Animation |
| 29-Apr-11 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil | Animation |
| 1-Apr-11 | Hop | Comedy |
| 8-Apr-11 | Arthur (2011) | Comedy |
| 8-Apr-11 | Your Highness | Comedy |
| 15-Apr-11 | Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family | Comedy |
| 6-May-11 | Jumping the Broom | Comedy |
| 15-Apr-11 | African Cats | Documentary |
| 15-Apr-11 | Water for Elephants | Drama |
| 8-Apr-11 | Soul Surfer | Drama Sports |
| 1-Apr-11 | Insidious | Horror |
| 15-Apr-11 | Scream 4 | Horror |
| 29-Apr-11 | Dylan Dog: Dead of Night | Horror Comedy |
| 6-May-11 | Something Borrowed | Romantic Comedy |
| 1-Apr-11 | Source Code | Sci-Fi Thriller |
| 15-Apr-11 | Apollo 18 | Sci-Fi Thriller |
March 28th, 2011 at 8:35:59 PM
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I rarely go to movies because:
1. They spend half a billion dollars on special effects and blowing up things real good, but they rarely spend 500 bucks on a decent script ("Avatar" being a particularly horrid example).
2. The patrons behind me not only feel free to use the back of the seats as footrests, they continually remove and replace their feet, with the result, since the seats in a given row are connected, that every thirty seconds or so, someone is kicking the back of my seat.
3. With the steady increase in the sound and picture quality of DVDs, I don't have to pay $10 to get the "full movie experience" any more.
I suspect that many people feel the way I do. And if two or more people are going together, then the cost of a movie vs. a night at home with DVDs and popcoorn is that much greater.
4. Oh, yeah--$5 popcorn that costs $0.09 to make. Feh.
1. They spend half a billion dollars on special effects and blowing up things real good, but they rarely spend 500 bucks on a decent script ("Avatar" being a particularly horrid example).
2. The patrons behind me not only feel free to use the back of the seats as footrests, they continually remove and replace their feet, with the result, since the seats in a given row are connected, that every thirty seconds or so, someone is kicking the back of my seat.
3. With the steady increase in the sound and picture quality of DVDs, I don't have to pay $10 to get the "full movie experience" any more.
I suspect that many people feel the way I do. And if two or more people are going together, then the cost of a movie vs. a night at home with DVDs and popcoorn is that much greater.
4. Oh, yeah--$5 popcorn that costs $0.09 to make. Feh.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
March 28th, 2011 at 9:15:25 PM
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Quote: pacomartin
29-Apr-11 Fast Five Action 6-May-11 Thor Action / Adventure 8-Apr-11 Hanna Adventure 15-Apr-11 Rio Animation 29-Apr-11 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil Animation 1-Apr-11 Hop Comedy 8-Apr-11 Arthur (2011) Comedy 8-Apr-11 Your Highness Comedy 15-Apr-11 Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family Comedy 6-May-11 Jumping the Broom Comedy 15-Apr-11 African Cats Documentary 15-Apr-11 Water for Elephants Drama 8-Apr-11 Soul Surfer Drama Sports 1-Apr-11 Insidious Horror 15-Apr-11 Scream 4 Horror 29-Apr-11 Dylan Dog: Dead of Night Horror Comedy 6-May-11 Something Borrowed Romantic Comedy 1-Apr-11 Source Code Sci-Fi Thriller 15-Apr-11 Apollo 18 Sci-Fi Thriller
Of this list, only Thor and Your Highness hold any interest for me, although I haven't heard anything about most of the last half of the list.
"Bite my Glorious Golden Ass!" - Bender Bending Rodriguez
March 28th, 2011 at 9:57:05 PM
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Quote: Toes14Of this list, only Thor and Your Highness hold any interest for me, although I haven't heard anything about most of the last half of the list.
Source Code gets a lot of TV advertisement.
There were only 17 Apollo missions, and only 12 people have walked on the moon. Apollo 18 is low budget horror movie about a fifth mission that was cancelled in real life.
Dylan Dog is another mid level budget supernatural thriller based on a comic book. I loved Thor as a kid, but this is now the 23rd movie based on a Marvel comic book. Some of them have been pretty mediocre.
Howard the Duck ( 1-Aug-86 )
Blade ( 21-Aug-98 )
X-Men ( 14-Jul-00 )
Blade II ( 22-Mar-02 )
Spider-Man ( 3-May-02 )
Daredevil ( 14-Feb-03 )
X2: X-Men United ( 2-May-03 )
Hulk ( 20-Jun-03 )
The Punisher ( 16-Apr-04 )
Spider-Man 2 ( 30-Jun-04 )
Blade: Trinity ( 8-Dec-04 )
Elektra ( 14-Jan-05 )
Fantastic Four ( 8-Jul-05 )
X-Men: The Last Stand ( 26-May-06 )
Ghost Rider ( 16-Feb-07 )
Spider-Man 3 ( 4-May-07 )
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer ( 15-Jun-07 )
Iron Man ( 2-May-08 )
The Incredible Hulk ( 13-Jun-08 )
Punisher: War Zone ( 5-Dec-08 )
X-Men Origins: Wolverine ( 1-May-09 )
Iron Man 2 ( 7-May-10 )
March 29th, 2011 at 7:02:59 PM
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How can movie going be dying with shows like this:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612774/
Quote:Rubber (2010)
85 min - Comedy | Drama | Horror - 10 November 2010
When Robert, an inanimate tire, discovers his destructive telepathic powers, he soon sets his sights on a desert town; in particular, a mysterious woman becomes his obsession
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612774/
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
March 29th, 2011 at 10:06:09 PM
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Quote: rxwineHow can movie going be dying with shows like Rubber
I think it is the 27 wide release sequels this year, an all time record.
March 29th, 2011 at 10:12:28 PM
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LOL. I don't mind spending the money to see a decent movie. The problem is that the multiplexes nearby are showing the same 6 movies, all of which suck. Movies have changed greatly. My favorites are still people movies that get deeply into characterization and that are skillfully crafted. Big box office movies are now geared at teenagers rather than adults. Teenagers have short attention spans and get bored by long drawn out scenes of meaning. That's fine.
Give me some variety at the movie theater and some good movies to see and I'll be back. The movie theater experience hasn't changed. They still have the same crappy popcorn and drinks for a zillion dollars but the movies themselves have changed. Very little that plays at the multiplex appeals to me, and the things that do are usually out of the theatres a week later.
Give me some variety at the movie theater and some good movies to see and I'll be back. The movie theater experience hasn't changed. They still have the same crappy popcorn and drinks for a zillion dollars but the movies themselves have changed. Very little that plays at the multiplex appeals to me, and the things that do are usually out of the theatres a week later.
-----
You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
March 29th, 2011 at 10:25:36 PM
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Of the 27 sequels,
Nine are second movies (Cars 2, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules, The Hangover Part II, Happy Feet 2, Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, Johnny English Reborn, Kung Fu Panda 2, Piranha 3DD, Sherlock Holmes 2), up from eight in 2010.
Five are third movies (Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, Madea's Big Happy Family, Paranormal Activity 3, Transformers: Dark of the Moon), down from seven in 2010.
Five are fourth movies (Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Scream 4, Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part One)).
Five are fifth movies (Fast Five, Final Destination 5, Puss in Boots, X-Men: First Class, Winnie the Pooh).
Two seventh movies (The Muppets, Rise of the Apes) and
One eighth entry (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two).
None of this is counting New Year's Eve, which may or may not be a sequel to Valentine's Day, or The Thing, which may be a prequel.
Nine are second movies (Cars 2, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules, The Hangover Part II, Happy Feet 2, Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, Johnny English Reborn, Kung Fu Panda 2, Piranha 3DD, Sherlock Holmes 2), up from eight in 2010.
Five are third movies (Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, Madea's Big Happy Family, Paranormal Activity 3, Transformers: Dark of the Moon), down from seven in 2010.
Five are fourth movies (Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Scream 4, Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part One)).
Five are fifth movies (Fast Five, Final Destination 5, Puss in Boots, X-Men: First Class, Winnie the Pooh).
Two seventh movies (The Muppets, Rise of the Apes) and
One eighth entry (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two).
None of this is counting New Year's Eve, which may or may not be a sequel to Valentine's Day, or The Thing, which may be a prequel.
March 30th, 2011 at 6:22:30 AM
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Quote: rxwineHow can movie going be dying with shows like this:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612774/
Looks like "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" finally has some competition!
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
March 30th, 2011 at 7:57:51 AM
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Does anyone recall the Men In Black animated series?
One epsiode involves Hollywwod. At the end K says "We'll have to neuralize the whole town. It's ok. we've done it before."
J then says "Oh, so that's why they keep making the same movies!"
One epsiode involves Hollywwod. At the end K says "We'll have to neuralize the whole town. It's ok. we've done it before."
J then says "Oh, so that's why they keep making the same movies!"
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
March 30th, 2011 at 10:00:49 AM
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Quote: pacomartinOf the 27 sequels,
Nine are second movies
Five are third movies
Five are fourth movies
Five are fifth movies
Two seventh movies
One eighth entry,
Hollywood is always happy to bankroll a winner. A winning director, a winning movie. If something worked recently, dragging it out for a re-tred is going to be sure to garner financial backing.
April 10th, 2011 at 2:46:42 AM
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LA Times article on the disastrous decline in attendance.
The conclusion is that it will hopefully get better when the 26 different sequels are released. Revenue is down 21.4% despite the 1.5% rise in average ticket prices and the more expensive 3-D movies.
AMC and Regal theater chains are going to try and distribute their own movies, just to have product. Cinema and casinos seem to go together well in Las Vegas where the majority of new theaters are built either inside the casino or in the same building with a separate entrance. The casino and cinemas share a food court, and adults take advantage of the trip to gamble and have a drink.
There are still four older cinemas in Vegas that are not in casinos. Most of these will probably close in the next few years.
Regal Colonnade 14
Cinedome Henderson 12
UA Rainbow Promenade 8
UA Showcase 8 (physically on the Vegas strip)
plus two new cinemas
Regal Village Square Stadium 18
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18
In contrast there are 15 cinemas in casinos with 217 screens.Do you think combining movie theaters and casinos could work in other states?
Most people say the poor attendance is because of bad films, but the best reviewed wide release film so far has been Source Code, which has reviews comparable or better than last year's Inception but seems to be doing just as poorly as the other movies. The budget is only a fraction of Inception, so the special effects are probably not as dazzling.
The conclusion is that it will hopefully get better when the 26 different sequels are released. Revenue is down 21.4% despite the 1.5% rise in average ticket prices and the more expensive 3-D movies.
AMC and Regal theater chains are going to try and distribute their own movies, just to have product. Cinema and casinos seem to go together well in Las Vegas where the majority of new theaters are built either inside the casino or in the same building with a separate entrance. The casino and cinemas share a food court, and adults take advantage of the trip to gamble and have a drink.
There are still four older cinemas in Vegas that are not in casinos. Most of these will probably close in the next few years.
Regal Colonnade 14
Cinedome Henderson 12
UA Rainbow Promenade 8
UA Showcase 8 (physically on the Vegas strip)
plus two new cinemas
Regal Village Square Stadium 18
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18
In contrast there are 15 cinemas in casinos with 217 screens.Do you think combining movie theaters and casinos could work in other states?
Most people say the poor attendance is because of bad films, but the best reviewed wide release film so far has been Source Code, which has reviews comparable or better than last year's Inception but seems to be doing just as poorly as the other movies. The budget is only a fraction of Inception, so the special effects are probably not as dazzling.
April 10th, 2011 at 4:35:45 AM
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>Do you think combining movie theaters and casinos could work in other states?
Sure, but mainly as a break from the casinos or as a place to park the kids for awhile.
>Most people say the poor attendance is because of bad films,
It is, but its also due to bad audiences.
Hollywood insists on making lousy films because they are simple quick and do well enough.
Scripts are simple: Boy meets girl, sucks her blood, she kicks him in the balls, some mutant being starts chasing them, there are car crashes (or flying saucer crashes), there is loud music, there are some displays of muscle-bound tattooed feminist bikers, then the tattoos morph into alien creatures and finally Boy and Girl save the planet via a great big fight at the Special Effects lab wherein the superiority of feminist bondage vampires is depicted.
Its kind of a lousy movie but the worst thing is: you gotta trek to see it, you gotta pay a fortune to see it, you gotta listen to everyone talking throughout the whole darn movie, some brat is kicking your seat all the time and the pimply-faced security guard waves his handcuffs at you if you try to bring any decent priced snacks into the theater. Afterward you go out to the parking lot, sweep the hypodermic needles and discarded condoms from your path and drive home in silence because you are all deaf from the overly loud soundtrack of lousy music.
You want to see a movie theater that works? Go to a local coffee shop that displays movies on one of their walls once a week and people from the neighborhood show up to see it.
Sure, but mainly as a break from the casinos or as a place to park the kids for awhile.
>Most people say the poor attendance is because of bad films,
It is, but its also due to bad audiences.
Hollywood insists on making lousy films because they are simple quick and do well enough.
Scripts are simple: Boy meets girl, sucks her blood, she kicks him in the balls, some mutant being starts chasing them, there are car crashes (or flying saucer crashes), there is loud music, there are some displays of muscle-bound tattooed feminist bikers, then the tattoos morph into alien creatures and finally Boy and Girl save the planet via a great big fight at the Special Effects lab wherein the superiority of feminist bondage vampires is depicted.
Its kind of a lousy movie but the worst thing is: you gotta trek to see it, you gotta pay a fortune to see it, you gotta listen to everyone talking throughout the whole darn movie, some brat is kicking your seat all the time and the pimply-faced security guard waves his handcuffs at you if you try to bring any decent priced snacks into the theater. Afterward you go out to the parking lot, sweep the hypodermic needles and discarded condoms from your path and drive home in silence because you are all deaf from the overly loud soundtrack of lousy music.
You want to see a movie theater that works? Go to a local coffee shop that displays movies on one of their walls once a week and people from the neighborhood show up to see it.
April 10th, 2011 at 6:34:12 AM
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Quote: pacomartinDo you think combining movie theaters and casinos could work in other states?
Would it make sense to share the land and parking and be a profitable venture? Probably. Would it increase movie attendence or merely canibalize other theaters? The later.
If a movie studio wants to get high attendence there is a proven way: make more FAMILY SUITABLE movies. Ask any parent how hard it is to find PG movies they want to watch with their kids. The top grossing movies are almost always PG rated and appeal to the wide audience. Somewhere along the line producers and directors got the idea into their head that their job was to "shock" audiences. They want to push just to the edge of a NC-17 rating to get all that "free buzz" and people to show up. Meanwhile Mr and Mrs America have to go to the RedBox and get some older film if they want to watch as a family.
Many theater chains seem to be more real estate plays similar to how McDonalds is really a landlord more than a restaurant. Break even or make a lttle along the way, eventualy cash out for big profits.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
April 10th, 2011 at 6:45:33 AM
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Quote: AZDuffman
If a movie studio wants to get high attendence there is a proven way: make more FAMILY SUITABLE movies. Ask any parent how hard it is to find PG movies they want to watch with their kids. The top grossing movies are almost always PG rated and appeal to the wide audience. Somewhere along the line producers and directors got the idea into their head that their job was to "shock" audiences. They want to push just to the edge of a NC-17 rating to get all that "free buzz" and people to show up. Meanwhile Mr and Mrs America have to go to the RedBox and get some older film if they want to watch as a family.
Many theater chains seem to be more real estate plays similar to how McDonalds is really a landlord more than a restaurant. Break even or make a lttle along the way, eventualy cash out for big profits.
The only movies I've seen in theaters in the last decade have been animated. I'd guess maybe 7 in total. I only go to take the kids and most of the time their Grandma wants to take them on an outing to the movies so I don't have to go. I actually went twice last year (Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me) because we had record-breaking temperatures over 100 degrees and it was even too hot to hang out at the pool.
My husband and I went on a movie date and saw Cast Away, but having wine with dinner and then seeing a boring movie with nature sounds put me right to sleep. I'm such a fun date, huh?
Each of us is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.
Preparing for a fight about your bad decision is not as smart as making a good decision.
April 10th, 2011 at 6:59:06 AM
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Quote: FarFromVegasThe only movies I've seen in theaters in the last decade have been animated. I'd guess maybe 7 in total. I only go to take the kids and most of the time their Grandma wants to take them on an outing to the movies so I don't have to go. I actually went twice last year (Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me) because we had record-breaking temperatures over 100 degrees and it was even too hot to hang out at the pool.
My husband and I went on a movie date and saw Cast Away, but having wine with dinner and then seeing a boring movie with nature sounds put me right to sleep. I'm such a fun date, huh?
Are you sure he didn't slip you a Mickey?
April 10th, 2011 at 7:01:23 AM
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Quote: benbakdoffAre you sure he didn't slip you a Mickey?
I'm pretty sure he wanted me awake that evening. :D
Each of us is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.
Preparing for a fight about your bad decision is not as smart as making a good decision.
April 10th, 2011 at 11:51:48 AM
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Quote: FarFromVegasMy husband and I went on a movie date and saw Cast Away, but having wine with dinner and then seeing a boring movie with nature sounds put me right to sleep. I'm such a fun date, huh?
The last grown up movie you saw was over a decade ago? I suppose this is the core reason the industry is in trouble.
April 10th, 2011 at 12:07:52 PM
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Quote: pacomartinThe last grown up movie you saw was over a decade ago? I suppose this is the core reason the industry is in trouble.
Keep in mind I have 4 kids. It's just easier to wait until a movie shows up on cable. I don't really care for 3D effects or surround sound. We have a theater room in our rental home and I've never sat in there and watched a movie, either, and we built the place 6 years ago.
Each of us is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.
Preparing for a fight about your bad decision is not as smart as making a good decision.
April 10th, 2011 at 12:13:14 PM
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Perhaps.
The movie wasn't that great. It was "slow" and I'm sure that one of our favorite posters was not the only one who found it soporific. I think many people now would be inclined to pop something into the (microwave/crock-pot/both), drop by the wine store, and have a few friends over for poker or something but would not at all be inclined to go out to the movies. Movie attendance would be much more likely in a situation such as:
Already at the casino or already at a shopping center and attending a budget showing. Think of the way a grocery store offers cooking-lessons-and-child-care in order to attract upscale customers. If you want movies to be a viable business there has to be an "extra carrot" of some sort. Just the movies is no longer viable: poor quality movie, poor quality audience, parking, etc.
I would think the movie theaters are asset plays for their real estate and the zoning changes.
I wonder if any of those theaters are zoned for gaming?
The movie wasn't that great. It was "slow" and I'm sure that one of our favorite posters was not the only one who found it soporific. I think many people now would be inclined to pop something into the (microwave/crock-pot/both), drop by the wine store, and have a few friends over for poker or something but would not at all be inclined to go out to the movies. Movie attendance would be much more likely in a situation such as:
Already at the casino or already at a shopping center and attending a budget showing. Think of the way a grocery store offers cooking-lessons-and-child-care in order to attract upscale customers. If you want movies to be a viable business there has to be an "extra carrot" of some sort. Just the movies is no longer viable: poor quality movie, poor quality audience, parking, etc.
I would think the movie theaters are asset plays for their real estate and the zoning changes.
I wonder if any of those theaters are zoned for gaming?
April 10th, 2011 at 1:36:42 PM
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Quote: FarFromVegasKeep in mind I have 4 kids. It's just easier to wait until a movie shows up on cable. I don't really care for 3D effects or surround sound. We have a theater room in our rental home and I've never sat in there and watched a movie, either, and we built the place 6 years ago.
My point is that you are now the norm. If movie boxoffice is down 21.5% in dollars, then it is down more than that in ticket sales (since prices go up). If ticket sales go down 25.3% they will dip below 1 billion ticket sales for the year. They haven't been that low since the 1970's.
Movie going among adults is vanishing as a cultural phenomena. Last year was the first time 5 of the top 10 box office hits was animated, and the other 5 were all special effects heavy fantasy movies. True Grit and The King's Speech were probably the only two top 20 box office hits where the core audience was people over the age of 18.
The last time a movie made #1 whose core audience was adults was 1998 when the R rated Saving Private Ryan was the biggest movie of the year.
April 10th, 2011 at 1:55:25 PM
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I remember Saving Private Ryan as some over-hyped nonsense. Apparently some thought it a good movie though. I wonder if advertising budgets drive the movie sales now? So many cable movies have websites and fan clubs and blogs. It seems just making a movie and releasing it is no longer what happens.
Maybe its just a cocooning phenomena but people rarely go out to the movies anymore. Quality of the film, quality of the experience, or just plain quality of the dvd alternatives, I don't know.. but nobody goes out to the movies anymore. Sure ... a bored teenager too young to get into the casino. Yeah. A Retiree going to the 4:00pm show on a comped ticket, sure. But as a cultural phenomena, its as out of date as a silent film.
People now go out to clubs, they go to Vaudevile now (only its under different names), they have dinner, some microbrews, some series of lounge acts, ... but they don't go to the movies.
Maybe its just a cocooning phenomena but people rarely go out to the movies anymore. Quality of the film, quality of the experience, or just plain quality of the dvd alternatives, I don't know.. but nobody goes out to the movies anymore. Sure ... a bored teenager too young to get into the casino. Yeah. A Retiree going to the 4:00pm show on a comped ticket, sure. But as a cultural phenomena, its as out of date as a silent film.
People now go out to clubs, they go to Vaudevile now (only its under different names), they have dinner, some microbrews, some series of lounge acts, ... but they don't go to the movies.
April 10th, 2011 at 2:04:05 PM
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Quote: pacomartinMy point is that you are now the norm. If movie boxoffice is down 21.5% in dollars, then it is down more than that in ticket sales (since prices go up). If ticket sales go down 25.3% they will dip below 1 billion ticket sales for the year. They haven't been that low since the 1970's.
Movie going among adults is vanishing as a cultural phenomena. Last year was the first time 5 of the top 10 box office hits was animated, and the other 5 were all special effects heavy fantasy movies. True Grit and The King's Speech were probably the only two top 20 box office hits where the core audience was people over the age of 18.
The last time a movie made #1 whose core audience was adults was 1998 when the R rated Saving Private Ryan was the biggest movie of the year.
I couldn't watch Private Ryan. The opening scene is too much for a person with three sons who lives in a military area. Too real.
Each of us is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.
Preparing for a fight about your bad decision is not as smart as making a good decision.
April 10th, 2011 at 2:19:03 PM
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Too real? All those clean uniforms? Real? Many never made it to the beach. Many drowned. Many were greeted with gore and soon became part of the gore.Quote: FarFromVegasI couldn't watch Private Ryan. The opening scene is too much for a person with three sons who lives in a military area. Too real.
One soldier had wind-blown vomit deposited on his uniform on the way in... he went thru months of combat, including some baths but under the watchful eyes of the MPs they were forbidden to wash uniforms in the baths. Typical military setup.
Realism? Maybe Oswald Spengler was right. There can only be one world war per generation. The muck of the trenches in the first war, the drownings and burnings and barrages of the second world war... perhaps it really is one war to a generation.
April 10th, 2011 at 5:52:07 PM
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Whoa! How did you know my script idea?Quote: FleaStiff
Scripts are simple: Boy meets girl, sucks her blood, she kicks him in the balls, some mutant being starts chasing them, there are car crashes (or flying saucer crashes), there is loud music, there are some displays of muscle-bound tattooed feminist bikers, then the tattoos morph into alien creatures and finally Boy and Girl save the planet via a great big fight at the Special Effects lab wherein the superiority of feminist bondage vampires is depicted.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
