In this article,
"'Spongebob' Floats to the Top at the Box Office", the author talks about how the new Spongebob movie did at the box office this weekend. It beat out its' fellow competitors 'Jupiter Ascending' and 'Seventh Son' opening this same weekend. It grossed a total of 56 million dollars between the US and Canada. The author explains how not only young children went to see the movie but other young adults who had watched Spongebob as a child also attended the screening. The representatives for Warner and Universal Studios (the studios that produced the competing films) said they were not pleased with the earnings from this weekend.
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| PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND NICKELODEON MOVIES/ASSOCIATED PRESS |
I did find it interesting how people's preference for this children's movie was prioritized over seemingly more 'mature' film topics. The Spongebob series has been around for sixteen years and still remains relevant in our culture. It is also projected that this movie will do better than the previous Spongebob movie released in 2004. How could Spongebob be so in demand now when the quality seems to have gotten worse? Classic humor remains classic I suppose. I did have to agree with a point the author made about that revitalizing an old movie or TV series does tend to usually do better because people know it and are familiar with it. Trying to create a whole new series of movies or a new idea for a film is very difficult. As we've seen in film, many directors choose to go the easier route and remake movies that have already been created (i.e. Tron, Star Trek, The Karate Kid, etc). Studios usually find this route more appealing too and are more likely to fund reboots of films because the film industry in today's culture is highly based on how much revenue a film will generate. It is also much easier to create a big scale film with a huge budget and make back the profit than it is to make more of an indie style film with a smaller budget. Those films usually do not end up doing that well. Films need to be directed at a larger audience so people in not only the United States but in other countries around the world can enjoy it. Studios make this their goal to make as much profit as possible.
1. Do you think that the film industry should be geared toward making the most profit from a movie? Should there be other reasons for the film industry to create movies (i.e. political/cultural statements, entertainment, art, etc)?
2. Will the film industry continue to make movies solely for profit? Why or why not?
This was a very interesting blog post and I believe the film industry is not only making movies for profit. I do think their top reason is for profit but they also do it for entertainment purposes. They also do it to show history or cultural events which I believe is very important in the film making industry.
ReplyDeleteThe movie industry has been and will continue to make movies to solely profit from. I personally do not think that producers and actors make movie for the entertainment of the public, but they make movies to get as much money out of it as possible. My sister works in a movie theater, and she complains constantly about stupid movies that are playing, especially this Spongebob movie. There are so many movie out today that gross millions of dollars, but are hated by the general public. Take Paranormal Activity, for example. It grossed over $190 million dollars, but was trashed by so many people for being a "crappy movie." Movie producers know how to appeal to the public through previews, and get people to want to watch the movie, but it doesn't necessarily mean the movie is good.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting, and I really like Dakota's extra information as well. I never thought about how even really bad movies make money just because everyone goes to see them. The amount of money a movie makes does not mark its popularity or how good of a movie it is, but how well advertised it was.
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