Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Wide Releases: Up and Down

This is topic Wide Releases: Up and Down in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 06-17-2011, 11:37 AM:

Someone just emailed me this interesting little bit of information:

quote:
For wide releases, 1000 runs or more on opening, the average number of runs per film has increased significantly over the past five years, going from about 2500 in 2006 to over 2900 in 2010. At the same time, the number of films released over 1000 runs has decreasedfrom the mid 160’s to 129 last year. Clearly this decrease in product eases the crunch in screen space and allows for distribution to engage in broader release patterns. At the same time, this has accelerated play off in the marketplace which in turn can exacerbate the shortening of the ancillary market window.
Does this trend actually harm exhibition? From a macro perspective attendance has definitely declined, reflected in both per capita visits to theatres and actual total visits. At the same time demographic trends also contribute to this slowing. The percentage of population in the most frequent demographic groups has also declined which would naturally put the brakes on per capita visits to the theatres.
It is now evident that 3D has not exactly saved the industry. As was evidenced last holiday season, product aimed at an older demo can certainly be successful, however great stories are a lot harder to come by than great graphics.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-17-2011, 08:34 PM:

Only the media (and maybe some over-zealous studio suits) ever thought 3-D was going to "save" the industry, which by the way did not need saving in the first place.

The only thing that ever "saves" this industry is good movies.

Any saving needed is from the greedy and often stupid practices of the studios.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 06-17-2011, 10:34 PM:

The average number of screens a wide release plays on its break went up while the number of movies with 1,000+ playdates went down, therefore 3D is not the savior the industry expected?

That's an illogical, tangential argument.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 06-18-2011, 12:17 PM:

I've noticed this phenomenon: Summer was what I jokingly referred to as "Noah's Ark" as the movies would arrive in 2's. 2 prints of this, 2 prints of that, with one or two titles in 3 or 4 prints, often being a "shaky tent pole" release. *cough cough Wild Wild West*.
This summer the movies are being booked in 3s.