A Wall Street stock analyst says "Solo: A Star Wars Story" stumbled at the box office because Walt Disney Studios didn't present a credible replacement to the Hans Solo character, immortalized by Harrison Ford in the early "Star War" movies. This most interesting film critic of "Solo" is Doug Creutz, who is a veteran media analyst at investment house Cowen & Co., and … [Read more...] about Analyst Blames ‘Poor Marketing’ in ‘Star Wars’ Stumble
controversy
MoviePass Risks Becoming MoviePast
Flat-monthly-fee cinema ticket subscription service MoviePass is at a crossroads. Shares of its parent (NasdaqCM: ticker symbol HMNY) peaked at $32.90 a share back in October when MoviePass cut its monthly fee, which swelled its subscribers that now number about 2.7 million. But as losses mounted, share price collapsed to a penny-stock level under 60 cents today, amid … [Read more...] about MoviePass Risks Becoming MoviePast
‘Tonya’ Source Demands Journos Avoid Controversy
Arm-twisting reporters so they don’t ask talent about touchy subjects is a shadowy part of celebrity press interviews but has popped into the open for the movie “I, Tonya.” The drama with bursts of deadpan comedy stars Margot Robbie portraying ice skater Tonya Harding during the real-life crime perpetrated by Harding's entourage that maimed her main rival in 1994. “The … [Read more...] about ‘Tonya’ Source Demands Journos Avoid Controversy
Did Angry Fanboys Rip ‘Jedi’ for Feminism?
There's a buzz questioning whether riled-up fanboys drove down user-ratings for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” for its alleged feminist-friendly orientation. A Variety article by Todd Spangler notes that movie rating website Rotten Tomatoes reported that film critics gave “Jedi” a lofty 92% rating, but the website’s users just 54%. There were claims that automated bots unleashed … [Read more...] about Did Angry Fanboys Rip ‘Jedi’ for Feminism?
Disney Retaliates Against Newspaper By Blocking Reviewers
Walt Disney Studios won’t give customary access to film critics from the “Los Angeles Times” for advance screenings because of displeasure for the newspaper questioning in questioning if an area Disney theme park pays its fair share of local taxes. The “Los Angeles Times” published a note to readers that accompanies its holiday movie section: “This year, Walt Disney Co. … [Read more...] about Disney Retaliates Against Newspaper By Blocking Reviewers
Dissecting ‘Geostorm’ Flop: Reshoots Couldn’t Save It
Warner Bros. disaster yarn 'Geostorm' bombed and a Deadline.com analysis lays the blame on an incoherent on-screen story that furious behind-the-scene scrambling did not completely repair. The $120+ million production grossed just $13.3 million domestically in its premiere three-day weekend to tepid reviews from critics and audiences exiting theaters. Warner Bros. Pictures … [Read more...] about Dissecting ‘Geostorm’ Flop: Reshoots Couldn’t Save It
Star Power Wanes for Leading Men
Movie audiences used to revere male movie stars as god-like, but today's movie stars have meltdowns in public, showing clay feet that pierces their aura. This relates to movie marketing because star-power is diminishing as a draw, and it's no surprise why. "It's curious to see so many male megastars -- so good-looking, wealthy, undeniably privileged -- unravel so … [Read more...] about Star Power Wanes for Leading Men
Streep Dress Flap at Oscars
Attention shoppers: Catfight in aisle 12! Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld sniped at Meryl Streep for backing out of an alleged deal to wear one of his gowns to the Oscars, claiming he learned another designer paid her to strut the red carpet in another outfit. The 20-times Oscar nominated actress Streep huffed it wasn't true. And later Lagerfeld back off saying it was a … [Read more...] about Streep Dress Flap at Oscars
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
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