Jeremy Kay’s Post

Summer Box Office Falls 11%, but That Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story | Analysis. https://lnkd.in/eGRzpFQa "After a very poor start in May, movie theaters are enjoying robust business that should continue into 2025." #uscinema #filmboxoffice #collegefilm #independentfilm #indiefilmmakers #filmproducers #filmdirectors #filmmarketing #filmdistribution #filmfinancing #filmbusinessplans

The recent success of #Moawickator proves one thing: audiences are hungry for high-quality, engaging films that make the theater experience worth it. But let’s face it—Hollywood’s recent overproduction, especially in the superhero genre, has led to audience fatigue and a decline in storytelling quality. Now, studios like Disney are scaling back, aiming to focus on fewer, higher-quality releases. But the question remains: Will Hollywood truly learn its lesson? Can the industry prioritize creativity and innovation over mass production to rekindle the magic of cinema? What are your thoughts? Is this a real turning point for Hollywood, or just another phase in the cycle? 🎬  #MovieMagic #Hollywood #EntertainmentIndustry #Moawickator

‘A Quiet Place’ prequel box office speaks volumes as Costner’s Western gets a bumpy start - https://lnkd.in/gdiv7mnW “ A Quiet Place: Day One ” is making noise at the box office. The prequel earned an estimated $53 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It’s both a franchise best and significantly more than expected. Going into the weekend, prerelease tracking had “Day One” pegged for a $40 million debut, but audiences were clearly more enthusiastic to see the action-horror starring Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn and released by Paramount. The same could not be said for Kevin Costner’s “ Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1,” which opened to $11 million. The ”Quiet Place” victory wasn’t quite enough to snag the coveted first place spot on the charts, though. That honor again went to Disney and Pixar’s juggernaut “ Inside Out 2,” which added an estimated $57.4 million in its third weekend in theaters, and crossed $1 billion globally. There's a distant possibility that the places will shift when actuals are released Monday. But either way it’s good news for movie theaters in a summer season that’s finally heating up but still running far behind last year (down 19%) and pre-pandemic norms (down 36% from 2019). “Inside Out 2” continues to be a box office phenomenon, the likes of which the industry hasn’t seen since “Barbie” almost a year ago. In just three weeks of release, it's earned nearly $470 million in North America and $545.5 million internationally, bringing its global total to $1.01 billion. The sequel is the only 2024 release to cross the billion dollar mark and it did it in just 19 days, a record for an animated film. “The film’s stunning global success once again illustrates that audiences the world over will respond to compelling, entertaining movies, and that they want to enjoy them on the big screen,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, in a statement. “A Quiet Place: Day One,” directed by Michael Sarnoski and rated PG-13, is also fast approaching an important threshold out of the gates. Including the $45.5 million from international showings in 59 markets, the $67 million production has already made $98.5 million. “There's a lot of love for the ‘A Quiet Place’ franchise,” said Chris Aronson, the head of domestic distribution for Paramount. “We listened to the fans who wanted to expand the universe.” In a rare feat for a third film, it opened higher than both “A Quiet Place” ($50.2 million opening in April 2018) and “ A Quiet Place: Part II ” ($47.5 million opening in May 2021). John Krasinski, who wrote and directed the first two, continued serving as a producer. “It’s one of those rare horror franchises that has generated incredible good

‘A Quiet Place’ prequel box office speaks volumes as Costner’s Western gets a bumpy start - https://lnkd.in/gdiv7mnW “ A Quiet Place: Day One ” is making noise at the box office. The prequel earned an estimated $53 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It’s both a franchise best and significantly more than expected. Going into the weekend, prerelease tracking had “Day One” pegged for a $40 million debut, but audiences were clearly more enthusiastic to see the action-horror starring Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn and released by Paramount. The same could not be said for Kevin Costner’s “ Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1,” which opened to $11 million. The ”Quiet Place” victory wasn’t quite enough to snag the coveted first place spot on the charts, though. That honor again went to Disney and Pixar’s juggernaut “ Inside Out 2,” which added an estimated $57.4 million in its third weekend in theaters, and crossed $1 billion globally. There's a distant possibility that the places will shift when actuals are released Monday. But either way it’s good news for movie theaters in a summer season that’s finally heating up but still running far behind last year (down 19%) and pre-pandemic norms (down 36% from 2019). “Inside Out 2” continues to be a box office phenomenon, the likes of which the industry hasn’t seen since “Barbie” almost a year ago. In just three weeks of release, it's earned nearly $470 million in North America and $545.5 million internationally, bringing its global total to $1.01 billion. The sequel is the only 2024 release to cross the billion dollar mark and it did it in just 19 days, a record for an animated film. “The film’s stunning global success once again illustrates that audiences the world over will respond to compelling, entertaining movies, and that they want to enjoy them on the big screen,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, in a statement. “A Quiet Place: Day One,” directed by Michael Sarnoski and rated PG-13, is also fast approaching an important threshold out of the gates. Including the $45.5 million from international showings in 59 markets, the $67 million production has already made $98.5 million. “There's a lot of love for the ‘A Quiet Place’ franchise,” said Chris Aronson, the head of domestic distribution for Paramount. “We listened to the fans who wanted to expand the universe.” In a rare feat for a third film, it opened higher than both “A Quiet Place” ($50.2 million opening in April 2018) and “ A Quiet Place: Part II ” ($47.5 million opening in May 2021). John Krasinski, who wrote and directed the first two, continued serving as a producer. “It’s one of those rare horror franchises that has generated incredible good

SATURDAY AM EARLY: IF is looking at $30.5M opening this weekend after a $10M Friday + previews, at 4,041 theaters and while that might scream lower than expected on the surface since it’s below its $40M projections, triple note, it’s a PG-rated live-action film. There’s a reason why they haven’t been greenlit in a while, and let’s not slam Paramount and John Krasinsksi for swinging for the fences on original content. Here’s the upside: with an A CinemaScore, this family movie is bound to leg out and fill a niche in the summer despite 50% Rotten reviews. That’s just what family movies do. Rotten Tomatoes audience score is 85% fresh. At that starting point, IF‘s opening is just north of Ryan Reynold’s Free Guy ($28.3M), a previous piece of original IP for the actor. That PG-13 movie cleared $121.6M back in the late summer/early fall of 2021.

The theatrical recovery is happening right here, right now. Some films are performing better than they would have a few years ago, with big hits like Oppenheimer and Everything, Everywhere All at Once leading the way. May was expected to start the summer quietly, with Bad Boys: Ride or Die and A Quiet Place: Day One doing solid but not spectacular business. However, Bad Boys 4 is playing like Bad Boys 3, the Quiet Place spin-off opened bigger than its predecessors, and Inside Out 2 is performing like a Pixar sequel on steroids. This June could be the biggest June since 2018. Bad Boys: Ride or Die has passed $300 million. (My thought: Imagine the potential success of a film that combines the entertaining, popcorn appeal of Bad Boys with intelligent storytelling and themes. #UndercoverDeceptions) Looking ahead, we might see a July that rivals the #Barbenheimer-fueled mania of 2023. Despicable Me 4, Twisters, and Deadpool & Wolverine are poised for big numbers. August through December also promises a packed slate with potential hits like Trap, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Moana 2, Wicked Part I, and Gladiator 2. This year, the landscape for mega hits is more diverse than ever, with #blockbusters coming from various studios, including #Disney, #Universal, and #Paramount. To paraphrase Ratatouille: not every film can be a blockbuster, but it feels like a blockbuster can come from anywhere. By Scott Mendelson #FilmIndustry #BoxOffice #TheatricalRecovery

Popcorn and Cinema: A Timeless Relationship When we think of going to the movies, one image inevitably comes to mind: the sound of popcorn popping and the smell of butter filling the air as we wait for the film to begin. Popcorn and cinema have been inseparable for decades, and for many, a trip to the theater feels incomplete without a bucket of this beloved snack. From the moment you walk into the theater lobby, it’s hard to imagine watching a movie without a tub of warm, crunchy popcorn in hand. For children, especially, popcorn adds a layer of excitement to the cinema experience. The joy of grabbing handfuls of the fluffy kernels between scenes makes the movie-going experience more engaging and memorable. It’s not just about watching the film—it's about the overall adventure of being at the theater, and popcorn is an essential part of that. However, in recent years, the price of popcorn at the cinema has become a topic of debate. Many people feel that the cost of popcorn is skyrocketing, often far surpassing what you would pay for it outside the theater. While popcorn is undeniably a movie-time favorite, is it fair for consumers to pay such a high price for a simple snack? The cost of popcorn in theaters is a growing concern, especially for families with children who love to munch on it while watching their favorite films. This has raised the question: Should popcorn prices be regulated? Some argue that while popcorn is an essential part of the movie-going experience, theaters shouldn’t be allowed to charge exorbitant prices for it. After all, cinema should be accessible and enjoyable for everyone, and that includes keeping snack prices within reasonable limits. If popcorn prices were lowered, it could make the cinema experience more budget-friendly, encouraging more people to visit theaters more frequently. For many families and moviegoers, the high cost of concessions like popcorn is a deterrent. By making snacks more affordable, theaters could attract larger audiences, boosting foot traffic and potentially increasing box office collections. A more economical experience would likely result in higher ticket sales as people feel less burdened by the overall cost, benefiting both moviegoers and the film industry as a whole. How many of you believe that popcorn prices should be controlled to make the cinema experience more affordable? Whether it’s through regulation or other means, many feel that the cost of this iconic movie snack needs to be addressed, ensuring that the relationship between popcorn and cinema remains a happy one, without breaking the bank. #bollywood #indiancinema #hindicinema #cinema #theatre #india #films #movies #netflix #dharmaproductions #redchillies #salmankhanfilms #indianfilms #popcorns

Austin reels in top-5 rank among best cities for filmmakers in 2024 "[T]he city has more than 1,000 crew members, about 25 boutique production houses, and 18 production facilities — including two LED volume stages," the report said, noting the forthcoming Hill Country Studios, a $267 million production hub in the works between San Antonio and Austin. Also factored into Austin's top-five rank were major events like the Austin Film Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW) that draw in thousands of industry experts, filmmakers, and fans to the city every year. Notably absent from the report are Los Angeles and New York. MovieMaker famously excludes them from the big cities list — taking into consideration that both cities are already so packed full of industry creatives and opportunities — and instead focuses on more affordable places in North America. https://lnkd.in/gKPc7rnB

Doom and gloom has turned into hope that the movie theater industry can survive the aftermath of the pandemic and labor strikes. — The stronger-than-expected finish to the summer movie season has led to cautious optimism, especially given how the summer started. — "Inside Out 2" became the highest-grossing animated movie ever, giving Pixar Animation Studios its first hit in years. "Deadpool & Wolverine" became the highest-grossing R-rated film ever and reenergized Marvel Studios. At the same time, most of the major theater chains are on better financial footing: — Cinemark, the third-biggest theater chain in the U.S., has seen its stock more than double this year. — Regal, whose parent Cineworld Cinemas Ltd emerged out of bankruptcy, raised $250 million to upgrade more than 30 of its locations. — Even AMC Theatres, which has flirted with bankruptcy, was able to restructure more than $2 billion of its debt. "Next summer will be a very clear window into where the industry is at compared to where we left off in 2019," Jeff Bock tell me: Read more at Axios Pro https://lnkd.in/enGCrpcP