Are reports of the death of cinema premature? For a while now we've been told that factors such as Streaming, high ticket prices, low attention spans etc are killing cinematic receipts. But with box office for Spiderman headed for 2 billion, Michael, Toy Story 5 and The Odyssey all over one billion, and Project Hail Mary as well as The Devil Wears Prada 2 close to 700 million and Obsession at almost a half billion, it seems that audiences will show up at the cinema when they're given a good reason to. So is it possible that the reason for most box office flops is actually weak writing? I'm looking at you Supergirl.
Screenwriting : Death of cinema? by Richard Buzzell
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4 people like this
I agree Cinema will always be there
3 people like this
I don't think cinema is dead, @Richard. Weak writing could be one reason some movies flop, but the scripts could've started strong and got changed for some reason(s) during pre-production, production, or post.
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You've answered your own question - "it seems that audiences will show up at the cinema when they're given a good reason".
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The box office has turned very suddenly with three big hits in the last month. Prior to that the year was looking weak with fourteen flops led by big names like Supergirl, Star Wars, Moana, among others. With one of the big wins being the 750K film Obsession, it would seem like a good idea for the industry to step up it's game, because the audience is there for the right product.
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I definitely don’t think cinema is dead, but I also don’t think it’s as simple as blaming weak writing. Theatrical has become much more event-driven, and audiences are increasingly selective about what feels worth leaving home and paying a premium to see. That puts enormous pressure on concept, marketing, IP, casting, timing and execution.
A great script certainly helps, but we’ve all seen terrific movies struggle theatrically and mediocre ones make a fortune. What I do think has changed is that “pretty good” is a much harder sell. If a movie doesn’t offer audiences a compelling reason to see it in a theater, they now have an extremely attractive alternative: wait a few weeks and watch it at home. The successes we’re seeing suggest to me that audiences haven’t abandoned theaters; they’ve just raised the bar for what will get them there.
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Interesting to note that this box office boom is being led by Gen Z, the supposedly lost generation for exhibitors.
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They were "lost" temporarily bc their teenage years were in the middle of a global shutdown where they couldn't go to the movies. Since then, Gen Z have definitely come out of their shells and embraced the cinemas - as evidenced by the sheer amount of smash hits there's been
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Even if movie theaters did decline, they'd never completely go away. Opera houses are still here, after all.
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@richard in supergirl’s defence, she shouldn’t have been Supergirl. Great character, great girl acting - she nailed it, good action, shoe-horned into a damp superman and unnecessary rinse and repeat back story, but what’s not to love about the dog? Nonetheless an interesting and watchable yarn. But The next movie that girl makes as Supergirl will knock it out of the park though - so as an advert for the next movie it’s pretty good. I hope they don’t go all ensemble on it, one hero, one story, a girl and her dog, fabulous Supergirl is back. Prediction. Personally I’d write her drinking more and chain smoking. Bwahaha.