Hollywood's 100 year plan? Failed. Lazy Millennials on their phones win again.

[Joe Molotov]

http://www.salon.com/2016/06/03/the_end_of_hollywood_alice_through_the_looking_glass_is_yet_another_big_budget_flop_and_that_could_mean_a_disastrous_year_for_studios/

TL;DR - Everything except Mahvel baybee and fur filth (Zootopia and Jungle Book) are la bomba. Hollywood to go 3rd party.

[jakefromstatefarm]

talkies were a mistake. they're nothing but trash

[Madrun Badrun]

I only care about marvel so whatever.  The rest can suck it. 

[Tasty]

Bad movie bombs and it's the end of the world. If this means the end of all the Hansel & Gretels, Snow White and the Huntsmens, etc. I'm completely on board.

PS- Fuck Zack Snyder.

[Tasty]

I believe the VOD market should/needs to get stronger over the next couple years. If those revenues get back to DVD levels, you'll see a lot of indie talent getting funded and breaking through. It's on a promising uptick, but yeah, needs to get stronger.

We'll never see another The Matrix (original IP by relative unknowns with a $60+ million budget from a major studio) in our lifetimes unless Hollywood outright reboots itself. That said, the cost of equipment and effects has gotten so ridiculously cheap that we might see its analogue on VOD within the next decade.

[Great Rumbler]

It's not hard to see what the problem is. Hollywood is dumping hundred of millions of dollars into movies that should never have gotten anywhere near that kind money, while simultaneously being excessively worried about taking any chances with the actual content of the movies. Everything's gotta be an insanely expensive, watered-down, tentpole, summer CG-fest.

[Tasty]

It's not hard to see what the problem is. Hollywood is dumping hundred of millions of dollars into movies that should never have gotten anywhere near that kind money, while simultaneously being excessively worried about taking any chances with the actual content of the movies. Everything's gotta be an insanely expensive, watered-down, tentpole, summer CG-fest.

I can't blame the decision makers since they're basically financiers and go where the money is. And the market has spoken: they love the tentpole CG fests. If we wanted to we could go back and blame Spielberg for creating the concept of a blockbuster, but obviously that's not quite fair.

[helios]

Most theaters are trash. Netflix/Amazon/VOD is the future.

[Phoenix Dark]

You know what would really make bank? A slavery movie with super heroes.

[I'm a Puppy!]

I wouldn't foretell hollywood's doom here. The first Alice was pretty crappy. Of course, making a sequel was ill advised from the get-go.
It's like saying "The browns lost again! Football is DOOMED!!"

[Tasty]

You know what would really make bank? A slavery movie with super heroes.

[helios]

You know what would really make bank? A slavery movie with super heroes.

They already made Birth of a Nation

[Phoenix Dark]

Nah. DC should take a page from Mahvel's book. What if Batman was not only black, but was born a slave? His parents were killed by slave owners in Gotham, Alabama. Young Bruce was then sold to the plantation of Joker Wayne where he learned all types of skills that would later aide his transition into becoming the Batman.

[Tasty]

At a time when respected voices like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Steven Soderbergh have prophesied the imminent “implosion” of the studio system, you don’t need a magic mirror to tell you Hollywood could be about to lose its head.

I appreciated this line. Clever.

[Tasty]

Nah. DC should take a page from Mahvel's book. What if Batman was not only black, but was born a slave? His parents were killed by slave owners in Gotham, Alabama. Young Bruce was then sold to the plantation of Joker Wayne where he learned all types of skills that would later aide his transition into becoming the Batman.

Dude America wants to forget about slavery, lol.

You're getting Black Panther anyways fam.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Mobile will save hollywood

[thisismyusername]

I only care about marvel so whatever.  The rest can suck it.

This at this point I only go to theaters for Marvel. If it's Bond, I'll wait for DVD. Anything else is whatever. I'm nearly at the same end on TV, but shows like Halt and Catch Fire and Mr. Robot keep me watching that format.

[TVC15]

You know what would really make bank? A slavery movie with super heroes.

Too niche. If you really want to make bank, you need to make a movie about white slave owners treating their slaves well, and the slaves being all sing song-y and happy about their lot in life. It would do big numbers with the American Sniper demo.

[thisismyusername]

I wouldn't foretell hollywood's doom here. The first Alice was pretty crappy. Of course, making a sequel was ill advised from the get-go.
It's like saying "The browns lost again! Football is DOOMED!!"

Also this. I didn't necessarily think Disney's live action Alice was bad, but it wasn't great and didn't need a sequel. There's already thousands of adaptations of that story (along with Disney's animated one!) that it feels weird that they keep going to those same wells to redo films.

[thisismyusername]

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/20/the-bronze-box-office-bomb


  Oh man.

[dkdk]

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/20/the-bronze-box-office-bomb


  Oh man.

ive never even heard of this lol. sounds like they sent it to die tho. oh well if it shows lots of her cleavage off i'll at least watch it thru on netflix.

It's not hard to see what the problem is. Hollywood is dumping hundred of millions of dollars into movies that should never have gotten anywhere near that kind money, while simultaneously being excessively worried about taking any chances with the actual content of the movies. Everything's gotta be an insanely expensive, watered-down, tentpole, summer CG-fest.

common sense and restraint is in short supply out in hollyweird

[VomKriege]

I wouldn't foretell hollywood's doom here. The first Alice was pretty crappy. Of course, making a sequel was ill advised from the get-go.
It's like saying "The browns lost again! Football is DOOMED!!"

Yeah, pretty much, and I'm not one who is to defend the tentpole policy. Majors have all switched to that model since a few years now and seems adamant to continue to do so, even when they are having a good year revenue wise despite having no monster blockbuster (like Universal a couple of years ago, due to delays and planning changes). It would take a full season of flops for everyone to really shift the tide now.

I also think majors are given an excessive lion's share with regars to artistic diversity : they could all go bankrupt tomorrow and movie as a craft would still be doing fine. I think that the top heavy policy will ultimately bite them in the ass, anyway.

[chronovore]

I believe the VOD market should/needs to get stronger over the next couple years. If those revenues get back to DVD levels, you'll see a lot of indie talent getting funded and breaking through. It's on a promising uptick, but yeah, needs to get stronger.

We'll never see another The Matrix (original IP by relative unknowns with a $60+ million budget from a major studio) in our lifetimes unless Hollywood outright reboots itself. That said, the cost of equipment and effects has gotten so ridiculously cheap that we might see its analogue on VOD within the next decade.

There was an essay I read recently talking about the utter irony of our current cinema situation: all the chances are being taken, and all the quality actually being create, in TV rather than cinema. With the advent of so many alternate channels like Showtime, HBO, and Starz, there are so many competitive venues for storytelling.

Meanwhile movies keep trying to out-blockbuster each other with the next "sure thing" only to find that the safe money isn't safe and won't return their money.

[Cerveza mas fina]

I think going to the movies has gotten fucking expensive compared to all other entertainment that has stayed the same in price or gotten cheaper (tv, games, music). I mean going to a movie cost 5/10 bucks in the 90's now it's 15 or so. Meanwhile games are still 60 and music or tv cost 7 bucks a month.

So now when I go to the cinema once or twice a year I kind of feel like its only worth it for a cinema experience movie (Revenant/Star Wars), but only AAA movies not B tier like Huntsmen and Divergent (which ill still rent/watch/stream)

Of course Im old and with a kid so cant go to the cinema but If I was 16 Id wouldnt have the cash prob or would rather spend it on Netflix/Spotify/Steam sales an maximize "entertainment"

[chronovore]

It's also worth mentioning that Americans in theaters fucking suck. They decide that their freedom includes shitting on everyone else's experience, so they'll let their kids sit unattended, fighting and talking through the whole thing. There's some shit head with a laser pointer messing with the screen because annoying people is fun for him. Other people want to get details from their neighbor about stuff they missed because they were checking their phone.

So rather than paying theater prices, I'd rather sit home and buy or rent the movie, and enjoy a beer in peace.

[Cerveza mas fina]

I dunno what allowances are these days but I think I got 5 bucks a week till I got a job (14?) and I def cant see myself saving up a month to go to the cinema at that age lol.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

hey, you know what might work, making films adults want to see and bettering the theater experience.

I get film nerd angry when on the rare occasions the major studios make a film for adults that they also wuss out and make it PG-13 (Midnight Special, The Secret in Their Eyes, Self/Less all likely wouldn't have made less money if they weren't also creatively compromised). I also get annoyed at continuously being squeezed by ever increasing prices (IMAX showing, 15 bucks please, with popcorn and a soda that's another ten) and somehow still in 2016, in the HD television era, seeing crappy projection quality for said high priced theater tickets.

So yeah, better product, better value.

and superhero shit doesn't count. Grown ass adults might go by the droves to go see Captain Murica' (I was one of them), but I'll wager most of those people go a long time between going to the movies. All the older people with disposable income stay home because nobody is catering to their tastes, and the negative theatrical experience they had last time.

[Tasty]

Another reason to love R-rated movies

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

It's also worth mentioning that Americans in theaters fucking suck. They decide that their freedom includes shitting on everyone else's experience, so they'll let their kids sit unattended, fighting and talking through the whole thing. There's some shit head with a laser pointer messing with the screen because annoying people is fun for him. Other people want to get details from their neighbor about stuff they missed because they were checking their phone.

So rather than paying theater prices, I'd rather sit home and buy or rent the movie, and enjoy a beer in peace.

so much this.

[Tasty]

Short article on the VOD stuff I mentioned: http://deadline.com/2016/06/produced-by-conference-ted-mundorff-independent-film-andrew-karpen-1201767438/

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

Also sharing the blame, the moviegoing public.

Green Room bombed, it played in every major American city and the vast majority of the American people got to be within driving distance of seeing it at some point. It tanked hard. Its the best film I've seen this year in a walk.

High quality films that were also not challenging, played widely, and utterly bombed would include Black Sea, Midnight Special, Chi-Raq A Most Violent Year, The Rover, Inherent Vice, The Raid 2. And those are just from the last few years. These all could have and should have been big commercial successes, had lots of marketable elements, but they weren't because of... well, I don't know exactly. But if great movies get made, and nobody goes to see them, then we're all really partially responsible for Batman vs. Superman.

[helios]

I wouldn't blame the moviegoing public. They only got so much money to spend.

There was an essay I read recently talking about the utter irony of our current cinema situation: all the chances are being taken, and all the quality actually being create, in TV rather than cinema. With the advent of so many alternate channels like Showtime, HBO, and Starz, there are so many competitive venues for storytelling.

Meanwhile movies keep trying to out-blockbuster each other with the next "sure thing" only to find that the safe money isn't safe and won't return their money.

TV is where all of the magic is happening. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, feature spec scripts sold all of the time. Now, the well is drying up for spec scripts. The major studios aren't buying original scripts anymore. Most of those scripts are going to indie productions. Meanwhile, a determined writer with a show bible and a pilot can get a new show made. Look at Extant. That was Mickey Fisher's first script sold. And that was on spec.

That's why Netflix paying 3 million for Max Landis' Bright was such a huge deal. That's unheard of nowadays for spec scripts.

[Madrun Badrun]

You know what would really make bank? A slavery movie with super heroes.

You know how superman always had that burden - never to hit too hard - always to temper himself in order to better those around him ...

[Vertigo]

Cinemas in north America need to look at all you can eat style subscriptions in the UK I would pay £16.99 a month at cineworld and I could see as many films as I could take. I was seeing up to 5 movies a week at the cinema. You could also book up to 3-4 future movies in advance and choose your desired seat. basically took all the annoyances of modern cinema going and made them palatable.

[Vertigo]

Also sharing the blame, the moviegoing public.

Green Room bombed, it played in every major American city and the vast majority of the American people got to be within driving distance of seeing it at some point. It tanked hard. Its the best film I've seen this year in a walk.

High quality films that were also not challenging, played widely, and utterly bombed would include Black Sea, Midnight Special, Chi-Raq A Most Violent Year, The Rover, Inherent Vice, The Raid 2. And those are just from the last few years. These all could have and should have been big commercial successes, had lots of marketable elements, but they weren't because of... well, I don't know exactly. But if great movies get made, and nobody goes to see them, then we're all really partially responsible for Batman vs. Superman.

The depressing fact is when most people go to a cinema it's not to actually watch a movie more to just hang with other friends,go with a date. The last thing on a lot of these morons minds is the actual film so you see people in the foyer deciding on what film they're going to watch based on it's poster.

A smart cinema would look at cultivating a screening lineup of those smaller overlooked movies and market it for adults who want mildy challenging cinema.

[TVC15]

I saw Green Room twice in theaters. It's awesome. I hope you people that didn't see it feel like shit, because you are shit.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Too many assholes on their phones during the movie.  If I'm paying $10 to watch a movie, I don't want the theater illuminated by two dozen smartphone screens.  I haven't bothered going for a while because it's not worth the money.

[nudemacusers]

New Independence Day gonna come in and sweep up.

Didn't know who that Melissa rauch chick is but would watch for rack on Netflix

[tiesto]

Didn't know who that Melissa rauch chick is but would watch for rack on Netflix

Only reason I'd admit to watching Big Bang.

[Madrun Badrun]

What are the reasons you won't admit too?

[helios]

Too many assholes on their phones during the movie.  If I'm paying $10 to watch a movie, I don't want the theater illuminated by two dozen smartphone screens.  I haven't bothered going for a while because it's not worth the money.

This is why I go to Alamo Drafthouse and Flix Brewhouse

 

[Atramental]

I saw Green Room twice in theaters. It's awesome. I hope you people that didn't see it feel like shit, because you are shit.

Nah. If I saw that movie I'd probably feel like shit afterwards.

[TVC15]

New Independence Day gonna come in and sweep up.

This is going to drive me so fucking crazy if it happens. At least with Jurassic World, the nostalgia was over a legit good movie. I'm not sure my heart or liver can take it.

Too many assholes on their phones during the movie.  If I'm paying $10 to watch a movie, I don't want the theater illuminated by two dozen smartphone screens.  I haven't bothered going for a while because it's not worth the money.

This is why I go to Alamo Drafthouse and Flix Brewhouse

 

I turned into a Drafthouse whore so fast. It just opened in late December and I've already been there 21 times. And the first time I went wasn't until February.

[Positive Touch]

outside of super hero movies, why would i go to the movies when i think most drama flicks are boring af? what is being offered to me

[VomKriege]

hey, you know what might work, making films adults want to see and bettering the theater experience.

I get film nerd angry when on the rare occasions the major studios make a film for adults that they also wuss out and make it PG-13 (Midnight Special, The Secret in Their Eyes, Self/Less all likely wouldn't have made less money if they weren't also creatively compromised). I also get annoyed at continuously being squeezed by ever increasing prices (IMAX showing, 15 bucks please, with popcorn and a soda that's another ten) and somehow still in 2016, in the HD television era, seeing crappy projection quality for said high priced theater tickets.

High quality films that were also not challenging, played widely, and utterly bombed would include Black Sea, Midnight Special, Chi-Raq A Most Violent Year, The Rover, Inherent Vice, The Raid 2. And those are just from the last few years. These all could have and should have been big commercial successes

Your problem is the "should have" part. As you say so yourself, none of those films set the box office on fire. Maybe the obvious answer is that in fact there's not a large untapped market for those and that those specific titles were unlucky. Even if they would have been successful, at their relative level it's just a drop in the bucket compared to a billion revenue tentpole. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy grossed 80m$ when all is said and done.

Anyway I'm not certain the offer for more mature films has gone away : it's not just at the commercial forefront for the majors anymore, and it become more evident to us as we drift towards the exit of the current key demographic bracket. It's also probable that 60 years ago, "teenagers" didn't have the same disposable income they have now and didn't drive the market.

[Positive Touch]

 i went to kids movie a few months ago and they told me to turn off my phone like fuck you dickhead i don't even like minions

[Joe Molotov]

New Independence Day gonna come in and sweep up.

This is going to drive me so fucking crazy if it happens. At least with Jurassic World, the nostalgia was over a legit good movie. I'm not sure my heart or liver can take it.

If ID2 isn't up to your liking, please enjoy the story of how Matthew McConaughey and other assorted southern white people defeated slavery, courtesy of the director of Seabiscuit.

[Mupepe]

The ID2 trailer looks so damn awful. 

[Madrun Badrun]

New Independence Day gonna come in and sweep up.

This is going to drive me so fucking crazy if it happens. At least with Jurassic World, the nostalgia was over a legit good movie. I'm not sure my heart or liver can take it.

If ID2 isn't up to your liking, please enjoy the story of how Matthew McConaughey and other assorted southern white people defeated slavery, courtesy of the director of Seabiscuit.

Please tell me this is a sequel to Glory? 

[Kara]

A movie like Deadpool would never have been made without the domination of men-in-suits films for years. Different stuff gets made, it's just made within the dictates of the market.

And fucking lol @ a Lysistrata adaptation being held up as the potential we're losing under the prevailing consensus. When I say "movies are bad theatre" it's not just aesthetic snobbery talking.

[Joe Molotov]

The Purge 3: Election Year will low key be the best movie of the summer, and the most plausible (Americans embracing authoritarianism under the guise of patriotism).

[Kara]

The Purge 3: Election Year will low key be the best movie of the summer, and the most plausible (Americans embracing authoritarianism under the guise of patriotism).

In France that series is called American Nightmare.

[brob]

A movie like Deadpool would never have been made without the domination of men-in-suits films for years. Different stuff gets made, it's just made within the dictates of the market.

the invisible hand is the true auteur. Taxi Driver rules, Ashes & Embers drools

[Human Snorenado]

Cinema going for me requires one of two things to be true:

1) The watching experience is better in a theater, at least enough to get me out of the house or
2) I don't want to wait to see the movie at home

Let's be honest- there's a reason movies with all sorts of 'asplosions n shit do better at the box office. It's because watching a thoughtful drama is basically the same on your couch or at the theater. Not so for something with a bunch of action. It's just better in a theater.

Like, I want to see The Lobster. Do I want to see it enough to leave the cocoon like comfort of my house, putting me into contact with the horrors of humanity? Probably not. I keep trying to explain this to my friend who wants to be a director and keeps stubbornly trying to direct feature films that will be released in theaters.

"Just do tv," I say.

"But this is my dream! Movies are special," he says.

"No they're not and your dream is stupid."

[Phoenix Dark]

Film has been dead to me in a post-Mad Max: Fury Road world. Hollywood isn't even trying anymore. What's the point of going to see films that don't include a man playing a guitar flame thrower? Think of all the classic films that would be better with guitar flame thrower. Citizen Kane, Dog Day Afternoon, Schindler's List...

[Human Snorenado]

Film has been dead to me in a post-Mad Max: Fury Road world. Hollywood isn't even trying anymore. What's the point of going to see films that don't include a man playing a guitar flame thrower? Think of all the classic films that would be better with guitar flame thrower. Citizen Kane, Dog Day Afternoon, Schindler's List...

...Forrest Gump?

[Phoenix Dark]

Film has been dead to me in a post-Mad Max: Fury Road world. Hollywood isn't even trying anymore. What's the point of going to see films that don't include a man playing a guitar flame thrower? Think of all the classic films that would be better with guitar flame thrower. Citizen Kane, Dog Day Afternoon, Schindler's List...

...Forrest Gump?

Replace the Vietnam napalm scene with guitar flamethrower guy riding around in a 4 wheeler torching the forest as Forrest carries Bubbah.

[Joe Molotov]

Then they use the flame guitar to flambé some shrimp and the rest is history.

[Kara]

A movie like Deadpool would never have been made without the domination of men-in-suits films for years. Different stuff gets made, it's just made within the dictates of the market.

the invisible hand is the true auteur. Taxi Driver rules, Ashes & Embers drools

Idolize capital and specialized knowledge intensive mediums that require even more outside interference  than other creative proccesses already had brehs.

[brob]

A movie like Deadpool would never have been made without the domination of men-in-suits films for years. Different stuff gets made, it's just made within the dictates of the market.

the invisible hand is the true auteur. Taxi Driver rules, Ashes & Embers drools

Idolize capital and specialized knowledge intensive mediums that require even more outside interference  than other creative proccesses already had brehs.

strong argument for video games being the highest art form tbh