Hollywood poised for best-ever box-office year

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JESSICA HERNDON

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Despite a string of summertime flops, Hollywood is expected to have a banner year at the domestic box office, coming in just shy of $11 billion, the largest annual take ever. But because of higher ticket prices, actual attendance at North American theaters remained flat after a decade of decline.

With the current domestic box-office tally nearly 1 percent ahead of last year at this time, 2013 could surpass 2012's overall haul of $10.8 billion by more than $100 million, according to box-office tracker Rentrak.

High-profile flops such as "The Lone Ranger,""After Earth,""R.I.P.D." and "Turbo" were offset by mega-hits like "Fast & Furious 6" and "Iron Man 3," which consistently filled theaters last summer.

More recently, Warner Bros.' space epic "Gravity" has earned $254 million domestically, Lionsgate's sci-fi sequel "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" has grossed $378 million and fantasy prequel "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" has brought in $150 million for Warner Bros.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20131227/DAAUUPE02.html

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This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Sandra Bullock in a scene from the film, "Gravity." Hollywood is expected to have a banner year as box office totals are projected to peak at just under $11 billion, bringing in more multiplex revenue in 2013 than ever before. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, File)

[edbermac]

1. Looks like 47 Ronin is going to tank also.

And on Rotten Tomatoes site it's rated at 12% while Justin Bieber's Believe is at 56%. Talk about adding insult to injury.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/

Poor Keanu, he should have made another Bill and Ted movie.

[blkmusclmachine]

2. F-ck Lions Gate for Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game."

That's all.

[Lobo27]

3. I wonder how much ticket prices have to do with it.

I remember in 1996 Independence Day made like 800million in 1996 and tickets back then were like 5-6 dollars. It its one of the best grossing films every. So one can argue that more people saw Independence Day then say a move that 900mil to 1billion in current times.

[KurtNYC]

6. 'Sales flat after a decade of decline' so the increase is ALL due to ticket prices

Adjusted for inflation:

1 Gone with the Wind $3,301,400,000 1939
2 Avatar $2,782,300,000 2009
3 Star Wars $2,710,800,000 1977
4 Titanic $2,413,800,000T 1997
5 The Sound of Music $2,269,800,000 1965
6 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial $2,216,800,000 1982
7 The Ten Commandments $2,098,600,000 1956
8 Doctor Zhivago $1,988,600,000 1965
9 Jaws $1,945,100,000 1975
10 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs $1,746,100,000 1937

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films#Highest-grossing_films_adjusted_for_inflation

[abelenkpe]

4. No mention of the massive subsidies given to studios

By foreign governments like New Zealand, Canada, China and the UK to lure VFX jobs and location shooting away from the US and drive down wages of film workers. Up to 45 percent of production costs. What a deal. Gotta help the bottom line. Also puts thousands of US workers out of work but who gives a damn about that right? Just a bunch former middle class losers like textile workers, steel workers, auto workers. We stopped Rmoney and his Bain model offshoring express, and then congratulate the entertainment industry for doing the same.

[Turbineguy]

5. Movies did well during the Great Depression too.

It's a great way to escape reality for a few hours.