A 5-minute deleted scene just posted online for cinema blockbuster “The Batman” creates a post-premiere wave of publicity and, more importantly, sets up a sequel movie and TV series for fans of the comic book-adaptation franchise. The posted polished scene that is not in the PG-13-rated movie is dark and visually blurry. In it, Batman (portrayed by Robert Pattinson) … [Read more...] about Deleted Scene Reignites ‘The Batman’ Buzz
Tiny ‘Frequent’ Demo Drives Boxoffice
Cinema is still a “frequent moviegoer” affair. Major studio trade group the Motion Picture Association estimates that 3 percent of the U.S./Canada population accounts for an outsized 34 percent of movie ticket sales. That 3 percent that drive cinema economics are “frequent” attendees, defined as individuals that buy at least 12 movie tickets a year, according to the MPA. … [Read more...] about Tiny ‘Frequent’ Demo Drives Boxoffice
Financier Disses Pairing VOD With Cinema
A financier that invested billions of dollars in producing films with Warner Bros. Pictures asserts in a lawsuit that simultaneous streaming with cinema premieres diminishes economic return, especially from piracy spawned by streaming. Australian media company Village Roadshow (VRS) sued Warners for premiering its calendar 2021 film slate (17 theatricals) on corporate … [Read more...] about Financier Disses Pairing VOD With Cinema
Netflix Touts Its Films in Super Bowl Blitz
Video streamers and Hollywood personalities took center stage in pricey Super Bowl commercials and eight movie-focused spots were in the mix yesterday. In an endorsement of the film genre that many pundits overlook, Netflix bought a long 60-second spot simply touting its movie slate dubbed “Movie Preview and the Adam Project” (“Project Adam” is an original supernatural … [Read more...] about Netflix Touts Its Films in Super Bowl Blitz
Amazon Morphs Into Hollywood Juggernaut
Amazon is firing up investments and generating sizeable business in media and entertainment, indicating the diversified retailing behemoth is becoming an unlikely top-tier, Hollywood-style content company. In just-released 2021 earnings, Amazon reported its subscription revenue (excluding its AWS cloud tech service) soared to a staggering $31.8 billion, up 26% year over … [Read more...] about Amazon Morphs Into Hollywood Juggernaut
‘People’s’ Rescue of AMC Fizzles
After an unbelievable run-up, the stock price of cinema circuit AMC Entertainment is in free fall, as the flood of small investors calling themselves apes evaporates. From a high surpassing $55 a share last year, AMC closed at $14.52 a share today. With the air out of the balloon, professional investors expect AMC’s stock price to settle under $10/share because of its heavy … [Read more...] about ‘People’s’ Rescue of AMC Fizzles
Marketing Turmoil Engulfs Netflix, S-VOD
Marketing of subscription video-on-demand for Netflix and HBO Max was rocked in the past week. The high-flying stock price of Netflix cracked, and also subscription prices were raised and lowered, in an apparent contradiction. Netflix raised its subscription price Jan. 14, and then days later competitor HBO Max instituted a limited-time price cut. Netflix increased its … [Read more...] about Marketing Turmoil Engulfs Netflix, S-VOD
Awards Season Compressed, Thinned
The covid pandemic is upsetting the awards-season calendar, as televised awards shows postpone, cancel or become bland virtual events — creating ripple effects. A fallout is that awards-marketing spending looks to be subdued by the uncertainty, and prestige films are deprived of routine publicity bursts in the lead-up to the Oscars. Amid the chaos, the door is also … [Read more...] about Awards Season Compressed, Thinned
Film Promotions Pile Into TikTok
Short-videos web site TikTok is becoming a primo Hollywood movie promotion partner with Sony Pictures’ blockbuster “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and Universal Pictures’ “Sing 2” the latest examples. TikTok has evolved from a “must try” to “must have” for film marketers, given its hefty with 1 billion active monthly users, says a Deadline.com article by Dade Hayes. TikTok is the … [Read more...] about Film Promotions Pile Into TikTok
Studios Squeeze Cinemas on Blockbusters
A little-understood aspect of cinema booking contracts is that a larger percentage of boxoffice revenue is allocated to the Hollywood major studios as a blockbuster film climbs into the stratosphere. The result is that the financial benefits of outsized hits disproportionately go into the pockets of major-studio distributors, and less so to theaters. Hey all you “meme” small … [Read more...] about Studios Squeeze Cinemas on Blockbusters