Disney (and others) at the Box Office - Current State of Affairs

Willmark

Willmark

Well-Known Member
IMO it’s likely a variety of things effecting films right now, let alone Disney. It isn’t any one, singular thing.

Some are in their control some are not. Inflation, bad movies, super hero fatigue? SM and Cap4 had building issues of a smaller overall audience (aka unlikely to do well overseas). Sure these all apply - but there are also other reasons tied to Hollywood itself. I suspect what is being seen now isn’t going away any time soon either.

How this resolves? At least in the short term the pattern holding: a couple of very big hits and then a lot of flops and mid result movies.
 
LSLS

LSLS

Well-Known Member
I'm going to point to money again. We went this weekend to F4. Twice (kind of). Due to scheduling, my wife went with one kid Saturday, I took the other Sunday. Between the 4 of us, that's 4 tickets, 2 things of popcorn, 2 drinks, 2 slushies, and one box of candy total. Grand total for the weekend was $130. If someone spent that on Superman 2 weeks ago, they aren't spending that again this weekend. You have to LOVE something about a movie to afford to go at this point (and not just wait the 3 months to see it for "free" on streaming). It's just too expensive to go "Eh, lets give it a try." And certainly too expensive for "we really liked that, lets go back 3 more times."
 
JackCH

JackCH

Well-Known Member
Where we are at least, tickets are $12. We also just intentionally avoid buying food or drink at the theater and make sure to eat beforehand. So it isn’t too bad for us.

But I definitely get it is t for everyone and has gone up overall.
 
D

DKampy

Well-Known Member
Everything feels more expensive these days…. With our local chains movie club we can go for 10.00 a piece no matter the time of the screening….it is about the cheapest form of entertainment for the 2 of us…. We went to our local zoo and it was just under 60.00 for the two of us just to get in the door… granted I have not been in years, but that was way more shocking to my wallet
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
DKampy said:
Everything feels more expensive these days…. With our local chains movie club we can go for 10.00 a piece no matter the time of the screening….it is about the cheapest form of entertainment for the 2 of us…. We went to our local zoo and it was just under 60.00 for the two of us just to get in the door… granted I have not been in years, but that was way more shocking to my wallet
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Yeah…

The model that worked at theaters was “accessible and affordable”…then they overpriced and it doesn’t work. Charge more, make less.

Vegas is getting racked in the press daily for going way too far - other issues aside - and that’s a good example as well of this.

Who would have thought agressive price increases all over the place stacked up high with public excuses for at least 10 years would come back on them? 😱
 
FrontierSpirit

FrontierSpirit

Active Member
From the 1950s—1990s, nothing on TV could compare to what the cinema gave you.

You can’t say that today.

An example in my household, Wednesday is coming out this week and my girls are super excited. Doesn’t happen that often but it is a family event much like stranger things. (Family event defined as my kids are dying to see it as a family)

Happens sometimes in the theater. Minecraft, wicked, inside out 2, Mario, Barbie, Stitch.
 
Tha Realest

Tha Realest

Well-Known Member
LSLS said:
I'm going to point to money again. We went this weekend to F4. Twice (kind of). Due to scheduling, my wife went with one kid Saturday, I took the other Sunday. Between the 4 of us, that's 4 tickets, 2 things of popcorn, 2 drinks, 2 slushies, and one box of candy total. Grand total for the weekend was $130. If someone spent that on Superman 2 weeks ago, they aren't spending that again this weekend. You have to LOVE something about a movie to afford to go at this point (and not just wait the 3 months to see it for "free" on streaming). It's just too expensive to go "Eh, lets give it a try." And certainly too expensive for "we really liked that, lets go back 3 more times."
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This is a good point. Took one of my kids to opening night Superman IMAX and that was $56. Drink (singular) and popcorn another $20.

Youngest is a big Jurassic World fan. Had a night where just he and I were free. Took him to the movies and let him pick. Chose JWR over FF; $20 out of pocket for a film that’s a foot out of theaters and will be $25 tomorrow on iTunes which we will “own” forever.*

FF is the odd man out. It’s playing at a Liemax this weekend for $5/ticket so may see it there. But at this point it’s like 2-3x as much for me to take my 3 kids to see it once as it is to buy it digitally a few weeks later.

* I’ve converted to mostly digital due to convenience but I have no pretense I’ll still “own” these movies 15 years from now once I’m retired and have all the time in the world to watch them.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
FrontierSpirit said:
From the 1950s—1990s, nothing on TV could compare to what the cinema gave you.

You can’t say that today.

An example in my household, Wednesday is coming out this week and my girls are super excited. Doesn’t happen that often but it is a family event much like stranger things. (Family event defined as my kids are dying to see it as a family)

Happens sometimes in the theater. Minecraft, wicked, inside out 2, Mario, Barbie, Stitch.
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Great points

I think the studios made a pretty big blunder in their fervor for their own 100% controlled stream platforms…

They started this “small screen, big budget spectacle” tv movement…and it cheapens the movie releases while at the same time jacking up their tv costs that they can’t get back out of it with acceptable margins.

Progress isn’t always progress
 
Phroobar

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
LSLS said:
Does your theater have deals for different days of the week/times of day? I definitely didn't see that at all (aside from the 3D version being more) at my theater.
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Not really outside of the tuesday night classic movies where they show an old movie for $5 and matinees. It was strange that was the only movie.
 
FrontierSpirit

FrontierSpirit

Active Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
Great points

I think the studios made a pretty big blunder in their fervor for their own 100% controlled stream platforms…

They started this “small screen, big budget spectacle” tv movement…and it cheapens the movie releases while at the same time jacking up their tv costs that they can’t get back out of it with acceptable margins.

Progress isn’t always progress
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Streaming is more costly than cable now.
Pay for the internet, need the high speed for work at home. Pay for Disney, Netflix, Apple, Amazon unless one of those comes as part of a phone package.
 
Willmark

Willmark

Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
Yeah…

The model that worked at theaters was “accessible and affordable”…then they overpriced and it doesn’t work. Charge more, make less.

Vegas is getting racked in the press daily for going way too far - other issues aside - and that’s a good example as well of this.

Who would have thought agressive price increases all over the place stacked up high with public excuses for at least 10 years would come back on them? 😱

…there was someone else they were talking about going overboard on price…where was it again?…ehhh…I’m sure it will come to me later… 🤐
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Ties into your point from upthread.

Entertainment as exemplified by a trip to WDW?

100% non-essential.

Add in all the other factors let alone Hollywood and the stars themselves it should come as no surprise when people look at the ticket price and go “meh” and you know….dont go.

Separate thought - the real competition isn’t cinema vs streaming in my opinion it’s competition vs all other forms of entertainment that have exploded over the last few decades.

While streaming is the future and will eventually replace cinema I don’t think that solves the problems for Hollywood long term.
 
DCLcruiser

DCLcruiser

Well-Known Member
If it’s not a “cinematic experience” requiring a massive screen and outstanding sound system, then it is a hard sell these days.

We finally watched Snow White (Live Action). Besides any polarizing topics, it was an ok movie, but certainly not worth the $50 or so to see it in Dolby Cinema for two people. For “free” on D+ it was easier to accept.
 
FrontierSpirit

FrontierSpirit

Active Member
Willmark said:
Ties into your point from upthread.

Entertainment as exemplified by a trip to WDW?

100% non-essential.

Add in all the other factors let alone Hollywood and the stars themselves it should come as no surprise when people look at the ticket price and go “meh” and you know….dont go.

Separate thought - the real competition isn’t cinema vs streaming in my opinion it’s competition vs all other forms of entertainment that have exploded over the last few decades.

While streaming is the future and will eventually replace cinema I don’t think that solves the problems for Hollywood long term.
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My girls watch YouTube, Crunchyroll for anime, play Roblox.

Don’t watch tv except event shows like Wednesday.
I watch a ton of Tv with my husband. The one moment that’s our time at the house after dinner.
 
FrontierSpirit

FrontierSpirit

Active Member
DCLcruiser said:
If it’s not a “cinematic experience” requiring a massive screen and outstanding sound system, then it is a hard sell these days.

We finally watched Snow White (Live Action). Besides any polarizing topics, it was an ok movie, but certainly not worth the $50 or so to see it in Dolby Cinema for two people. For “free” on D+ it was easier to accept.
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when Harry Met Sally wouldn’t play in the theater these days. It would be a 6 part mini series on Netflix.
 

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