As we head into the last month of the year and take a look
at the new theatrical release sweepstakes — where everyone’s a winner, if
they gross over $25 million (no matter how bad the reviews) — there are strong
similarities between 2012 and the peak release year of 2008.
It should be noted that the 2012 count always runs behind those
of comparative periods. The numbers from
previous reporting periods are final results, whereas the current year is still
in flux as new films continue to expand their box office revenues.
For example, the Argo domestic box office count sits
at $98.1 million as of Nov. 25, but the film will certainly move into the top
tier ($100 million-plus) when all is said and done.
The same holds true for the Red Dawn remake, which has
ticket sales of $21.7 million, it will hit the $25 million mark.
With these real time adjustments, the 11 month count for
2012 yields 94 films in the top two boxes ($25 million-plus; $100 million-plus)
and 2008, during the same period, scored 95.
2008 finished with 621 “reported” new theatrical releases (there were
certainly additional, mainly self-distributed, films with one and two theatre
breaks were no box office totals were recorded — that happens) and 2012 is
tracking at 628 at this point.
No matter how you cut it, the number of “hit” theatrical
films generated each year — and by “hit,” we mean films grossing at least $25
million — is always in the 100 film range (give or take). It is a mechanical thing — only so many
weeks; only so many theatres … only so many seats and only so many consumers
available to fill them.
To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and
Blu-ray Release Report: DVD & Blu-ray Release Report
No comments:
Post a Comment