The kids demographic continues to carry cinema to prosperity. Children-oriented animated feature film “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” (image above) from Universal Pictures is the latest example, bagging a staggering $131 million in domestic boxoffice over the three-day Easter-holiday weekend (and $190 million for five days when including Wednesday and Thursday). Its ticket … [Read more...] about Kids Demographic Revives Cinema
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Kids Demographic Saving Cinema
Despite the naysayers, cinema’s outlook continues to gradually improve as it recovers from the pandemic, video streaming competition and interrupted movie flow from Hollywood labor strikes. The key favorable trends are wide-release film output expected to return to pre-pandemic levels next year, the children’s demographic embraces movie-going (children's blockbuster … [Read more...] about Kids Demographic Saving Cinema
‘Minecraft’ Ignites Rowdy Cinema Rally
“A Minecraft Movie” delivered huge boxoffice, but with unexpected rowdy behavior in cinemas by some youthful moviegoers. The Warner Bros. Pictures adaptation of the hit video game generated a blockbuster $130 million domestically its opening weekend, April 3-6, which was double prerelease research tracking. To date, the parental guidance-rated (PG) movie starring Jack Black … [Read more...] about ‘Minecraft’ Ignites Rowdy Cinema Rally
Wow! $215 for Cinema+Meal
A movie theater in the basement of a posh New York City hotel charges lofty prices up to $215 per person when meal included! The Cannes Cinema is a compact 66-seat movie theater in the basement of the five-star Hotel Barriere Fouquet in New York City, which is located in the trendy and bohemian Tribeca district. Offices for the Tribeca Film Festival are nearby. While … [Read more...] about Wow! $215 for Cinema+Meal
Database Navigates Cinemas for Indie Films
A startup of well-connected cinema executives is beta testing a database to enable indie films to crack theatrical release. The Fithian Group is providing distribution services to navigate cinema, starting with R-rated romantic comedy “You, Me & Her” hitting screens later this month (movie poster above with key copyline "Don't Make It Weird"). The initiative aims to … [Read more...] about Database Navigates Cinemas for Indie Films
Tesla Builds Cinema Diner Charging Station
Tesla is building a showcase vehicle-charging station in Los Angeles that combines cinema and a 24-hour restaurant. “The charging station is part of the electric vehicle industry’s efforts to re-imagine gas stations by turning them into a multi-faceted experience,” wrote Ariel Zilber in the New York Post. The Post capsulized the idea as 1950s movie “‘Grease’ meets ‘The … [Read more...] about Tesla Builds Cinema Diner Charging Station
‘Terrifier 3’ Success Boosts Unrated Films
Low-budget horror flick “Terrifier 3” (website screen grab above) cracks open the door wider for unrated films to play mainstream theaters, after grossing a solid $37 million in its first 11 days in cinemas. “It is well on its way to becoming the top-grossing unrated film of all time domestically against a minuscule budget of $2 million and barely any marketing spend,” notes … [Read more...] about ‘Terrifier 3’ Success Boosts Unrated Films
Rereleases Pile Into Cinemas
Theatrical rereleases are multiplying, driven by nostalgia, consumers’ desire to get out-of-home and gaps in release schedules after Hollywood labor strikes. And audiences are flocking to cinemas to see them. Later this week, 2009 music-school drama "Whiplash" gets a rerelease (Miles Teller, left, and J. K. Simmons pictured above). The stop-motion Laika Studios film … [Read more...] about Rereleases Pile Into Cinemas
Hard Times Grip Cinema
Hard times have hit the cinema business as the Bronx region with 1.4 million residents lost one of its two multiplexes; Walt Disney Studios' once-dependable comic book adaptations are sputtering; and Paramount Pictures struggles to sell itself. While recent developments are mostly unfavorable, Sony Pictures Entertainment agreed to buy movie-and-a-meal Alamo Drafthouse … [Read more...] about Hard Times Grip Cinema
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 business is optimistic. The Imax boom shows audiences are willing to pay a premium for tickets for a premium experience. Consumers want out-of-home entertainment, and not … [Read more...] about Imax Shines as Regular Cinema Struggles