Hollywood is afflicted with the flops:
This weekend, for example, Warner Bros. is putting out a white flag on “Blade Runner” after three tough weeks. They’ve cut the number of theaters showing Denis Villeneuve’s beautiful film by 855. So far, “Blade Runner” has made just $66 million. Audiences have not clamored to it. And now, week by week, Warners will quietly take it away.
Warner’s isn’t alone. Universal is pulling Tom Cruise’s “American Made” from 539 locations after a month in release. The Doug Liman directed thriller has made just $43 million. Good reviews haven’t helped push Cruise fans to theaters. One problem was lack of promotion since Cruise wasn’t available. Also, audiences may have just soured on him after “The Mummy” and other flops. With both studios, it wasn’t for lack of trying.
It could be that America has just discovered it has options to be lectured by out-of-touch coastal millionaires, be they on the silver screen, a news program set, or the silver screen…
…nah. That’s crazy talk.
Two hours, thirty three minutes. Long.
TFS, well at least you get more entertainment length for your ticket dollar.
I’d like to see the new Blade Runner, but the weekends have just been too busy with other things. Perhaps the lackluster performance means that it will soon be available for streaming,which is my preferred movie experience now. I’ve got the big 4K screen, comfy recliners, cheaper popcorn, and I can adjust the sound to my comfort level (though the theater blast level does tend to drown out the hammerhead in the other row who wants to talk all the way through the movie). And it’s not as if I’m holding my breath waiting for the next block-buster to be released on a studio’s schedule. I can wait another month or so.
Attendance in the US has been going down for years now. It’s been the same old same old for a long time now and people just figure they’ll wait until it shows up on Netflix, Amazon, or HBO.
You’ve got competition from Netflix and the like, and the reality that a lot of us (that would be me) would prefer to spend $2 than to spend $100 on a family movie night (I have five kids at home), but you’ve also got the reality that today more than ever, modern movies are competing with the Golden Age of the 1930s through the 1950s–even in the theaters, they’re occasionally bringing back classics. And quite frankly, I can’t think of many actors and actresses today who can hold an audience’s attention like the ones of the past.
Think Hollywood can garner some of the folks that are not attending or watching NFL games? Probably won’t happen for them.
Hollywood is losing audience to video games, which are becoming more and more interactive and cinemagraphic. Interestingly enough, as I consider the “star” role-playing-game characters, they are often individualistic rebels, working against some mysterious but totalitarian entity, conspiracy or government. Even Lara Croft is hardy a social justice warrior; she’s rich and doesn’t hesitate to appropriate other cultures and their treasures.
In rough order:
1) No creativity. Between infinite sequels and the marketing to China, movies are dull “blockbusters” 90% of the time. And when they get preachy, they positively turn me off. So I wait for reviews/plot summaries before I even consider going to a movie. And don’t get me going on what passes for “comedy” today!
2) Expense and comfort. It’s tough to beat my 60″ 4K television with surround sound, and tougher to beat my kitchen and cooking. And when they do, it’s usually well into 3 figures if we go out. So why do I need to go out when I’ll get a better experience at home in a few weeks or months? Who am I beating?
3) Competition. We’ve got Netflix (comes with T-mobile) and Amazon Prime. My sons and I have video games. Most of those are lower cost, and Netflix and Amazon are much more creative and risk-taking than Hollywood.
Honestly, today’s movies feel more like the dreck from the ’70s than anything since Star Wars came out. There’s more crap and ego pictures out there than any comparable time since then.
On the other hand, films of faith have shown some amazing growth and resilience at the box office. Think God is behind this?