ROTTEN TOMATOES: This Just In: Movies Don't Make Money Comments

This Just In: Movies Don't Make Money

by Jeff Giles | November 13, 2007

Summary

In marked contrast to the music business, which has spent the last seven years dealing with declining profits and assorted bad news, the 21st century has seen the film industry repeatedly setting new records for ticket receipts. The movie biz is healthy, right? Back to Article

(61-80 of 87 posts) | Reply

Kudos Mooney writes:
on Nov 14 2007 07:04 AM

Almostnotfamous, don't worry about aknddon3. Seriously. It's like talking to a cement wall. Gets you nowhere fast.

As far as quality movies coming out this year, there have been quite a few:
Rescue Dawn
Ratatouille
Gone Baby Gone
No Country for Old Men
3:10 to Yuma
Zodiac
and those are the ones off of the top of my tired head.

But as you can see, these aren't big Hollywood films (save for Ratatouille - Pixar can do no wrong). What the Hollywood system needs to understand is that we're not trying to fight against them because they make money. I would love for all the studios to make money. And a lot of it. But put that money to good use. If you keep churning out BS like Spiderman 3 and Transformers, then you get what you deserve. Bloated marketing costs, endless advertisements, toys, etc....you're just missing the whole point entirely.

The Hollywood system is like a pair of immature, irresponsible parents: they don't budget well at all and their priorities seem to be completely out of whack.

But I can't put all the blame on the Hollywood execs. I places a good portion of the blame on you guys as well. Look how high we hold up our celebrities. Look at all the fashion magazines littered with celebrities and their diet plans, who they're dating, their crushes, sex secrets, etc. Who cares? Well, apparently a lot of you do. A good majority of those on this forum probably don't, but that's because most people who read that crap. So celebrities get the idea (and fairly, i admit) that their a precious commodity. Also, look at how are society works as a whole. We may not live in the 80's, but we're still obsessed with material possesions and having the latest and greatest technology, clothes, cars, hairstyles, etc. We are doing this to ourselves. We should reevaluate what really is important in our lives. As cliche as it sounds, we should. Take stock of what you have, who you are truly, and look at yourselves as a whole. Realize that we have created a disposable society, one where divorces come by the bucketfuls, people sue each other over pointless BS, racism (of all damn things) still runs rampant in our lives (be it in our classrooms, bedrooms, televisions, radios, etc). We are trained to want MORE MORE MORE. We are trained to have THE VERY BEST!!! But best for whom? What is the best? What is the point, really?

And the studio heads feed off of that. They feed off that social personality quirk. And until we pull ourselves together and start thinking like intelligent mammals (as we so claim to be), then we shoot ourselves in the foot, allowing blood-sucking leeches like the Hollywood system (and the music industry, etc) to bleed us dry.

The change doesn't start with them: it starts with you.

(Reply to this)

SS109 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 07:33 AM

I am not buying DVD's anymore because I realize I never was watching them.

I still see a couple movies a month in the theatre, but I used to go every weekend. Now the lack of good films has me going home after Friday night dinner.

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pitwheeler writes:
on Nov 14 2007 07:49 AM

I have yet to purchase a DVD(yes, ALL the movies I own are on VHS). Until Hollywood gets the message that to make money you have to create a great product for people to buy, they will continue to see their precious bank account numbers drop.

(Reply to this)

Vitamin M writes:
on Nov 14 2007 08:00 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_accounting
wow this is sickening.
I think the only way to solve the problem is to eliminate the studios and the money grubbing executives. So sure illegally download films and then just write a check to the actors or directors or the writers or set desigers or local carpenters union that worked on the film you liked. how about that?
For example Radio Head made their latest album a free download on their website and just asked for a donation from the downloader, something like that, I didn't download it because I'm not a fan but I like their idea.
Or there was the guy (vague huh?) who set up a website with a trailer he shot of the movie he wanted to make and asked for donations to do it. that sounds a$$ backwards but to me it makes more sense then watching whatever some accountant in hollywood thinks I'll want to watch.

(Reply to this)

bluestar50 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 08:48 AM

The reason movies don't make money now days is because Hollywood just keeps making ******* remakes and sequels. If they'd do something original for a change, maybe they'd have better luck.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 14 2007 08:53 AM

In reply to this comment (#1275113)
"P.S. Special Ed you need to go back to your special ed classes and learn what a whitty reply is, or even learn what the word whit is."

Do YOU know what 'Whit' is, aknddon?

whit(hw%u012Dt, w%u012Dt)n. The least bit; an iota: doesn't give a whit what was said; not a whit afraid.

now contrast that with the word Wit:

wit[wit]%u2013n.
1. the keen perception and cleverly apt expression of those connections between ideas that awaken amusement and pleasure.
2. speech or writing showing such perception and expression.
3. a person having or noted for such perception and expression.
4. understanding, intelligence, or sagacity; astuteness.
5. Usually, wits. a. powers of intelligent observation, keen perception, ingenious contrivance, or the like; mental acuity, composure, and resourcefulness: using one's wits to get ahead.
b. mental faculties; senses: to lose one's wits.
%u2014Idioms
6. at one's wit's end. end1 (def. 33).
7. keep or have one's wits about one, to remain alert and observant; be prepared for or equal to anything: to keep your wits about you in a crisis.
8. live by one's wits, to provide for oneself by employing ingenuity or cunning; live precariously: We traveled around the world, living by our wits.

Compare and contrast the two words, aknddon, and I think you'll agree: You don't know whit.

I own you again.

(Reply to this)

Read-A-Book writes:
on Nov 14 2007 08:55 AM

I don't usually post a comment when there are so many comments already posted. However, I just had to put in my two cents. Besides what everyone else has said, the internet has allowed many people (including myself) to watch the only good parts of a movie (e.g., Death Proof). Why do I need to watch the whole movie?

Moreover, I work in a public library and we get new releases when they become available. No fees and I can have them for 2 weeks. Sure, I might have to wait a little unless I am lucky/diligent to get my name on the request list early, but there is hardly anything out that I can't wait to see it.

If there is something I want to watch now and not wait, I go to my local grocery store and use the $1.00 vending machines. I could not tell you the last time I was in Blockbusters or Hollywood Video or any other video rental business. In fact, I live in a highly populated area and Blockbusters is the only surviving video rental place in my immediate area.

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 09:26 AM

Brian you havent owned a person in your life, i basically made you my ***** in the last thread, you could not even defend yourself, i felt bad because i was owning a little 12 year old, but hey you try to attack adults and you get pwned for it. Brian you have grammar school to go to, let the adults talk.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 14 2007 09:32 AM

In reply to this comment (#1275541)
Wow. I guess your whitty response sure told me.

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Loserman writes:
on Nov 14 2007 11:07 AM

Ah, Brian, pay him no mind. He's just bitter about the fact no one repeatedly went to see his biographical film, "Freddy Got Fingered." If only it had included the deleted fantasy sequence -- Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell wrestling in the buff -- it would have been a box office smash! We already know what "p" he owns, and it's quite dinky.

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Almostnotfamous writes:
on Nov 14 2007 11:15 AM

In reply to this comment (#1275113)
Apparently I'm not the only one.....

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (51%)
Pearl Harbor (24%)
Men In Black 2 (38%)
Pirates 2: Dead Man's Chest (54%)
Shrek 3 (42%)
Wild Hogs (15%)
Rush Hour 2 (50%)
The Mummy Returns (47%)
The Passion of the Christ (51%)

Grindhouse (81%)
The Last King of Scotland (88%)
Super Size Me (92%)
Bend It Like Beckham (85%)
Spirited Away (97%)
Ghost World (92%)
Memento (94%)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (94%)

But it's ok...i can see where you're coming from

(Reply to this)

BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 14 2007 01:09 PM

In reply to this comment (#1275712)
You're right. Besides, if I continue to taunt him he may seriously wound me by calling me a "gay" "retard" or some other "adult" words that I, with my sub-Forrest Gump mind, won't be able to understand and that's a level of verbal abuse I just don't think I can take.

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wakko54321 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 02:13 PM

this is just a pile of studio bull****.

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randal1013 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 04:23 PM

what a coincidence that right after the writers go on strike in an effort to get paid more, the movie industry reports that they have no money. the report could be 100% accurate for all i know, but it is a nice a little coincidence.

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Special Ed writes:
on Nov 14 2007 04:39 PM

Eventually aknddon3 will get the message that nobody here really likes him. He will cleverly change his screen name in an attempt to give himself a fresh start.

aknddon4, nobody will be fooled.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Nov 14 2007 05:03 PM

But yeah, just to get back on-topic: You'd think that if movies didn't make any money the studios would declare bankruptcy, stop making movies or be more selective about which ones they DO make.

Every year we hear about what box office records have been broken and whenever talent asks for an increased share of that money, suddenly those profits disappear. The studios are sounding more and more like the oil companies: "Yes, we're bringing in record amounts of money but that doesn't mean we actually have any money."

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 11:22 PM

Almostnotfamous, yeah you are right i guess the OPINIONS of some old men who do not understand that movies are supposed to ENTERTAIN you should be taken as fact.

P.S. Special Ed. it is okay that you need to make fake profiles and get pwned by me everytime you post, i understand that you are a moron. Hell i think my mentally challenged cousin could put up a better fight than you.

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Almostnotfamous writes:
on Nov 14 2007 11:43 PM

Why do you have an account on this website if "the opinions of some old men" don't interest you....and for the record... i did like transformers, bad boys 2, terminator 3, Pirates 3, Revenge of the Sith, and a bunch of other entertaining movies....but in my opinion, there is a difference between those and wild hogs/pearl harbor/shrek 3/etc. etc....and besides, when over 90% of film EXPERTS think a certain way about a movie....isn't that good enough? Hell, I think your mentally challenged cousin probably has better taste in movies than you.

(Reply to this)

c_lidemark writes:
on Nov 15 2007 07:15 AM

I think the answer, which really is a question: Did ANYONE actually make less money? From what i read, Jeniffer Aniston makes an average of 18 mil. per movie she does. That's your answer why. Bloated incomes and useless jobs.

(Reply to this)

aknddon3 writes:
on Nov 15 2007 01:54 PM

Becasue unlike you i am not a pawn for the critics, i understand that critics are pointless, i have an account because i like to here about movies and i use to site to find movie times.

P.S. Just because 90% of critics liked it does not make it a good movie, critics opinion are worth a grain of salt.

(Reply to this)

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