Westerners shunning realism and f words , opting for Bollywood type fantasy movies
Habshi
Family films ring up box office record
USA Today
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Despite concerns that terrorism would keep moviegoers out of theatres,
Hollywood enjoyed another record-breaking year at the box office. And
the money came largely from kids.
Box office grosses reached $8.14 billion in 2001, the first time they
have eclipsed the $8 billion mark and a nine per cent jump over the
previous year, according to estimates from ACNielsen EDI, a box office
tracking firm.
The top three films — Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ($294
million), Shrek ($267.7 million) and Monsters, Inc. ($236.3 million) —
sported family-friendly G or PG ratings. Only one adults-only R-rated
film, Hannibal, cracked the top 10.
"Family fare had a great year," says Chuck Viane, head of Disney's
Buena Vista distribution arm. "Adults not only went to these movies
with their kids, they went unaccompanied."
The holiday season pushed the industry into record numbers. The
six-week period from Thanksgiving to New Year's spawned four
blockbusters — Potter, Monsters, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring and Ocean's Eleven.
For the first time, five films eclipsed the $200 million mark; joining
the three above were Rush Hour 2 ($226.2 million) and The Mummy
Returns ($202 million). In 2000, only Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole
Christmas and Mission: Impossible 2 reached that mark. The top 10
films of 2001 grossed $2.1 billion, compared with $1.7 billion in
2000.
It was the year of animation and sequels. Animated films grossed
nearly $800 million in 2001, a record. And sequels, which usually open
well but fade fast, outpaced their predecessors. Rush Hour 2, The
Mummy Returns, Jurassic Park III and American Pie 2 were among the top
10 grossing films of the year.
September 11 "had a short-term effect" on the industry, Viane says.
"But people went to the movies to put the real world aside for a
couple of hours. They didn't want to hear bad news."
Or film critics, for that matter. Even the much-maligned Pearl Harbor
grossed $198.5 million, landing at No 6.
Mike JF
Habshi <hab...@anony.com> wrote in message
news:lmv63u88ql4nsllbv...@4ax.com...
> About time . Who wants rona dhona for ninety minutes ?
>
> Family films ring up box office record
> USA Today
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
>
> Despite concerns that terrorism would keep moviegoers out of theatres,
> Hollywood enjoyed another record-breaking year at the box office. And
> the money came largely from kids.
> Box office grosses reached $8.14 billion in 2001, the first time they
> have eclipsed the $8 billion mark and a nine per cent jump over the
> previous year, according to estimates from ACNielsen EDI, a box office
> tracking firm.
>
> million), Shrek ($267.7 million) and Monsters, Inc. ($236.3 million) -
> sported family-friendly G or PG ratings. Only one adults-only R-rated
> film, Hannibal, cracked the top 10.
>
> "Family fare had a great year," says Chuck Viane, head of Disney's
> Buena Vista distribution arm. "Adults not only went to these movies
> with their kids, they went unaccompanied."
>
> The holiday season pushed the industry into record numbers. The
> six-week period from Thanksgiving to New Year's spawned four
> of the Ring and Ocean's Eleven.
>
> For the first time, five films eclipsed the $200 million mark; joining
> the three above were Rush Hour 2 ($226.2 million) and The Mummy
> Returns ($202 million). In 2000, only Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole
> Christmas and Mission: Impossible 2 reached that mark. The top 10
> films of 2001 grossed $2.1 billion, compared with $1.7 billion in
> 2000.
>
> It was the year of animation and sequels. Animated films grossed
> nearly $800 million in 2001, a record. And sequels, which usually open
> well but fade fast, outpaced their predecessors. Rush Hour 2, The
> Mummy Returns, Jurassic Park III and American Pie 2 were among the top
> 10 grossing films of the year.
>
> September 11 "had a short-term effect" on the industry, Viane says.
> "But people went to the movies to put the real world aside for a
> couple of hours. They didn't want to hear bad news."
>
> Or film critics, for that matter. Even the much-maligned Pearl Harbor
> grossed $198.5 million, landing at No 6.
>
>
Yep. Best year ever for Hollywood. And keep in mind that several major
theater chains filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy resulting in about 1,150
fewer screens and 655 fewer theaters in operation than there was last year.
Two theaters closed near where I live. One is empty, another is now a
Staples store! Regal is still open even though I think it went bankrupt.
And this despite the hassles we put up with at theaters (see recent thread
"What theater improvements would you like?"). With the bad service we get
at theaters, it's obviously not enough to keep movie lovers away. Movie
fans love their movies too much and will put up with a lot of discomfort.
But just imagine if theaters WERE run well and had the improvements we
wanted! Ticket sales and attendance would double!
This year I allready know I will be back for some movies I've seen trailers
for. And sit in a cramped seat again. And wait in long lines again for
fresh popcorn. It's not the theater and poor service I like. It's the
movie I want to see. Most of you feel the same obviously and will go again
this year. And send billions again to Hollywood.
MikeJF
Clark Goble
| Best year ever for Hollywood.
Although one of the poorer years for viewers. Lots of those money making
films weren't really that great. Hollywood just knows that if you can
convince enough people that it *might* be good you can film opening day
seats and the content doesn't matter.
Looking through movies this year, I have a hard time making a justifiable
top ten list. (I just haven't seen enough of the "obscure" films that have
made most critics top 10 lists)