The torrent of predictions of the quick demise of movie cinema strikes me as tunnel-vision bordering on dishonesty -- and provably by simply looking at past history and ingrained human behavior patterns. Hey, if movie theaters are dead, then so are legitimate theater (Broadway), music concerts, theme parks, cruise ships and audience attendance at sports events. But the … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: We’ve Seen This Movie Before
cinema distribution
Global P&A Often Surpasses Production Cost
Deadline.com's annual analysis of single-picture profit/loss indicates marketing costs continue climb and often surpass the production expense of major-studio films. The reality of surging marketing costs runs counter to some (ill-conceived) predictions that social media and other online media would replace costly TV advertising (ill-conceived because wide-reach TV is need to … [Read more...] about Global P&A Often Surpasses Production Cost
Fox Marketing Disbanded Following Disney Buy
Walt Disney Co. dismantled the 20th Century Fox theatrical marketing arm in terms of executives, as part of a large staff cut following its recent $71 billion acquisition of the Fox Studio. That big shakeup ended a period of relative calm in the executive suites of Hollywood’s theatrical movie marketing. Another development is MGM, which is building a theatrical … [Read more...] about Fox Marketing Disbanded Following Disney Buy
Films Sold at Fests Often Disappoint Later
Acquiring finished movies at film festivals is a celebrated activity generating breathless news reports and industry buzz. Chosen films are bought after informal industry auctions to later be put in general theatrical release -- which is a marketing function. A "Hollywood Reporter" article by Tatiana Siegel recounts that festival deals -- while often result of frenzied … [Read more...] about Films Sold at Fests Often Disappoint Later
Netflix, Other Streamers Walk Tightrope on Theatrical Runs
The great unresolved issue of this era of cinema is how video streamers like Netflix will alter theatrical release. The answer unfolds slowly with Netflix, which is the streamer least committed to theatrical -- inching back to cinema. Streamers originating and acquiring theatrical films for their online services pursue different strategies for the cinema window. Amazon … [Read more...] about Netflix, Other Streamers Walk Tightrope on Theatrical Runs
Netflix Pushes Into Film Unconcerned About Cinemas
Netflix is unconcerned with maintaining a theatrical window for its in-house-produced movies, presenting a contrast to Amazon that supports theatricals for its films. "Most major theater chains refuse to show the releases because Netflix posts them online right away, without giving exhibition an exclusive window," writes journalist David Lieberman on Hollywood news website … [Read more...] about Netflix Pushes Into Film Unconcerned About Cinemas
Overseas BO Props Up Domestic Flops
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
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
Pitt-produced ‘Lost City’ Loses R-rating Appeal
Brad Pitt-produced "Lost City of Z" was rejected in its appeal of a R-rating for "brief violence" in the period drama that is scheduled to premiere in theaters April 21. The movie comes from Amazon Studios and its distributor is Bleecker Street. With the Restricted rating, persons under age 17 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian. Presumably, the movie was … [Read more...] about Pitt-produced ‘Lost City’ Loses R-rating Appeal
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