Chris alerts me to this post on Cinematical (a blog I should probably be reading a regular basis):
According to a story in the New York Post, less than two months in, 2006 already tops 2005 for major studio films that have not screened for the press. The Post's Lou Lumenick quoted Tom Ortenberg, president of Lions Gate (whose Friday release Madea's Family Reunion did not screen for the press), as saying, "We are not going to spend $50,000 for the privilege of negative reviews for a film that isn't going to be affected by them."
Oh snap, they're on to us.
I'd venture to say that when a studio announces ahead of time that its movie is not going to screen for the press - like Sony did with last week's #2 movie (heh heh) Date Movie - that it hurts more than it helps, as it creates a backlash and in many cases, a shortfall at the box office. Like it or not, people listen to critics for guidance as to how to spend their hard-earned dollars. People form relationships with particular critics, using them as metersticks for their own tastes and sensibilities, even when there is disagreement. Is there really any such thing as "critic proof", and aren't audiences the biggest critic of all?
I have to disagree with this assertion. Ortenberg, unfortunately, is pretty much right. As I've mentioned here (repeatedly), negative reviews appear to have little real effect on a movie's bottom line. This year alone has given us The Pink Panther and the aforementioned Date Movie, both of which - in spite of the former's novel use of post-screening interviews with real audience members - have done respectable box office.
Contrast that to a critical darling like King Kong, which was widely praised, yet ended up with disappointing (given the studio's expectations) returns. I forget which forum I was reading, but there was a thread that was essentially a litany of complaints about people saying, in essence, "I know Movie X is going to suck, but I'll probably go see it anyway." The number of people who use whatever critics as "metersticks" for their own moviegoing choices are vastly outnumbered by those who'll go to see just about anything, regardless of the reviews.
Of the three movies opening this week, only Running Scared (thankfully not a remake of the Billy Crystal/Gregory Hines film of the same name) was screened for the press. The others, Doogal and Madea's Family Reunion were not (I think...if Doogal was, I must've blocked it out). Any bets on what #1 will be this week? Hint: Diary of a Mad Black Woman opened with almost $22 million last year.
I saw the Salon article yesterday on Tyler Perry, and there's no doubt that his latest will rake in the cash.
Once again, I must point out that the Pink Panther will domestically gross less than its costs. It's only at 50% of its production costs, a death sentence for a no-buzz picture like that after 2-3 weeks. King Kong has edged out its costs, and all the fanpeople will probably pay for 3 different DVD versions of it.
What do you mean, "thankfully not a remake"? The Crystal/Hines Running Scared is one of the best buddy-cop movies of all time. Crank.
;-)
Once again, I must point out that the Pink Panther will domestically gross less than its costs.
It's made $46.5 in 2 weeks, and will probably exit the top 10 with close to $70 million. I don't know TPP's overseas release pattern, but between that and DVD sales, I don't have a hard time believing it will make its $80 million budget back.
What do you mean, "thankfully not a remake"? The Crystal/Hines Running Scared is one of the best buddy-cop movies of all time. Crank.
Uh, what I meant was, "thankfully no one has tried to improve upon the perfection of the Billy Crystal/Gregory Hines movie, because nothing's funnier than a couple of guys in t-shirts with airbrushed breasts on them."
Althought the scene where Hines flips off the kid is pretty hilarious.
I love Running Scared...it reminds me of when Billy Crystal used to be funny. Shine sweet freedom indeed.
And Cinematical is one stop hillarious snarkiness....GREAT site. My favorite writers of theirs are Martha Fischer and Mark Beall. Strangely, this Mark character seems to LOVE all things Star Wars and all things Kevin Smith. Hmmmm.....
Ebert talked about this on The Daily Show last night. Actually, Jon brought it up, as he's the evil spring (with a mustache) in Doogal.
Evil. Spring. With a mustache. That's a lot of pot.