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

[Casper Gutman]

Get ready for the rise of “meme movies.”

All those cinephiles who thought superhero cinema was the worst it could get…

 

[TP2000]

Whenever there are calls for some sort of impropriety on screen counts… what product exactly are they supposed to be shoving in there?

I don't think there's impropriety, I just think the theater chains must be mad they are locked into contracts with the big studios like Disney where they have to keep carrying their bombs in thousands of theaters for at least several weeks.

I'd imagine on weekends like this, the theater chains would love more flexibility to respond to the free market. If you've got one movie (Minecraft) that is packing 4,263 theaters and selling $36,829 in tickets per theater, while another movie (Snow White) is hogging 3,750 theaters but only selling $1,623 in tickets per theater, that's got to be infuriating for the struggling theater chains.

They'd likely love the ability to give Minecraft at least another 1,000 theaters and prime showings and its associated snack bar sales, while pushing Snow White down into the 2,000 theater rage and the rung of small theaters in the back of the multiplex.

They are desperate for product, even if that product is Snow White.

They would still be able to offer Snow White to it's rapidly dwindling audience on its third weekend. But being forced to keep it in 3,750 mostly empty theaters by Disney's! contract must really tick them off.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Get ready for the rise of “meme movies.”

All those cinephiles who thought superhero cinema was the worst it could get…

So you’re doubling down that this is about “cinema”…not dollars then?

Maybe we can meet at Starbucks and discuss it in the presence of “independent craft coffee brewers”?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Use to be my local theater…. Thank goodness they only have Minecraft on 2 screens… lots of variety at my go to theater this weekend…I hope this trend continues…. I have argued you do not need that many… 2 is fine for a blockbuster especially when one is on their huge Ultra screen auditorium

That theater is kicking itself then…because one movie made money this weekend

 

[Disney Irish]

I don't think there's impropriety, I just think the theater chains must be mad they are locked into contracts with the big studios like Disney where they have to keep carrying their bombs in thousands of theaters for at least several weeks.

I'd imagine on weekends like this, the theater chains would love more flexibility to respond to the free market. If you've got one movie (Minecraft) that is packing 4,263 theaters and selling $36,829 in tickets per theater, while another movie (Snow White) is hogging 3,750 theaters but only selling $1,623 in tickets per theater, that's got to be infuriating for the struggling theater chains.

They'd likely love the ability to give Minecraft at least another 1,000 theaters and prime showings and its associated snack bar sales, while pushing Snow White down into the 2,000 theater rage and the rung of small theaters in the back of the multiplex.



They would still be able to offer Snow White to it's rapidly dwindling audience on its third weekend. But being forced to keep it in 3,750 mostly empty theaters by Disney's! contract must really tick them off.

You're confusing theaters and screens here, ie theater is the physical place usually with multiple screens not the actual screen playing the movie. All of those theaters playing Snow White are also playing Minecraft. Its not like there is a theater out there only playing Snow White and not playing Minecraft I pretty much can guarantee it, where as the reverse isn't true.

The North American market has something like 40k screens across something like 4500 theaters.

 

[Chi84]

You're confusing theaters and screens here, ie theater is the physical place usually with multiple screens not the actual screen playing the movie. All of those theaters playing Snow White are also playing Minecraft. Its not like there is a theater out there only playing Snow White and not playing Minecraft I pretty much can guarantee it, where as the reverse isn't true.

The North American market has something like 40k screens across something like 4500 theaters.

You’re explaining how theaters work?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You’re explaining how theaters work?

When you want to bury the lead…you gotta dig deep/go creative…

 

[HauntedPirate]

You're confusing theaters and screens here, ie theater is the physical place usually with multiple screens not the actual screen playing the movie. All of those theaters playing Snow White are also playing Minecraft. Its not like there is a theater out there only playing Snow White and not playing Minecraft I pretty much can guarantee it, where as the reverse isn't true.

The North American market has something like 40k screens across something like 4500 theaters.

I’m pretty sure TP, of all people, knows the difference between theaters and screens. I knew what he meant. It’s a word that gets thrown around without needing to specifically define it in context. Unless you’re being deliberately obtuse and trying to score mythical points for some reason.

 

[Chi84]

When you want to bury the lead…you gotta dig deep/go creative…

Oh no, I can guess why he's doing what he's doing. I just think it's a silly waste of his time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh no, I can guess why he's doing what he's doing. I just think it's a silly waste of his time.

Yeah…changing the subject from another locked in bomb and the success of “inferior cinema” in Minecraft.

It’s just better for everyone to not talk about it…not try to “win” like a teenager…on at least some things

 

[brideck]

I’m pretty sure TP, of all people, knows the difference between theaters and screens. I knew what he meant. It’s a word that gets thrown around without needing to specifically define it in context. Unless you’re being deliberately obtuse and trying to score mythical points for some reason.

Why would you think he knows the difference? Screens aren't reported by anyone. This is something that I post about all the time here and people generally seem really confused/surprised that there's a distinction.

The statement "They'd likely love the ability to give Minecraft at least another 1,000 theaters" is just stupid. There aren't another 1000 theaters in this country to put it into. And Snow White is still the #4 movie both by bulk and per-screen average (excluding boutique releases) this week. That movie should still be available at most theaters because it's a viable alternative.

 

[Disney Irish]

You’re explaining how theaters work?

I shouldn't have to but it clear when someone doesn't understand the numbers they are using.

I’m pretty sure TP, of all people, knows the difference between theaters and screens. I knew what he meant. It’s a word that gets thrown around without needing to specifically define it in context. Unless you’re being deliberately obtuse and trying to score mythical points for some reason.

Does he? He is quoting numbers that actually mean something and thinking they mean something else. From the context of his post he is trying to talk about the number of screens not theaters but using the numbers of the theaters. So its clear he doesn't actually understand the numbers he is using.

This same conversation was had a couple weeks ago in this very thread when another post assumed the same thing.

 

[LittleBuford]

Except for 2023, Disney has been the top-earning studio since 2016. I highly doubt cinemas are angry about having to show the company’s films. Moreover, it seems it’s the other studios themselves that are holding back from increasing their presence at cinemas:

AMC Entertainment CEO Says Three Of Six Major Studios Agree 45-Day Window Needed – CinemaCon

AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron says he has at least three of the six major studios are "in complete agreement" over bringing back a 45-day window.

deadline.com

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Why would you think he knows the difference? Screens aren't reported by anyone. This is something that I post about all the time here and people generally seem really confused/surprised that there's a distinction.

The statement "They'd likely love the ability to give Minecraft at least another 1,000 theaters" is just stupid. There aren't another 1000 theaters in this country to put it into. And Snow White is still the #4 movie both by bulk and per-screen average (excluding boutique releases) this week. That movie should still be available at most theaters because it's a viable alternative.

Why are you backing anything argumentative clown shoes is going on about?

It’s pretty obvious the goal is to argue absolutely

And if it’s obvious to ME…then there’s little dispute

 

[Disney Irish]

Yeah…changing the subject from another locked in bomb and the success of “inferior cinema” in Minecraft.

It’s just better for everyone to not talk about it…not try to “win” like a teenager…on at least some things

No one, and I mean no one is changing the subject. Everyone here knows and agrees Snow White is a bomb, a huge bomb, and Minecraft is eating its lunch. So no one is avoiding that conversation at all.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Except for 2023, Disney has been the top-earning studio since 2016. I highly doubt cinemas are angry about having to show the company’s films. Moreover, it seems it’s the other studios themselves that are holding back from increasing their presence at cinemas:

AMC Entertainment CEO Says Three Of Six Major Studios Agree 45-Day Window Needed – CinemaCon

AMC Entertainment CEO Adam Aron says he has at least three of the six major studios are "in complete agreement" over bringing back a 45-day window.

deadline.com

That’s not being argued

And also doesn’t do much to reduce the frequency of their bomb rate

 

[LittleBuford]

I’m pretty sure TP, of all people, knows the difference between theaters and screens.

Why “of all people”? As he himself has told us repeatedly, except for one or two exceptions, he doesn’t watch new releases, much less go to the cinema to see them. In terms of firsthand experience of any of this stuff, he is probably the least qualified poster here.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No one, and I mean no one is changing the subject. Everyone here knows and agrees Snow White is a bomb, a huge bomb, and Minecraft is eating its lunch. So no one is avoiding that conversation at all.

You are explaining the difference between screens and theaters…a concept that NO ONE here was confused about…as evidenced by the responses.

That’s just a distraction

You need a break from your keyboard/swipey screen…

And since that often happens to me…don’t bother disputing my authority on this subject.

 

[brideck]

Why are you backing anything argumentative clown shoes is going on about?

It’s pretty obvious the goal is to argue absolutely

And if it’s obvious to ME…then there’s little dispute

I'm not sure which person you're trying to label as "clown shoes" here, but I've learned long ago that TP doesn't really want to know any better. Most of my posts in this space are so that other people reading along can potentially know better in the future.

 

[brideck]

You are explaining the difference between screens and theaters…a concept that NO ONE here was confused about…as evidenced by the responses.

That's right, man. No one around here is ever confused about those things. This was from two weeks ago:

Ah!!! I am under the impression that 4200 theatres is individual movie screens... but is it address theatres? I mean yeah, up in Bishop CA, theyre showing it on one screen... but irvine must've had 5+ screens showing it.

So the industry metric of theatre is address location, not individual screens?