A culture I recall consisted of visits to
the video store to rent the latest movie in the new release section or browsing
“the classics.” A similar scenario occurs today but rather than traveling to a
nearby Blockbuster, audiences are viewing movie rentals digitally or from their
local Redbox. With the addition of the Redbox kiosk’s customers have access to
the latest movies in the same way they can buy a snack from a vending machine.
These kiosks began appearing after the success of Netflix. Households paid a
monthly fee which allowed them the ability to view their favorite TV shows and
movies online or have DVD’s sent to them in the mail. Redbox took the next step
in its competition with Netflix with the addition of Redbox Instant. This
service is very new; it launched this March 2013. “Redbox Instant, at $8 to $9
a month, is counting on price and convenience to lure customers. Users will get
unlimited streaming plus four DVDs a month from kiosks. It also offers
on-demand rentals and digital sales of newer titles.” (White) The existence of
these conveniences has altogether wiped out the need for video rental stores
like Blockbuster and now the two are left to compete with each other and movie
theatre sales.
Justifications
I have heard from friends as to why they do not go to the movie theater anymore
are that it is too expensive or they choose to stay at home. Joshua Rupp of the
Bennington Banner refers to our culture as couch potatoes. He explains that “…the
last major target audience is beginning to slip away. This is, after all, an
age of iPods, instant messaging, complex cell phones, and portable computers.
These, along with Netflix, are all what marketers call disruptive innovations:
they give consumers the power to entertain themselves in their own way.” (Rupp)
Many have clung to the comforts of their homes and would choose convenience
over movie experience. I personally enjoy the movie theater; overly-buttered
popcorn, surprising movie trailers, and the excitement of watching an
anticipated movie on the big screen with incredible sound. Interestingly,
around 2005 polls showed that typical movie-goers were between the ages of 18
and 29, and these individuals were the reliable customers, seeing at least
seven movies in the past year. With the current ‘disruptive innovations,’ I
would expect that these numbers have decreased. Further research could be done
to compare the various age groups that attend the movie theater. I have
witnessed more adults ages 30-50 accompanying small children to the theater or
quietly attending a movie on an afternoon during the week. Theaters are missing
the regular turn-out of millennials. As pre-teens our generation treated the
cinema as a social gathering place. I can recall being dropped off at the mall
with three of my friends on a Friday night and seeing a movie at the connecting
theater. Crowds like this scurried into the theater each weekend. Now, large
turn-outs are expected only when highly anticipated blockbusters are released.
Studio
executives are aware of a lost interest in movie theaters and I can imagine
that they seek intricate reasons as to why this occurs but I think it is as
simple as increased prices and the luxury of having more than one viewing
option. Millennials are even starting to say, “When I was a kid it was only $7
to see a movie!” The theater experience is not cheap, adding to the decision to
stream movies for free or registering for a subscription to an instant program.
Aside from affordability, millennials even have different taste from
generations before. Through the 2000’s, “Hollywood misunderstood that its
audience changed from a middle-aged, modestly educated, middle- to lower-class
group to a younger, better educated, more affluent, and predominantly
middle-class group. With this, comes an obvious change in values and, more
importantly, tastes.” (Paquin) In this article, the question “What can cinemas
do that (blank) cannot?” is proposed. It
is explained that years ago this blank would have been filled by the word televisions,
but today we may add the internet, instant-viewing systems, and kiosk rentals.
In
the past five years or so many movies have come and gone in the theater. There
is a lack in longevity; movie screens are being filled by movies that bring in
a lot of money during their first weekend but the popularity does not last. The
effects of decreased ticket sales have impacted the production of movies. Major
studios are being more decisive about which movies receive funding and later
are released. They are really trying to play a game with consumers and guess
what they will want to see during a certain time of the year. Increased profits
for Netflix and Redbox show that audiences are continuing to watch movies, just
choosing new ways to do this. “While the rental industry’s revenue is growing
substantially, the companies that actually make the product are seeing their
revenue plummet.” (Sullivan) In Ronald Grover’s article, “Who needs an Oscar? Hollywood basks in
industry's comeback,” Grover brings light to the realizations made by large
movie studios. There have been some changes made and these studios are working
with the current streaming and rental world, rather than against it. “News
Corp's Fox increased sales of digital downloads of its movies on services like
Apple's iTunes and Amazon.com, dropping the price from $20 apiece to $15, and
making them available two weeks ahead of sales of the same movies on DVD.‘“We're
making it easy for the consumer who says, 'I didn't see the movie or forgot to
get a DVD' to just push a button,”’ Fox studio Chairman Jim Gianopulos said.”
(Grover) This increases the overall success of a film, but I will we continue
to fill the empty seats in a theater?
Work Cited
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an
Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson
Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web.
Paquin, Steven. “With Hulu and Netflix,
Will Millennials Ever Go Out to the Movie Theater Anymore?” Polymic.com. March 2012. Web. 14 March
2013.
Rupp, Joshua. “Netflix vs. Movie
Theaters: A Couch Potato Culture.” Bennington
Banner. 30 March 2006. ProQuest.
Web. 14 March 2013.
Sullivan, Ryan. “Rental Epidemic of the
Twenty-First Century: A Look at How Netflix and Redbox are Damaging the Health
of the Hollywood Film Industry and How to stop it.” Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review 30.2 (2010): 327-29.
HeinOnline. Web. 15 March 2013.
White, Michael. “Kiosk Giant Redbox Rolls
Out Movie-Streaming Service.” Gazette.
15 March 2013. ProQuest. Web. 16
March 2013.
Although we may see many movies making a profit in the theaters, it is usually only for opening night, the rest of the time people are on their computers and at the Red Box kiosk getting those movies first hand. Personally I don’t care to go to the movies anymore because its way to expensive. Why would I pay to see a movie for 10 dollars when I can go on my computer and watch it for free, or go to red box and rent it for a dollar?
ReplyDeleteEven in Germain’s article on the Life of Pi, he explains that, “Hollywood studios once counted on domestic audiences for most of a movie's revenue. But overseas markets have been Hollywood's growth area, with international audiences now accounting for two-thirds or more of receipts on many films.” (Germain) No one seems to be going to the movies now a day so companies have to find other way to bring in revenue. Going abroad to find an audience is giving these companies the money they are looking for. Now movies are going to all be focusing on how to impress or not offend other counties. Most American movies are not exactly the best movies for people from other countries to watch. Our humor isn’t the same as theirs, and our prominence of sex and drugs is way different than other countries.
So why is it that these companies cant seem to satisfy the American public? Why don’t we just lower the price of a ticket to go to the movie? I mean once you walk in the door popcorn is like 5 dollars anyways. Most people don’t have the kind of money to spend on the movie and the food, especially if you have kids. The most money a movie theater probably sees is when a movie with a big following comes out, something like Twilight or Harry Potter.
Another reason to why so many people aren’t going to the movies anymore? Internet. The Internet makes it accessible for anyone to watch anything at anytime. iTunes, Hulu, or streaming video offline is more convenient and cheaper. In Grover’s article he explains that companies are catching on to the fact that people are using the Internet more for things like movies. “Increased sales of digital downloads of its movies on services like Apple's iTunes and Amazon.com…and making them available two weeks ahead of sales of the same movies on DVD.” (Grover) Convenience and price are the two factors that are becoming deciding factors for moviegoers.
Netflix used to be one of the most popular online websites and now it seems that even Red Box is coming in to steal that companies thunder with the start of their online deliveries. This start up is much cheaper than Netflix’s monthly rates, which may send Netflix customers over to Red Box.
Germain, David. “Overseas slice of 'Pi' flips Hollywood formula.” Associated Press. 17 Feb 2013. Web.
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web.
I can completely relate to the days when going to the movies on Friday night was the “cool thing” to do. I am surprised to hear that today, teens are only going to the theater for very popular movies they have been awaiting. Even though obtaining movies on different devices at home is an option, I would think that kids were still going to the movies for a night out. I do admit to resorting to movies on the computer or on demand and Netflix but that is simply because I’m older and have other options my friends and I can resort to. I also would still be a frequent customer at Blockbuster if they hadn’t closed their business. I would actually prefer browsing the aisles for old, new and unknown movies over Netflix or Redbox. I think it is a shame to see a business like Blockbuster be shut down.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the movie theater is in danger as well. Although I don’t believe it will ever be put out of business altogether, it definitely is suffering because of newer technologies. It was reported that, “The decline in U.S./Canada box office was due to an equivalent decline in admissions (-4%) compared to 2010, as admissions reached 1.3 billion, while average cinema ticket price stayed relatively flat (+1%)” (“Industry Reports: Theatrical Market Stats 2011." 2). The film industry is losing money because there are less and less movie goers. People are turning to on demand, Netflix and many more options at home. These options are more convenient as well as cheaper. Not only are fewer people going to the movies, it has been found that, “Ticket sales continue to be driven by frequent moviegoers, who represent only 10% of the population but purchase half of all movie tickets” (“Industry Reports: Theatrical Market Stats 2011." 2). Therefore, when ticket boxes are doing well, it usually is from the same consumers. It also reveals the true number of people dedicated to the theater; a mere 10 percent.
The movie industry is aware of their dwindling audiences and is attempting to make some changes to keep consumers attending the theater. For example, “Hollywood Eyes Record 2013” stated that, “While studios are making fewer films, they are focused on characters with global appeal that attract broad audiences” (“Hollywood Eyes Record 2013”). This is a good strategy in order to not limit themselves to any particular demographic. By choosing characters with “global appeal” there is more of a chance for a bigger audience. Lions Gate Entertainment utilized this strategy with some of their movies. They reported that, ‘“We had a really great crop of movies," said Rob Friedman, co-chairman of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.'s film division, which released "The Hunger Games" and "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2,'" the third and fifth top-grossing releases of the year. "We had moviegoers who were re- energized"’ (“Hollywood Eyes Record 2013”). Personally, I saw both of these movies in the theater as well and I am not a frequent movie-goer. I even attended “The Hunger Games” twice! Not to mention both movies made the top 5 highest profits in 2013. Therefore, this strategy is definitely working for studios. The movie theater is not dying out. Studios simply need to continue to find ways to get viewers excited for new releases.
“Industry Reports: Theatrical Market Stats 2011." Motion Pictures Association of
America. Motion Pictures Association of America, 2011. Web. Mar. 2013. .
"Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels." Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.
I definitely agree that these days there are less and less millenials attending movies. I am a perfect example of one of these people. Each year I probably attend two to three movies. As discussed in the blog there are many contributing factors to why the movie theater experience is losing its popularity. I believe that many people are turned off by the cost it is to see a movie these days. With the purchase of a movie ticket a snack and a beverage, one can spend an upwards of $25. As movies have become accessible in so many other ways, it seems that many people are no longer participating in the theater experience.
ReplyDeleteToday people can watch movies either on DVD, Netflix, Redbox, websites such as Amazon, or even illegal, free online streaming. These alternatives are not only cheaper but are so easily accessible anywhere at any time. Many people these days would much rather watch a movie in the comfort of their own home rather than have to deal with the possible rude behaviors of others in the theater. I think another big advantage is that when viewing a movie through these alternative formats, you can pause it at anytime. One of the single worst feelings is when you are at a movie and have to use the restroom. It is possible that you could miss a very key part and it’s not like you could simply stop the movie until you return.
An interesting phenomenon in the last few years in the movie theaters is the concept of the 3D movie. While the idea at first sounds really cool and interesting, it seems that many people agree that is really not worth the increased ticket cost. Personally, I have never been to a 3D movie but many people I have talked to have told me that the experience is not one they would choose to pay the extra money for again. Statistics show that ticket sales are down for these movies. At first these movies showed strong growth, but in 2011 they did not really fare that well. These types of movies cater towards a younger audience and it is quite possible that after the first go round, parents have chosen not to bring their children again. While there was an increase in 3D film releases, the box office was actually down $400 in 2011 compared to 2010 (Theatrical Market Stats 2011).
Although millenials may be going to the movies less, 2012 did signify a year of Hollywood making a comeback. 2012 actually lifted ticket sales for the first time in three years (Grover). This was largely in part to some of the highly anticipated blockbusters that were released that year. Movies such as “The Avengers”, “The Dark Knight Rises” and “The Hunger Games” all played a large part in this. I think Universal Pictures Chairman, Adam Fogelson summed the success of 2012 up perfectly when he said, “Give consumers something that's interesting and you can still get them to come out of their house (Grover).” Hopefully in future years movie producers will build on the formula of using familiar characters, highly anticipated sequels and remakes of books. If this continues to be done, it is most likely that the millenial’s anticipation will build and get out to the theaters once again.
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web.
“Industry Reports: Theatrical Market Stats 2011." Motion Pictures Association of
America. Motion Pictures Association of America, 2011. Web. Mar. 2013. .
Like most of the respondents have already mentioned I think the most common reason for decrease at the movie theatres is due to it being too expensive. A ticket alone is around eleven dollars, and that’s not even including your popcorn and small drink, which will probably be around fourteen dollars. Those are prices for when you’re going alone; so imagine bringing your whole family for a nice night out, or talk about an expensive date. With the recent drop in the economy many people simply cannot afford the prices the movie theatres are demanding. Especially when there are other options. As well as the others, I also remember Friday nights being dropped at the movies to meet my friends. It would normally be an all together ten dollar night. My friends and I would even sometimes go on Tuesday’s cause there used to be “5 dollar Tuesday” at all Multiplex’s. Rave has taken the place of Multiplex’s and they have since then did away with “5 dollar Tuesday”. Little deals and offers such as that I believe used to also be a main reason for people to attend the movies.
ReplyDeleteOur generation is a bunch of broke college and grad students. Nobody wants to spend that kind of money on a night at the theatre when advances in technology have provided us with a more convenient way of viewing. Grover states, “The digital growth pushed the overall revenue figure for DVDs and home entertainment up by 0.2 percent, a step in the right direction.” Meaning that with the growth of technology more people are accessing home entertainment such as On Demand, Netflix, and Redbox rather then spending time and energy at the movies. Convenience plays a huge factor in the increase of home viewing verses the decreasing of movie theater viewing. Why would anyone want to get up off of their cozy couch and go sit in a cold movie theatre when between home entertainment and the Internet they are able to watch whatever they want/ whenever they want in the comfort of their own home.
Finally, Hollywood does not try to accommodate many other cultures. Ang Lee says, "It's a global movie culture. The mainstream cinematic language was largely set up by Hollywood, Americans, therefore it's American. Some European directors, but it was an American spirit". It was an “American Spirit” and still is. Many other cultures cannot relate to American style movies, we have different humor and different way of portraying things. (Germain) With the split within cultures this means not as many people in the US as we think may be coming out and supporting American films.
Though home entertainment does seem to be taking over, there is still a lot of hope for the box office theatre. Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Engleson claimed it was a great year for their studio with the releases of “Ted” and “Dr.Suess”. Combined they had box office sales of over $200 million. Engleson ended by saying “Give consumers something that’s interesting and you can still get them to come out of their house.” (Grover)
Germain, David. “Overseas slice of 'Pi' flips Hollywood formula.” Associated Press. 17 Feb 2013. Web.
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web.
I believe that no matter how many different ways of finding movies online there is, people will always fill the seats of the movie theatres. According to Ronald Grover in “Who Needs an Oscar”, “The tuxedoed movie studio chiefs can boast about an unusually large number of blockbuster films in 2012 that lifted ticket sales for the first time in three years and stemmed a seven-year free fall in sales of DVDs and other home entertainment products”. I know that times are tough and for a movie ticket to be sold at twelve or thirteen dollars is ridiculous. There are websites you can log into and watch movies that are still in theatres. So why would people still want to pay that crazy amount of money to see a movie? People will still attend the theatre to catch the first showing of a movie or go on a date to the movies. Some people would like to get out of the house and just catch a movie. Others have the money to just waste on a movie. What really helps movie ratings in the theatres is finding a movie that will be a huge hit. Movie chiefs really have to think about which movies would be a hit before they put them out because they can’t afford any more setbacks. A lot of time goes into the movie to finally get it out there and a lot of people just don’t want to spend the money to see them when they are free online. There is always an exception to this though. No matter how much is available online I know I will always attend the movies if there is a really good movie out that I want to see. There is also a lot of theatres that have $5 showings. Those are usually on Tuesdays and when I go they are packed. Obviously the main problem is the pricing of the movies. They need to lower the price and more people will go. I used to love going to the movies as a kid. I think they were $5 every time I went, slowing increasing as I grew older. According to “Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels” there were huge come backs in ticket sales. “While studios are making fewer films, they are focused on characters with global appeal that attract broad audiences. Action pictures, comedies and historical dramas all broke $100 million in sales during the past year, and theater upgrades that include 3-D, digital projection and more comfortable seats have lured guests back, executives said”. I must say that whenever I do go into a movie theatre I usually go to see funny movies. So this quote doesn’t surprise me to see that they broke a hundred million. So I must say that although movies have increased in price I still think that theatres will continue to fill up. This is as long as they have the right movies in the theatres.
ReplyDeleteWork Cited
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web
“Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels." Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.
Although I do agree that going out to the movie theaters isn’t as common as it used to be I don’t agree that this is turning into a problem. This year was a great year for movies, which is evident in the readings for this week’s class. “Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With Sequels” by Advertising Age stated, “Sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters probably rose 5.7% to $10.8 billion this year, fueled by higher attendance, according to researcher Hollywood.com.”Although there are so many ways to watch movies without paying the $12.00 movie theater ticket fee, ticket sales were still impressive this year. I myself go to the movies probably more than the average person but I never have a hard time finding someone to accompany me. The $12.00 or more movie ticket fee is pretty steep for the average college student but with theater discount days, matinees and student discounts, going to the movies is still a possibility. It is tempting to watch a movie out in theaters at home for free by pirating it, watching movies on Netflix (or other movie downloading/ streaming sites) after it leaves theaters and renting DVDs from a kiosk, but to me nothing compares to seeing a movie at the actual movie theater.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many great movies this year many of which were nominated for an award. Some of the nominated movies may not have done as well in theaters as some of the big blockbuster hits but all in all it was a great year for movies. In fact, one of the comments that I kept hearing throughout the award shows from people accepting or announcing the awards was how this was year was a great year for movies which amazing actors, directors and stories. In “Who needs an Oscar- Hollywood Basks in Industry’s Comeback” by Ronald Grover, there is a quote by Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson saying, “It was a terrific year. Give consumers something that’s interesting and you can still get them to come out of their house.” Which reinstates the idea that nothing beats watching a movie in a movie theater. If something really looks interesting people will spent the extra money to see it on the big screen as soon as it comes out as opposed to watching it’s bad recording on their small computer.
For those who miss a movie while it’s in theaters studios are making it easier for those people to buy the movie online before it comes out on DVD and watch it instantly without having to resort to pirating. This tactic along with the steady flow of moviegoers makes it more difficult for the movie industry to crumble. Another strategy that is being put into action to boost ticket sales is the use of social media for advertising. Gover explains how Liongate used the social media approach for “The Hunger Games” stating, “The studio stoked interest among the film’s core younger audience by starting a year early with a near-constant use of Twitter and Facebook, a Tumblr blog, a YouTube Channel, and live streaming of the premiere on Yahoo.” You can see that this strategy was extremely successful by the record high-ticket sales “The Hunger Games” sold. So although there might be days when theaters aren’t looking too full and you see your roommate illegally streaming a movie still in theaters, it still doesn’t seem like the film industry has too much to worry about as long as they keep doing what they did this past year.
Works Cited
"Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels." Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web.
Anthony Boch
ReplyDeleteThere once was a time when the movies were a place that people could escape the harsh realities of life. The films were in black and white, but it did not matter, because for those few hours, the hardships that were banging at the door of the theater could not come in. Quickly this place that people would escape to turned into twenty plus screen cinemas with the option of restaurants and candy choices that would make any dentist cringe. The cinema was undoubtedly a part of my childhood, from going to PG-13 movies with my friends on a Friday night, to when it seemed there were no privileges came with turning seventeen, I was off to see my first Rated R movie in theaters. Going to the movie theater goes beyond the film itself, it’s the people you go with, the rush of picking out food at the concession stands, and if that extra fifty cents is worth buying that extra large popcorn bucket.
Now all of those experiences have been reduced into a few clicks of a button, sure they have movie theater style popcorn at the grocery store, but it’s not that fresh melted butter that will come back to haunt you some day. I’m not sure how many parents would be thrilled about ten to twenty pubescent friends piling into their parents living room to watch a movie. The simple truth is that no matter how many ways presidents of companies attempt to adjust to the market and it’s products, the movie theater is an experience, and not a tablet, phone, or even home movie screen can compare.
Thankfully, creative minds never seem to take a rest whether the idea began on a piece of paper in a coffee shop, or in the hand of a Hollywood writer, there are still plenty of stories to be told through the movie screen, “Take "The Avengers," a mashup of Marvel comic super heroes released by Walt Disney Co, that pulled in $623 million in domestic sales and was one of the five 2012 movies with ticket sales of more than $300 million, an industry record, according to the box office unit of Hollywood.com” (Grover). I believe I have grown up in a world where numbers simply do not lie, and a profit margin such as the one the Avengers have accumulated means loud speakers and comfortable seats, along with a bucket of popcorn must still be working. A movie such as the Avengers cannot be enjoyed to it’s fullest on nothing less than a full fledge movie screen, and blaring speakers, full of people in awe in every seat.
Ticket prices vary all around the country, some places are more expensive than others, and that just has to do with inflation in my person opinion, but from this statistic it seems that the movie theaters are making their way back regardless of the ticket stub, “With average ticket prices unchanged this year at $7.94, attendance has risen in lockstep with revenue and is expected to reach about 1.36 billion in 2012, up from a 16-year low in 2011, according to Paul Dergarabedian, a Hollywood.com analyst. He expects prices to be little changed in 2013” (Advertising Age). Whether the prices sky rocket or plummet, the experience that a movie theater can bring is not going anywhere. Tablets and phones are convenient but the theater can bring everyone all together for an unforgettable experience.
Works Cited
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web.
"Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels." Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.
When I was younger every weekend my parents would give me money to go to the movies with my friends. We would also rent movies from Blockbuster and have movie night at each other’s houses. However, times have changed. It has been years since I have been to a video store to rent a movie. And being a college student, I cannot run to mommy and daddy for money every week to go to the movies. Now I try to go to the movies every once in a while to see a popular movie. Kiosk and Netflix make it convenient for me to watch a movie in the comfort of my own home at a cheap price. Personally, I prefer a kiosk over Netflix or OnDemand because it is cheaper. The Internet makes it convenient for me for me to look up what movies the closest kiosk to me has. If the movie I want is not there I can locate which kiosk has it. My friends and I try to take advantage of $5 Tuesdays because it is cheap and we enjoy the experience of going to the movies. We are in college and we cannot afford the high-ticket prices. Over the summer, I tend to go to the big hit movies more because I am working weekly. I am a sucker for a superhero movie. I have to see the movie as soon as it comes out. People do not go out to the movies as much anymore unless it is a big hit, which is worth spending money. The big hit movies are what bring people to the theatres.
ReplyDeleteDVD sales may have decreased but digital downloads and kiosks seem to be making up for it. Grover says, “The hit parade wasn't enough to turn the tide on the prolonged slide in DVD sales, which fell another 10 percent last year. But in a sign that studios and consumers are synching up on digital offerings, movie downloads, video on demand and streaming services like Netflix saw an increase in sales of 28.5 percent to $5.1 billion, according to the industry's Digital Entertainment Group.” The big blockbusters are making money the first week because it is a must see but then no one goes to see the other movies. Advertising Age says, “While studios are making fewer films, they are focused on characters with global appeal that attract broad audiences.” Kiosk are more convenient especially to people not looking to spend money.
Hollywood has been using social media to stay on top in entertainment. Audiences are able to interact more with their favorite movies or even highly anticipated movies. “Lionsgate boosted ticket sales for "The Hunger Games" in what analysts say was Hollywood's most aggressive online marketing push. The studio stoked interest among the film's core younger audience by starting a year early with a near-constant use of Twitter and Facebook, a Tumblr blog, a YouTube Channel, and live streaming of the premiere on Yahoo” (Grover). Even though the movie industry has gone through a transformation in how people view movies, it seems that Hollywood will always figure out a way to be on top.
Work Cited
"Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels." Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
Grover, Ronald. "Who Needs an Oscar? Hollywood Basks in Industry's Comeback."Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
A constantly changing and ongoing trend in media consumption over the past decade has been the availability of new media right at our fingertips. To me, this seems to be the biggest contributing factor to a decrease in movie theatre attendance, behind cost even. In today's world, convenience is everything, and if we as consumers have the option of accessing films at the click of a button - why should we be bothered to put our shoes on and walk past the mailbox? This new mentality is why the local video store is now a thing of the past. "Red Box" is popping up everywhere, and DVDs can be purchased, downloaded and viewed right from our home monitors. A third of the population, including half of all moviegoers went to see a 3D movie in 2011 (Theatrical Market Stats 2011). It is evident through this statistic that, for young population at least, a big reason for attending a movie in this day and age is to experience something that cannot be equally obtained or experienced in the comfort of one's own living room (at least for the time being).
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, I do not think that changing cost will have a much of a long-term impact on the future of the movie theatre. According to one article, the average price of movie tickets remained the same during 2012, and even so "attendance has risen in lockstep with revenue…up from a 16-year low in 2011" (Hollywood Eyes Record 2013). This boost in attendance is likely related to the recent investments in upgrading venues to support new digital capabilities (i.e. 3D movies). It seems that this revenue boost is doomed to be short-lived though, unless movie theaters can stay ahead of what becomes available from home. Cutting the cost of a movie by a few dollars might not affect the numbers by much if there still exists an easier method of watching that same film.
Works Cited
“Industry Reports: Theatrical Market Stats 2011." Motion Pictures Association of
America. Motion Pictures Association of America, 2011. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Hollywood Eyes Record 2013 With 'Star Trek,' 'Hobbit,' 'Hunger Games' Sequels." Advertising Age. Crain Communications Inc., 28 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.