Mattel, Inc.’s Post

Have you noticed the recent trend of game-inspired narratives making their way to the big screen? From The Last of Us to Tetris, Gran Turismo to The Beanie Bubble, Barbie and now to Monopoly, over the last few years we have seen more and more game-inspired narratives made into movies and 'TV' series. I find this move interesting for 2 key reasons: 1. It plays into the nostalgia effect, re-capturing audiences' memories and emotions and breathing new life into old feelings. 2. It captures a new audience in a new way with old franchises and products, capturing their attention and spend on the modern re-telling, as well as the original. (Sales of chess sets and accessories shot up by nearly 215% after Netflix's Queen's Gambit! 📈) What do you think about this trend? What do you think is driving these re-tellings? Let me know! #audiencestrategy #entertainment  Mattel, Inc. Hasbro

R-rated stands for Revenue x 2. Disney and Marvel’s "Deadpool and Wolverine” is expected to have a gangbusters opening weekend tallying between $160 million and $180 million at the domestic box office. That would make it the biggest debut ever for an R-rated film. While it's too early to say if it will save the box office (Inside Out 2 has already done plenty of the heavy lifting), D&W may be the, um, claw in the arm to save the Marvel franchise as well. Disney is doing its part. Its collaboration with Pixar has Inside Out 2 has claimed the top spot for the highest-grossing opening of the year with $154.2 million. As for Deadpool, the original holds the record for the biggest opening weekend for an R-rated film with $132.4 million. So, high jinks with Wolverine in the upcoming installment is expected to rake in more. Marvel may be full of superheroes, but it needs rescuing. The studio has been in a slump. Heavy hitters like Spider-Man, Thor, Hulk and the Avengers make for strong lineup, but they haven't exactly been hitting home runs. Marvel has been consistent over the years releasing blockbuster after blockbuster. Unfortunately, it's also struggled with a quantity over quality issue, creating audience fatigue along with a confusing and overwhelming avalanche of interconnected multiverse content. The brand is still strong, but a fewer releases/keep it simple approach may be the superpower Marvel needs right now. D&W (or the Ryan and Hugh comedy tour) may offer the right formula for Marvel. Deadpool has a unique identity, often funny and super casual, which is typically different from his serious superheroes. That along with the rough and tumble personality of Wolverine may be the ultimate superhero buddy movie everyone is looking for. When all is said done, D&W will bring in the audiences, but the storytelling will ultimately decide its fate for getting audiences to return and the rebuilding the Marvel brand https://cnb.cx/3Sn1fKA #marvel #disney #movies #boxoffice #hollywood #entertainment #brand

Moviegoers were eagerly awaiting the release of Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine. The unlikely duo of the Merc with a Mouth and the Clawed Mutant promised irreverent humor and over-the-top action. Fans have been longing to see Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool share the screen with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine one more time. Deadpool & Wolverine did not disappoint, smashing box office records around the world. The R-rated superhero romp raked in an estimated $438.3 million globally in its opening weekend, including $205 million domestically. This makes Deadpool & Wolverine the highest-grossing global opening ever for an R-rated film. The record-shattering debut proves that audiences can't get enough of Marvel's motormouth anti-hero Deadpool paired with the iconic Wolverine. Reynolds and Jackman's electric chemistry lights up the screen. Their back and forth banter coupled with over-the-top action sequences thrilled audiences. Deadpool & Wolverine sets a new high bar for R-rated comic book films. It will be exciting to see if the Merc and Mutant can cut through more box office records in the weeks ahead! Learn more: http://di.sn/6048cWh22 #deadpool #wolverine #marvelstudios #boxofficesuccess

Exciting news from Hasbro... Brand-building relies on two main factors; mental availability and physical availability (thank you Byron Sharp). Tent-pole films are great, especially in the movie-theatre because they capture attention for two hours in a memorable experience - a going out moment. They also allow a franchise like Monopoly which mostly exists on table-top or mobile screen to expand its relevance through expanded narrative and through storytelling. But films are two hours, then they're done. It's only a tiny proportion of movies that get watched more than once. What counts is how you expand the story into a wider eco-system. Location-based entertainment adds to the number of times a year that the average "light buyer" interacts with your brand. Taking a brand like Monopoly which has decades of memories (mental availability) and marrying it up with a trend like competitive socialising (physical availability) adds not just commercial, but brand value to IP owners.

Deadpool & Wolverine: A Look into Movie Budgeting and Revenue Discussing the meticulous world of movie budgets, it's fascinating to analyze the allocation of resources for a promising return. In business, significant capital investment is often required for a successful product launch and sustainable profitability. In the movie industry, financial outcomes vary widely. While some films like Green Lantern can experience substantial losses (-122 million), others like the original Saw movie demonstrate exceptional returns. Made on a modest $1.2 million budget, Saw grossed an impressive $103 million globally. Reports suggest that the production budgets for Deadpool & Wolverine totaled around $250 million, accompanied by an additional $100 million for marketing. To break even in today's cinematic landscape, this substantial investment typically needs to be recouped within the first two weeks of release. Exciting projections for the film are already emerging. Pre-ticket sales on Thursday the 25th indicate a promising weekend ahead, with a projected revenue of $360 million. This early momentum sets a positive tone for the movie's financial performance. Understanding the intricate balance of budgeting and revenue in the film industry sheds light on the strategic decisions behind blockbuster productions. #MovieIndustry #Budgeting #Revenue #Deadpool #Wolverine

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆: …𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱? There are only two board games that I wanted to keep since I was a child: Risiko and Monopoly.   However, Monopoly is definitely the one that entertained me the most because of its dynamics related not only to luck but also to a certain amount of strategic skills in planning one's 'positioning' and becoming the richest in the city of Monopoly.   More than 50 years later, Lavinia Capresi post made me rethink this game from a different perspective, one that, honestly, I never considered.   The game mechanism, for those who don't remember it, (...very few), is based on entrepreneurial initiative in the real estate market, with the goal of growing one's capital, possibly shaking the pockets of competitors, facing odds and contingencies. Sometimes even coming to troubles with the law and being forced to stay in jail (!). Never has such an old game turned out to still be so relevant! But beyond that, among the many merits of Monopoly game, it is the fact that you can find similarities, many I would say, with the dynamics which companies today have to move in their market environment.  Let me give you a few examples:   Probability & Unforeseen: doesn't this remind you the SWOT analysis with threats and opportunities in the market environment? Money management: it's the simplified version of cash flow management… and when you're negative it'over! Buying/Selling properties: it was nothing different from managing tangible assets, with investments and divestments Jail: the stop during the game doesn't seem analogous to a regulatory problem that forces you to stay out of a market until you have received the certification of your product? …and so on. Amazing isn't it?   I had never thought about it until I read this post and the news related to the preparation of the next movie by the producers of the movie Barbie.   Thanks to Hasbro and Lavinia Capresi for taking me back in time and to this fun reflection.   What feelings does Monopoly remind you of? How about using it in your companies today, perhaps for teambuilding activities or to create fun in a sales effectiveness training program? What do you think about Monopoly?

Disney's 2009 acquisition of Marvel for $4 billion has become a landmark in cinematic history, aligning perfectly with insights from a 2016 study on film success. Marvel movies, with their high budgets, demonstrate a clear correlation between investment and returns; "Avengers: Endgame" alone, on a budget of $356 million, grossed over $2.8 billion worldwide. The Marvel Cinematic Universe capitalizes on the lucrative trend of sequels and interconnected stories, with the "Avengers" series grossing approximately $7.78 billion globally. Marvel's approach of combining superhero themes with a family-friendly PG-13 rating broadens appeal, as seen in the success of "Black Panther" and "Captain Marvel," each grossing over $1 billion. The mix of established stars like Robert Downey Jr. and emerging talents adds to the films' box office appeal, while the audience reception often plays a more critical role than critics' reviews in driving success. Furthermore, the strategic timing of releases during high-traffic seasons like summer and spring maximizes box office potential. This strategic exploitation of Marvel's properties by Disney showcases a deep understanding of what drives box office success, solidifying the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a powerhouse in modern cinema. #M&A #strategy https://lnkd.in/dfHg5uBm

Less is more. Except when it’s not. And in the current case of movies, it is most decidedly not. The film industry is shrinking—by revenue, volume, value and old fashioned chutzpah. The past poor decisions by major executives and the present market realities are creating an ecosystem with heightened risk for theatrical films, a declining number of buyers in the market, and an economic model that favors alternative mediums. That’s bad for business and audiences. Let’s pop a lexapro and take a closer look at how we arrived at this point of diminishing returns, what’s changing, who’s winning and what it means for everyone involved. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gSUpcBwQ By Brandon Katz

1.5x YOUR MKT BUDGET FOR SUCCESS 2023 will be remembered as the PINK YEAR, the year that #barbiemovie exploded worldwide. Here are some of the milestones and achievements of this Mattel, Inc.-inspired film: ✅ Highest-grossing film worldwide in 2023: Surpassed $1 billion globally in its third week, exceeding all other films released that year. ✅ Highest-grossing Warner Bros. Entertainment movie domestically: Grossed over $502 million at the US box office, surpassing The Dark Knight (2008). ✅ Highest-grossing opening weekend for a non-sequel: Opened with $70.5 million, surpassing #spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). ✅ Held the No. 1 rank in 35 markets internationally. ✅Ranked among the top 25 highest-grossing domestic movies of all time. ✅ TIME Magazine included Barbie as one of the 2023 Person of the Year finalists where Taylor Swift finally earned the title. ✅ Won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Family Movie and received 9 nominations for the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards. ✅ First solo female director to have a film reach $1 billion at the box office: #GretaGerwig achieved this historic feat with Barbie the Movie. ✅ It made clear the possibility for theatrical success in a streaming world. Barbie the Movie also had a strong cultural impact, sparking conversations about #gender #stereotypes , female representation in #hollywood , and the importance of #play . Overall, Barbie the Movie was a major #success on all fronts, achieving significant milestones in box office performance, critical reception, social media buzz, and cultural impact. 👉 The INTERESTING DATA is what happened away from the filming studio - while $100 million dollars were spent on the production of the movie, 1.5x THAT AMOUNT, which is $150 million, was the #marketing budget of the movie to prove once more that… MARKETING IS KING! #success #barbie #barbiemovie #marketing #warnerbros #mattel #timemagazine #spiderverse #mattelcanada #mattellatinamerica

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