Why is the box office at an all time low these days?

[waterfall 774]

I have noticed ever since COVID not much people be going to movies these days unless ur marketing of the film is on point and u make it seem like ur film is like an event/a must see movie. For example, in 2019, Disney had 7 movies that made a billion dollars but this year, they can't even get one. Lately so many high budgeted movies BOMBED at the box office like Wish, Napoleon, Indiana Jones 4, The Flash, The Marvels, Blue Beetle, etc. I'm curious why movie studios are giving these people so much money if they are not getting much in return. At least back in the day, even if your movie only brought in mid numbers, people would buy it on VOD or iTunes etc but now everyone waits for streaming. What are ur guys thought?

[RAMROD 103,765]

People pick and choose these days, especially since most of these movies will be available in streaming service for no extra fees usually less than a month after release.

So the biggest mistakes these studios do are making these movies available for streaming back during covid lockdown. People are trained on this now. And will only go to movies when a movie is an event, or have really good words of mouth, such as MCU Spider-Man No Way Home, Top Gun Maverick, & of course The Barbenheimer. 
 

imho this holiday people are either gonna see Wonka, The Boy & The Heron, or Aquaman 2

Edited December 11, 2023 by RAMROD

[weed 70,836]

I think Aquaman is gonna finish with $867M globally, I can see Wonka hitting $401M, and maybe The Color Purple getting $280M globally.

[The Fame 4,075]

Nobody really wants to go to the theater anymore. I think it's for two reasons:

#1.) It's because of other people. Why should I pay good money to go sit in a room with a bunch of coughing, annoying strangers that won't shut up, wont turn off their phones, and bring their ****ing babies to see an adult film? It's irritating.

#2.) For the cost of a movie (tickets, maybe snacks), I get to see a film once (in possibly annoying circumstances as I mentioned above). For just a couple extra dollars I can just buy the DVD and watch it forever. 

[hELXIG 41,458]

Watching a movie at home just isn't the same experience as getting out of the house, meeting up with a friend/s, getting the cinema popcorn, watching it on the big screen with the dolby surround. The whole experience. But maybe that's just because I'm older and growing up it was always a special thing? Maybe it's not the same for the younger generation? I guess other people like watching movies at home? I'm confused too

But also obviously the rising prices are a huge factor. I still only go to the cinema maybe 3 times a year, just for the movies I really want to see in a special way. There was nothing like seeing Gaga's face as Ally on the huge screen. Or the iconic "I don't particularly consider myself to be an ethical person, but I am fair". Just wouldn't be the same at home

I think it will be sad to see them closing down like Blockbusters. Going to the cinema was never something I thought would die out. I just thought they'd get better and better technology over time until it's full VR or like the Vegas sphere or something

[LateToCult 39,565]

People are strapped for cash, Superhero movies are past their prime, and Disney has angered a lot of the middle-America types that don’t f*ck with the woke stuff. That pretty much sums up this year’s bombs.

Oh, also streaming has conditioned people to wait until the movies can be watched at home.

Edited December 11, 2023 by LateToCult

[jimmytimestep 2,444]

The Color Purple will be marketed as an Oscar long-runner, not an opening weekend smasher. It will make bank, but not all up front. Of these, I see Wonka having the best opening weekend.

[Starmie25 12,658]

Regarding Pixar - Disney lowkey ruined their status. Pixar were bringing out many fresh, original animated flicks but Disney just slapped them all onto streaming apps. 

 

 

[Pennywise 35,841]

Movies are EXPENSIVE in the US. Like, ever since I moved here I just could not justify spending that much on something that I can watch at home in a few months. 

 

[Reality 71,554]

I think it's a lot of factors:

- Movies are expensive. Frankly, it's a luxury to go to the movies. The cost of tickets, snacks, travel expenses, etc. is a big contributing factor to whether or not people decide to go to the movies.

- The pandemic changed many people's moviegoing habits. When studios started to put their films on streaming services earlier because of the pandemic, I think it "trained" people to wait for a couple of months—and in some cases just weeks—because they knew they could get those movies on streaming for no additional charge.

- I think the perception of movies nowadays has changed. This is perhaps the most subjective reason, but I think for a lot of people right now, they just don't see the films coming out now as "must-see" entertainment. You could point to the MCU as a big example of that. I think the consensus of the MCU right now is that they're not the juggernaut they once were, and for a lot of people, that's because the quality of the movies (and by extension, D+ shows) dipped. 

- I feel like there's a vendetta against big studios too, particularly with Disney. They used to be a universally loved brand, but now I feel like some political/social groups are trying to come after them for their movies—which is absolutely ridiculous, but I do think it's a factor in why some people aren't going to the movies. You can point to The Marvels—speaking of the MCU—as an example. There are a lot of contributing factors as to why The Marvels bombed, but I don't think people can deny that the attitude many had towards the movie, even before it came out, contributed to its failure. 

[Anveeroy 57,859]

1 hour ago, weed said:

I think Aquaman is gonna finish with $867M globally

Aquaman is going to bomb- the hype around this movie is dying tbh 

[Duella Dvil 10,253]

1 hour ago, weed said:

I think Aquaman is gonna finish with $867M globally, I can see Wonka hitting $401M, and maybe The Color Purple getting $280M globally.

Real question:

Where do these numbers come from, I legitimately don't know how projections work lol

[weed 70,836]

41 minutes ago, Duella Dvil said:

Real question:

Where do these numbers come from, I legitimately don't know how projections work lol

I made them all up lmao I was more general at first but decided to be specific in case I'm psychic  thinking it's a superhero movie and lots of CGI and so should do great internationally, Wonka is a kids movie and Christmas movie and it's Christmas season, and The Color Purple is a 2.5hr musical with a complex story but seems like a fun visual experience. 

[YourWhiskyMouth 4,007]

If you ignore the heap of superhero movies, there’s actually been some fantastic movies released in the last few months, many from smaller studios:

- Saltburn

- The Holdovers

- Godzilla Minus One

- The Boy and the Heron

- Killers of the Flower Moon

- Past Lives

- Poor Things

All worth checking out. Generally it’s been a great year for the more art-oriented films. I found signing up for my local theaters unlimited movie pass to be very worthwhile, $20 a month to see one movie a day. Otherwise there’s no chance I could justify going to so many movies for $15+ each not including snacks.

 

[Economy 46,770]

Streaming makes movies in theater unnecessairy

 

Its still an experience and so some ppl still go to see some at the movies (such as myself). But ppl are more selective now to which movies they go see...

 

Instead of going to see a movie once or twice a month... now many ppl go once or twice a year

 

I dont think movie theaters will entirely disapear anytime soon. Many ppl still appreciate the experience. But its gonna become more niche. Demand will be reduced as ppl go less often and we wont need as many movie theater locations

 

I think theaters used to almost rival restaurants as a regular activity. Now its more of an activity like going to the beach in the summer or going mini gulf or paint balling. Something u might do a few times a year but not on a regular basis

Edited December 11, 2023 by Economy