Hollywood’s Box Office has been bad this year

I don't have to read this to tell you the problems. The movies are bad. And they're too long. And they're too expensive. Make better movies. Keep them under two hours. And price them more reasonably.

Oh Christ, I can just imagine what OP is bloviating about. Some senior citizen virgin who thinks he knows everything about everything.

R1 there have been plenty of good movies that flopped this year. Make going to the movies CHEAPER and you will see more people going.

As R1 said, they have become SO long!

Go back to an hour and a half.

I saw great movies this year, but almost everything good I saw was on streaming and not in theaters.

I finally went to a Regal cinemas theater in my city this week to see "The Holdovers" with friends, and we could not believe what a pain it was. It was $12 for a matinee (!!), and we saw something like thirty commercials beforehand, and they were for things no one in that movie theater would ever want to buy (crap mostly aimed at kids).

I'd much rather wait now to see things on streaming.

2024 looks even worse for the Hollywood box office. Hopefully the days of actors getting $10-20 million a picture will soon be over.

The movies sucked and the theater experience is both absurdly expensive and deeply unpleasant at baseline. I've switched to at home streaming and piracy

There were plenty of good movies. Maybe stop only watching big studio shit and start exploring indie flicks and low budget films. They have been better than most of the big studio films.

Going to the movies is too expensive now.

R2 no retard. It’s just a source that confirms what I’ve been saying over and over and you challenging me. Numbers don’t lie. But you’re uneducated so I don’t expect you to understand even basic math and numbers.

Multiplexes are going the way or the Drive-in.

I also foresee that ticket prices are going to become a lot more variable, rather than one price (of course, IMAX has always been more expensive). We'll see some movies costing $20, but other movies costing less and huge movies like the Marvel movies (for now at any rate) costing $25 or $30 with perhaps a price drop after 2-3 weeks.

Someone will eventually innovate in a few markets, like NYC, where they'll have some interesting hook, like restaurants within the movie theater with tables, or something.

I love going to see movies, and I will see about anything. I've always loved it since I was a kid.

Remains of the Day? Sure.

Avengers Endgame? Sure.

I just saw Wonka.

Though I'm older, I don't think this is an age thing. I see plenty of 20-30 year olds at the theater.

The first issue is streaming. People reasonably expect the latest movies to be available to rent within 2-3 months. Why spend $90 for a family to see a movie, when you can wait and spend $20 and not leave the house? The studios shot themselves in the foot here.

I think price/quality are issues 2 & 3 interchangeably. Tickets are expensive, but people will pay money to see good movies. Fast X made a fortune. Barbie made even more. A lot of smaller (good) movies made money, and when I say "good", it does not have to be Oscar worthy. It just has to be entertaining.

2nd issue is the experience. Theaters do not "police/monitor" anything, and even when they do, they won't do anything about it, and I can't really blame them. Is some 18 year old going to risk getting shot if he gives some loud person grief? I wouldn't risk it.

R10 do you live under a rock. The latter part of your post exists in movie theaters around the country. Not just NYC. It’s like some of you think NYC is the only place to see a movie. Travel some. There are way nicer theaters around the country than in NY

R11 I’m bored of you bringing up the same handful of movies to claim “made money”. Clearly they didn’t make enough to keep the box office up. A handful of hits doesn’t make up for all the flops.

The movies were ruined forever when the high-tech assholes were called in for CGI, inflating budgets for cartoon like images that were obviously fake.

Ditch the CGI and the techies, save money and make decent movies again.

[quote][R10] do you live under a rock. The latter part of your post exists in movie theaters around the country. Not just NYC. It’s like some of you think NYC is the only place to see a movie. Travel some. There are way nicer theaters around the country than in NY

Tell you what. I'll get out and travel if you go back and get your GED and learn how to read English because a person proficient in reading English would realize that none of what you're ranting about is on point to what I wrote.

I was noting that tables and restaurants were an example of an innovation and interesting hook. As for NYC, the point is that it has a high concentration of people and large number of theater so could likely support testing a new ideas more readily than other areas.

People prefer to watch at home and I'm one of them.

R15 that isn’t getting more people into theaters. Only people with $$$. That would only raise the ticket prices even more. You want to bring more people into theaters? You lower prices, not raise them. People are broke and struggling these days.

Have to wonder though are these same movies that were not seen in theatres being watched on streaming places? I mean, yes the theatres are too expensive, if you couple it with candy you're going through the roof. Then there is the discomfort of sitting in a theatre. Not maybe big for everyone but you can't drink alcohol unless that particular theatre allows it and then it's again way overpriced.

I can sit at home, watch a movie on streaming, comfy in my bed, can get a snack, I wear something more comfortable than going out, not be freezing and have to wear a sweater because they run the ac like you want to be in the arctic, AND I can TALK in my home. I hate being told no talking, I get it but I don't want to have to sit and not say a word for hours.

And finally, I don't much like the movies they put out. Man, they turn up the sound to incredible levels as if that is how they compensate for a bad script. They think that will suffice as excitement. Well, I don't need tinnitis. Or how about you go to the restroom and miss part of the movie. Streaming you can do pause. Many reasons not to go. Few out there to actually go.

Bad behavior is rampant. People can be fucking scary today. People stay away because it is just not worth the hassle.

Do you really think I'm going to go into Philadelphia (in my case) to see a film? I would have years ago. Not today.

The fact people here keep bringing up everything but the fact that tickets are too expensive now is ridiculous. Want more people to go? Make it more affordable. By me ticket prices are $19 and that’s not IMAX or anything, just a regular movie ticket. Sometimes they charge $20.50 for a new release.

When I went to see Saltburn with my sisters it cost over $60 just for 3 tickets.

No one wants tables and seats like they’re sitting in a restaurant. People want AFFORDABILITY.

The quality of films has been the same as it’s been over the last few years. Some good movies and some bad with some in between. It’s always like that. Quality of films has nothing to do with it.

Keep the prices low and movie theaters will be a fucking zoo. Theatre owners know that.

sad but true.

They’re a zoo regardless.

It has nothing to do with that and all to do with greed.

[quote][R15] that isn’t getting more people into theaters. Only people with $$$. That would only raise the ticket prices even more. You want to bring more people into theaters? You lower prices, not raise them. People are broke and struggling these days.

Well, I don't really care either way, as such.

However, it's a function of more profitability, not more people. Neither movie studios nor theaters care whether they make $1mm by having 100,000 people paying $10 or 50,000 paying $20 although there is obviously a bias that theaters might have because they make the majority of their money from concessions. You start getting into very conflicting interests if theaters can use movies almost as a loss leader to draw people into spending a boatload of money on expanded theater offerings at the expense of ticket sales.

There is a point where studio interests and theater interests diverge significantly. It used to be 12-18 months after theatrical releases before VHS/DVD were released. The window shortened with digital sales. It's now gotten evern shorter with streaming to the point where it's a point of contention with theaters as shortened windows reduce the incentive for audiences to go to theaters.

R23 those theaters aren’t bringing in enough people to make big money. No one wants to sit in a restaurant style theater. Most people wanna be left alone.

[quote]It has nothing to do with that and all to do with greed.

No, it has everything to do with keeping the poors out. Lowering the prices creates enormous problems, it's not worth it.

R25 well clearly keeping the “poors” out isn’t benefiting them in any way, as they’re losing more money these days than they have in years and movie theaters keep closing down around the country. Pay attention.

R26 Pay attention to the clip at R19. Want more examples? I can post them.

R27 having clips we’ve all seen many times doesn’t mean shit. That person probably wasn’t a “poor” either, completely negating your ridiculous comment. PAY ATTENTION to your own comments, I suppose, because you’re all over the place. Retard.

R25- That's what's happened at the airports- SO much RIFF RAFF nowadays .

The Hollywood box-office flopped this year because audiences finally got tired of all the superhero movies. They're also tired of Disney movies and sequels. Who could have predicted that Barbie and Mario Bros. would be the biggest movies of the year, and that Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible would flop hard?

I feel like women are deciding what smashes and what flops now. It's always been young males who Hollywood catered to, but I see that changing after this year.

[quote][R23] those theaters aren’t bringing in enough people to make big money. No one wants to sit in a restaurant style theater. Most people wanna be left alone.

Again, I'm merely saying an "innovation" of some sort. If restaurants don't work, then something else - I have no idea what. Remember, it was within the lifetimes of many current DLers that the mulitplexes really took off. Even in the 1960s and 1970s single movie theaters were still very common.

The studios and their streaming platforms have done a number on traditional movie theaters. It's possible that society has moved on from the communal movie theater experience to simple media consumption. With the high penetration rates of large form OLED tvs - regular people now buy 65", 75" and 80"+ screens - even the large format of theaters is no longer unique.

Even still, "reaction" videos are huge. People enjoy watching and hearing others react to movies. I still think there is something to being with other fans of a particular movie and watching the story unfold. However, the movies for which it matters are growing fewer and less frequent.

But, to my original point, theaters are going to have to figure out some hook to improve profits if they want to continue. There was a 20 year window during which Blockbuster dominated. It had such a stranglehold that all the major studios needed to kowtow to them. They foolilshly declined building a streaming platform or purchasing Netflix. Failure to innovate whether you're Kodak, IBM, Polaroid, Gateway Computer, or Sears is a death sentence.

This girl is ranting about how people don’t have movie theater etiquette any longer and she’s right. Idk why but you all raised idiots who have no basic understanding of others around them and no etiquette when in public places.

Sorry, this girl.

People have bad experience and don't go back. This is why movie theatre prices will keep rising, to ...hopefully....select a better crowd.

People have bad experience and don't go back. This is why movie theatre prices will keep rising, to ...hopefully....select a better crowd.

"Drunken outbursts, public nudity and nonstop cellphone use disrupt packed theaters."

R35 lmao and they will keep killing themselves by raising prices. What they need to do is hire ushers again to keep theaters in line like they used to.

Look, there is only ONE THING that will bring back the public in droves, it's always worked before, and we all know deep down what the answer must be

Looks like fun!

0:26

[quote]lmao and they will keep killing themselves by raising prices. What they need to do is hire ushers again to keep theaters in line like they used to.

Lmao. I'm sure that would work out nicely.

R9 One who resorts to calling others “retard” is surely the one afflicted with the Dunning-Kruger effect.

TheGuardian:

"I rarely go to the cinema these days as it’s either hit or miss as to whether someone will ruin the movie for me by talking all the way through. I used to love going to the cinema but now it’s filled with anxiety."

Also,I do not want to be lectured at in movies. Woke philosophy in all sorts of movies. Make sure you know the ‘new message’ well, I like to think for myself. I also do not want to see naked people, or people having sex. I will chose my time to have sex and I like the whole thing private. I don’t like to see it on screen and especially while I’m sitting next to 50 strangers. Sorry, not a turn on for me. Creepy.

Even the last movie I saw at home, Book club the next chapter made sure we had to note oh each girl is still sexually active. Yuck. Like I want to think of them that way. Sex jokes so forced and forced on us all the time. Where are the writers. Get me a good script. You know why I think they redo movies, don’t have to write a new script.

Someone here keeps posting articles. I’m speaking about what everyday people are saying. Not what a journalist for the media is claiming.

R38 that isn’t happening commonly so it’s a stupid thing to even bring up. Most theaters aren’t being trashed like that retard.

The video at r33 is a perfect example. Read the comments. Tons of people saying the same thing, theaters are too expensive on top of no one having etiquette any longer. Pricing plays a part in all things.

You have people struggling to pay rent or buy groceries, homelessness is the highest it’s been in over 40 years but you don’t think money plays a part in things? I swear that retard needs to be permanently banned. I only want to interact with educated people with common sense.

R42 You do know where you are, right?

A ticket to DisneyWorld for the day now costs over $100. It costs a fortune for a family to go there. Why does Disney keep raising prices? To keep out the riff-raff as much as possible. Same formula for move

Same for Six Flags.

"Six Flags CEO Calls Theme Park a ‘Cheap Day Care for Teens,' Says Prices Are Going Up"

"....he wants Six Flags to target a more affluent customer."

Same formula for movie theatres.

R45 If there is a naked pic I skip the column. I just do not like it. My job I saw everybody naked but it was not for some prurient reason.

R46 it’s about greed. It’s about profits. That is what it’s about. You’re so uninformed and spoken like someone who has no job or college degree ☕️

R48 The people who make these decisions know what they're doing. They weigh all options, the pros and cons. The advantages and disadvantages.

And guess what? Movie prices will not be coming down.

No matter how much you think it's counterproductive, their findings show that it's the best option for them. Obviously, if it were not, they'd be lowering prices.

Whether it's a movie theatre, an amusement park or a shopping mall, unfortunately in today's world, they believe it is best to target a more affluent customer. And that is exactly what they are doing with these prices.

So rant all you like. It's not going to change.

If you want a good theater experience, then go to a matinee during the week. I only go to matinees and I have never had a problem. I don't think I've even heard anyone talking during the movie ever. It's usually an older crowd, with lots of retirees, and they are quiet as a mouse. I've heard more noise during a church service than at any of the matinees I've attended over the years.

The problem is shitty stories. Screenwriters must be brain dead.

R50 also depends on the theaters. If you go to big chains they usually attract the most people especially teens and youths, but small local theaters usually don’t have the same issues. There are also indie theaters like Film Forum or Landmark who don’t attract those types of crowds.

“Luxury” type theaters exist also and you pay to avoid those crowds. AMC and Regal aren’t trying to keep rowdiness out.

Last time I watched a motion picture in a theater, the guy next to me kept checking his phone. Or maybe he was live blogging. It was fucking annoying.

My take is that what we’re witnessing is the death of creativity & innovation due to toxic media overload. Maybe some genius has finally coined a terms for this phenomenon, but there seems to be a direct correlation across *all* of the arts, as our media consumption rises exponentially, fresh and dynamic original content declines more rapidly too. So I think we are losing an entire generation of creatives, including movie and streaming script writers.

Look at the times we are fucking living through!!! And yet you tell me, no writers are out there with fresh stories to tell us? I don’t believe it. I think we aren’t creating the correct eco-system that allows creatives to be spotted and developed, and part of that is because we’re just moving so fucking fast. Spot talent? Develop the talent? Nurture it? Invest in it? Ain’t got no time, son! But when you think about everything that’s happened since 2016…..we should be seeing an explosion of creativity right now, many many many many stories just pouring out of humanity. There should be a Renaissance, and yet all we get are crickets chirping as we eat our own.

R49

I wouldn't bet on it.

I've been to a handful of movies in the theater the past few years and never experienced any issues either. In fact, I think cinema etiquette is much better than when I was in my teens. Sure, cell phones are in everyone's hands but that's reality and doesn't bother me unless people are being obnoxious with them. I also only attend matinees because it's a much more relaxing experience.

Why would I bother going to the movies, with all its inconveniences, including now the risk of catching Covid or the flu, when (a) so much of streaming TV is better than the movies and (b) they're all going to be available to rent or buy on a streaming channel within a month or two of release anyway?

[quote]I also foresee that ticket prices are going to become a lot more variable, rather than one price (of course, IMAX has always been more expensive). We'll see some movies costing $20, but other movies costing less and huge movies like the Marvel movies (for now at any rate) costing $25 or $30 with perhaps a price drop after 2-3 weeks.

I went to at least two movies a week for decades, usually Saturdays and Sundays before 5pm. It was a combination of rising ticket prices and shorter theatrical windows that finally weaned me of the habit. (And yes, audiences got more boorish, even at the early shows.) I still love going into a dark movie theater and losing myself in a movie, and some films call for that, but watching a film like The Holdovers on the small screen is an acceptable alternative.