Three recent big-budget Hollywood movie stumbles are getting bailed out by booming overseas box office -- “The Mummy,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” and “Transformers: The Dark Knight.” The don’t-worry-foreign-will-save-us syndrome is much discussed, but usually not true. A bomb domestically is typically a dud overseas too. But the recent trio are … [Read more...] about Overseas BO Props Up Domestic Flops
Oscar Rules Tweaked for Docus, Awards Campaigning
The reigning best-documentary Oscar winner would no longer be eligible going forward under a raft of changes in annual rules revisions issued today by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In other revisions, AMPAS tweaked numerous rules governing campaigning for awards and also some awards procedures, such as allowing the entire membership of AMPAS to nominate … [Read more...] about Oscar Rules Tweaked for Docus, Awards Campaigning
Late-stage ‘Kong’ Surge Salvages BO Premiere
"Kong: Skull Island” opened to a so-so $61 million in domestic box office for its premiere three-day weekend, which trade publication Deadline says is a triumph. The $185 million-budget yarn was trending as a flop just a few weeks earlier. The Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures film was headed a mid-40s million dollars opening when it first landed in pre-release … [Read more...] about Late-stage ‘Kong’ Surge Salvages BO Premiere
Fake News Websites for ‘Wellness’ Embarrass Fox
20th Century Fox stretched for relevance by erecting fake news website to promote film “A Cure for Wellness,” but apologized later. The $40 million-budgeted psychological thriller “A Cure for Wellness” premieres in theaters this weekend. Phony news websites were anchored with “an elaborate, yet fictitious news story claiming that President Donald Trump met with Russian … [Read more...] about Fake News Websites for ‘Wellness’ Embarrass Fox
Warner Corals its TV Shows for ‘Batman Lego’ Flick
Hollywood's biggest movie studio, Warner Bros. marshaled various non-theatrical assets to support theatrical premiere of “The Lego Batman Movie,” flexing corporate synergy with media siblings. “The toy brick DC superhero got a shout-out during hit series ‘The Big Bang Theory’ with a special ‘Lego Batman’ opening, and two ‘Big Bang/LEGO Batman’ promo … [Read more...] about Warner Corals its TV Shows for ‘Batman Lego’ Flick
Four Studios Sue Broker Over Film Premiere Tix
Demand for tickets to movie premieres spawns black market sales, and four film distributors are cracking down. A New York Post newspaper article says that Disney, NBC/Universal, Sony and Warner Bros. filed a lawsuit against a broker that sells to the general public what are labeled as premiere and Hollywood awards show tickets in VIP packages. The lawsuit by the major … [Read more...] about Four Studios Sue Broker Over Film Premiere Tix
‘Emoji’ Movie Claims First Cell-phone Trailer
I’m always on the look-out for movie marketing firsts, and here Sony Pictures claims one. Sony Pictures rolled out what it asserts is the “world's first-ever vertical movie trailer designed especially for mobile users” for animated “The Emoji Movie.” The not-yet-rated “Emoji Movie” is scheduled for domestic theatrical premiere Aug. 4, 2017, so this is a long-lead marketing … [Read more...] about ‘Emoji’ Movie Claims First Cell-phone Trailer
Studios Push Shorter Window to VOD
While it’s cheery that domestic box office revenue is up 3.7% year-to-date, movie theaters are under threat of further encroachment of the video-on-demand window. In presentation to stock-market investors, the parent companies of Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures revealed they are in negotiations with theaters to shrink the customary 90-day exclusive window for … [Read more...] about Studios Push Shorter Window to VOD
Product-Placement Guru Recounts Evolution
Product placement veteran Brad Brown recalls the obstacles and patchy nature of product placements in movies and TV shows from past decades in a BrandChannel.com profile. Brown, who is quoted in all three “Marketing to Moviegoer” books, placed Pepsi soda in movies ranging from early Tom Hanks hit “Big” (a Pepsi vending machine is prominent in the lead character’s memorable … [Read more...] about Product-Placement Guru Recounts Evolution
Filmmaker Controversy Sinks ‘Birth’
Fox Searchlight period slave drama “The Birth of a Nation” premiered to weak box office this weekend amid acclaim, high hopes and scandal. The drama, acquired for a sizeable $17.5 million at the Sundance Film Festival, generated just $7 million in domestic box office its premiere weekend Oct 7-9 with a lackluster $2,105 per screen average. “Birth of a Nation” -- about a … [Read more...] about Filmmaker Controversy Sinks ‘Birth’