Movie Natters: December 12, 2005 Archive

So how bad was it?

Posted at 4:24 PM on December 12, 2005 by Euan Kerr (2 Comments)

Interesting piece in the New York Times yesterday about the financial health of the movie biz. For much of the second half of the year Hollywood has been whining about the low box office takings. It looks as though 2005 takings will be about 6 percent below 2004. But as the Times points out, once you add in all the other revenue streams, including the still buoyant DVD sales, and the expanding overseas market, Hollywood is making more dough than ever. All in the total comes close to $50 billion for 2005.

Of course the business is changing, with more people choosing to watch things on tape or DVD in the comfort of their own homes. Also people seem to be a little more selective. There are fewer mega-blockbusters, that is those films pulling in more than $300 million. And there are far fewer mid-level blockbusters, those pulling in between $100 and $200 million.

So what does this all mean? If I knew I suppose I'd be in the movie business. I do hope it means the executives who make the big decisions will green-light a few more risk-taking films in the hope of producing more of those mid-level block-busters. But I am not holding my breath.

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