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Marketing Often Exceeds Film Costs
Deadline.com’s annual rankings of film profitability highlights one of oddities of the movie biz. How much one spends on making “the product” — meaning film production cost — frequently has little bearing on profitability and is sometime dwarfed by basic marketing expenses. Universal Pictures spent just $20 million to make cheapie horror film “Five Nights at Freddy’s” but $60 million in prints-and-advertising. “Freddy’s” generated $161 million in studio net operating profit, estimates the Deadline stories by Anthony D’Alessandro. Meanwhile, lop-sided…
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Algorithm Film Data Sinks Sequel
An attempt to mount a sequel to 2001 medieval action-comedy classic “A Knight’s Tale” was scuttled by poor results when Netflix analyzed the concept using its audience data, says a…
Netflix Affirms Film Ambitions
It was thought original streaming films are on the chopping block amid cuts in spending across video streaming. Industry leader Netflix, however, reiterated a full-throated commitment to made-for-streaming films, both…
‘Civil War’ Cleverly Disguises Its Politics
A24-distributed “Civil War” is a surprise cinema hit over the weekend, defying odds since such topical-political movies are typically boxoffice poison. The R-rated violent drama from distributor A24 posted a…
Imax Shines as Regular Cinema Struggles
The big-format-screen Imax theaters are rebounding nicely from the pandemic and disruptions from Hollywood labor strikes, though the rest of cinema suffers from fewer movies. That snapshot of the cinema…
Film Marketing Takes to Streets
The “Star Wars” franchise has mounted a marketing initiative that projects lighted images on a famous New York City building, attracting the attention of street traffic and, more importantly, the…
Tribeca Offers Perks Program
The glitzy Tribeca Festival rolls out a membership program offering events perks, special merchandise offers and benefits from sponsors. Membership costs $100 a year, reflecting that flat-fee subscriptions offerings in…
Streamers’ Billboards a Sign of the Times
Video streamers have elbowed alongside movies for visibility in greater Hollywood’s outdoor billboard scene for awards consideration, joining films seeking to turn heads of industry voter for Oscars and other…
Film Marketer Banks on Crowd Funding
Emerging independent film company Legion M will test its crowd-funding capability to support the cinema release of a theatrical documentary on “Star Trek” icon William Shatner. The Shatner biography, “You…
‘Dune 2’ Blasts Off With Global PR Tour
Big-budget “Dune: Part Two” basks in the glow of copious good press after distributor Warner Bros. Pictures mounted an extensive six-country, whistle-stop publicity tour of talent. The “Dune 2” publicity…