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

[BuddyThomas]

It is, unfortunately, no longer a major cultural event.

It is in my house.

 

[TP2000]

This is especially enlightening.

The telling part is say vs the NFL while the population increases the NFL continues to increase in viewership.

The Oscars (as you rightly note) were once a universal watching experience that has dramatically dropped, especially relative to population growth.

Thank you. And that was my point.

I can blab all I want about the boozy parties I went to on Oscars night in the 20th century and how the kids today just don't get it until I get a similar sized hangover just from posting about it here in 2024.

But when you look at the facts and data behind that huge cultural shift, the point is undeniable. No hangover required.

 

[Disney Irish]

Well Poor Things got an increase of 150 screens starting this past weekend, Oppenheimer also got an increase too of almost 200 screens.

So we'll see what happens with box office, and if they get an increase again of a few more screens this weekend now that they've both won.

 

[Chi84]

even crappy Thursday night games pulling in more than the Oscars?

Lots of people in this country watch crap.

 

[Willmark]

Thank you. And that was my point.

I can blab all I want about the boozy parties I went to on Oscars night in the 20th century and how the kids today just don't get it until I get a similar sized hangover just from posting about it here in 2024.

But when you look at the facts and data behind that huge cultural shift, the point is undeniable. No hangover required.

I never personally attended one but can recognize how big the parties were back in the day.

The fact that 1 in 4 people watched it in the late 1970s/early 1980s? That’s comparable but still lower than a Super Bowl NOW.

It’s long since past in cultural relevance and is appealing to less and less people over time.

You’d think that would be a warning sign for Hollywood after 2023 that was not do great outside of the few blockbusters. 2024 might not be much better.

Time will tell.

 

[LittleBuford]

This provides some relevant data showing that box-office bumps are now being superseded by steaming bumps:

The Oscar box office bump is shrinking

The winner of the best picture award at this year's Oscars may not get a big box office bump in this streaming-dominated landscape.

www.cnbc.com

Either way, the Oscars continue to shape audience interest and demand.

 

[Willmark]

Lots of people in this country watch crap.

I agree. Some even watch the Oscars.

 

[Disney Irish]

At least 4 of those views came from my family! One from my sister, two from my nephews/wives, and one from me when my sister sent it to all of us this morning! I loved it. Very cute! Barbie was wonderful.

You missed the point, or just ignored it.

Viewership of the live broadcast isn't important overall as that isn't how a large majority of the population consumes the Oscars now. Its consumed in small easy to digest videos that only show what the viewer wants to watch. No big party, no having to wait through boring speeches that no one cares about until you get to award you care about. That doesn't mean consumers don't care about the Oscars, they only care about specific awards, and watch those in videos after the broadcast is over.

 

[LittleBuford]

That doesn't mean consumers don't care about the Oscars, they only care about the specific awards, and watch those in videos after the broadcast is over.

Or, as in my case, they care about the awards without bothering to watch any of them.

 

[TP2000]

You missed the point, or just ignored it.

Viewership of the live broadcast isn't important overall as that isn't how a large majority of the population consumes the Oscars now. Its consumed in small easy to digest videos that only show what the viewer wants to watch. No big party, no having to wait through boring speeches that no one cares about until you get to award you care about. That doesn't mean consumers don't care about the Oscars, they only care about specific awards, and watch those in videos after the broadcast is over.

How many of the millions of people that watched the Ken musical production number on YouTube have already seen Barbie?

I know at least four of those millions personally, and we all saw Barbie last summer. The video was hysterical, but I won't be rushing out to see Barbie in theaters again this weekend because I laughed at the YouTube video this morning over coffee.

 

[Chi84]

I agree. Some even watch the Oscars.

But they were good! You’re the one who was marveling at people watching a “crappy” NFL game!

I know what I’m talking about. We watch the Chicago Bears . . .

 

[Willmark]

But they were good! You’re the one who was marveling at people watching a “crappy” NFL game!

I’m thinking people’s definition of what constitutes crappy will vary.

 

[Disney Irish]

How many of the 3 Million people that watched the Ken musical production number on YouTube have already seen Barbie?

I know at least four of those 3 Million personally, and we all saw Barbie last summer. The video was hysterical, but I won't be rushing out to see Barbie in theaters again this weekend because I laughed at the YouTube video this morning over coffee.

That number is unknown at this point, and irrelevant as Barbie isn't even in theaters and probably won't be returning. But it may get a bump in streaming numbers, which I'm sure WB cares about.

 

[TP2000]

But they were good! You’re the one who was marveling at people watching a “crappy” NFL game!

I know what I’m talking about. We watch the Chicago Bears . . .

To be fair to @Willmark, the Oscars could be underwhelming. Which is why the party aspect was so important, especially in my community. There would be catty remarks about dresses and hair and dates, while we mostly ignored the show droning on for the first two hours doling out awards for Sound Editing and Best Documentary For Junior High Science Classes or something.

It was only towards the end of the broadcast that we'd start to pay attention for Best Actors/Actresses and Best Picture, but by then the party was so punch drunk that it didn't really matter. It was the event that mattered. You knew it would be a fun night.

Now? Well, the facts and data behind dwindling viewership in a country with an additional 100 Million people tells the story.

 

[Chi84]

I’m thinking people’s definition of what constitutes crappy will vary.

Oh I thought you were referring to a Bears game. They meet everyone’s definition of crappy.

 

[Willmark]

Oh I thought you were referring to a Bears game. They meet everyone’s definition of crappy.

Or Carolina vs anyone.

 

[BuddyThomas]

The Oscars to Viewers Everywhere: “We Are So Back”

www.theringer.com

 

[Willmark]

@Willmark tends not to just say things for the sake of it, which is why I asked him specifically and not certain other posters who have a long track record of clairvoyant criticism.

I don’t particularly have strong feelings one way or the other about the Oscars per se, if people like them that’s entirely up to them.

It’s fairly undeniable that their cultural significance has plummeted along with almost any other award show.

I’m pointing out there is a “cultural divide” on them with prior statements of folks claiming it was #2 in viewership. That is still interesting to me because had that been correct, the Oscars would be the second most watched event outside of the Super Bowl.

Award shows in general (even sports ones)
are something that is perplexing at least to me. I suppose it’s the equivalent (using that term loosely) to say getting inducted into a Hall of Fame for a particular sport. I don’t personally see that, but could see that some (not saying you) could frame it that way.

 

[brideck]

This provides some relevant data showing that box-office bumps are now being superseded by steaming bumps:

The Oscar box office bump is shrinking

The winner of the best picture award at this year's Oscars may not get a big box office bump in this streaming-dominated landscape.

www.cnbc.com

Either way, the Oscars continue to shape audience interest and demand.

To this point, I was on a flight today and, other than the woman next to me watching the recent Meg Ryan/David Duchovny rom-com, all of the screens I could see in seats nearby were watching Best Picture nominees (Oppenheimer, Barbie, The Holdovers, Anatomy of a Fall). This shows interest, even though it only adds up financially to whatever $ Delta pays to have movies on their in-flight service.

For some bizarre reason, Poor Things wasn't available to watch. The airline edit of it would be a terrible thing to behold.

 

[Disney Irish]

To this point, I was on a flight today and, other than the woman next to me watching the recent Meg Ryan/David Duchovny rom-com, all of the screens I could see in seats nearby were watching Best Picture nominees (Oppenheimer, Barbie, The Holdovers, Anatomy of a Fall). This shows interest, even though it only adds up financially to whatever $ Delta pays to have movies on their in-flight service.

For some bizarre reason, Poor Things wasn't available to watch. The airline edit of it would be a terrible thing to behold.

This is why you need to bring your own device and just stream on Delta's free Wifi.