The revival of cinema boxoffice now includes the horror genre, after being mostly missing in action during the pandemic and its aftermath. Two unheralded scare flicks — “Obsession” and “Backrooms” — just blossomed into genuine blockbusters. Focus Features distributed “Obsession,” which rolled up $169 million in domestic boxoffice (U.S. and Canada) since its May 15 … [Read more...] about Horror Rebounds via Surprise Blockbusters
independents
Devotees Lift ‘Melania’ Past Critics’ Barbs
Most film critics panned the first lady documentary “Melania,” even going outside their professional-reviewer roles to promise that the movie would bomb in cinemas. But mean-spirited film critics proved inept at business forecasting. The frothy Melania Trump movie (Instagram screen grab above) defied those knocks to gross a decent $7.2 million domestically (U.S. and Canada) … [Read more...] about Devotees Lift ‘Melania’ Past Critics’ Barbs
Distributor Going Public Validates Indies
Smallish independent film distributor Angel Studios went public earlier this month at a hefty $1.6 billion in pro forma enterprise value (sum of stock value and borrowings). That’s an amazing validation of economic value for a company in domestic theatrical distribution, which is a hardscrabble business outside of Hollywood’s five major movie studios, and also video streaming, … [Read more...] about Distributor Going Public Validates Indies
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
New Films Exploit Expiring Copyrights
Multiple “Popeye” movies are sailing to cinema, TV and video-game screens as the property’s foundation copyright expires. Expect this to be a trend as intellectual property (IP) created during the early “talking pictures” days get aged out of legal protection. Independent film companies are promoting “Popeye the Slayer Man” (see image below) and “Shiver Me Timbers” (a … [Read more...] about New Films Exploit Expiring Copyrights
Neon Stakes Out Distribution Turf
Seven-year-old Neon emerged as a mainstay in the hardscrabble domestic theatrical distribution business, where most new entrants fail or shrink to irrelevancy within a few years. Highlights of its short history include 2020 Oscar Best Picture winner “Parasite,” the Korean-language import; and also sassy ice skater drama “I, Tonya.” And this year, there's the sleeper horror … [Read more...] about Neon Stakes Out Distribution Turf
YouTube Film Critic Makes Movie
A prominent YouTube critic has parlayed his online celebrity into crowd-funding a horror film that he directed and wrote, which received a prestigious fest play. Then, it was acquired by hot indie distribution Neon. Chris Stuckman, who amassed a staggering 2 million YouTube followers over 13 years for his film reviews/commentaries, is the director of supernatural drama … [Read more...] about YouTube Film Critic Makes Movie
Coppola Wants to Prove Hollywood Wrong on ‘Megalopolis’
Filmmaker extraordinaire Frances Ford Coppola is struggling with placating puzzled film critics, marketing an esoteric film to wide audiences and struggling for industry sales for his “Megalopolis.” The $120 million self-financed social commentary epic is in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where Coppola hopes those problems will be solved by critical acclaim … [Read more...] about Coppola Wants to Prove Hollywood Wrong on ‘Megalopolis’
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 Can Call Me Bill,” is a PG-13 rated documentary set for March 22 theatrical release. It’s Legion M’s first time going in-house for a cinema release. The documentary … [Read more...] about Film Marketer Banks on Crowd Funding
Young Adults Boost Specialty, Art House
The hardscrabble independent and art house segments of cinema are getting a lift from the young adult demographic, which is augmenting the traditional mainstay of older adults, according to a Hollywood Reporter story. Upmarket indie and art house have relied on middle-aged and older adults, or in industry slang the “elderverse,” so the recent influx of ages 18-49 young … [Read more...] about Young Adults Boost Specialty, Art House