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Future of Movies

 Box Office Results

When I heard the new number one movie at the theaters had grossed only $8.3 million, I thought it would be interesting to do a review on how the pandemic has effected movie profits and add my thoughts about what the future may hold. 

Based on IMDB and BoxOfficeMojo results, Godzilla vs. Kong would normally be a movie that would bring in the movie goers. In six weeks, it has manages to gross $93 million domestically from a budget of around $155-$200 million. It's total gross is $472 million.

To put this in perspective using BoxOfficeMojo domestic yearly box office based on top grossing films, 2009 through 2019 had movies that grossed over $10 billion. The last time a number one movie of the year made less than $500 million was in 1977 with the original Star Wars movie. From 1982 through 2020, the number one movie of the year has made over $2 billion.

Streaming Services

Disney+ was the first to release a new movie exclusively on their streaming platform. I do not know how successful they have been as they charge and additional $30 to rent a new release movie like Mulan, Raya and The Last Dragon, and coming soon Black Widow. This rental appears to be good until it become free on the streaming service months later. I personally do not recommend renting their movies for $30 on top of a streaming service fee. When they are available for purchase, Disney keeps the $30 price point for the movie. I continued to wait until the price was reasonable for a Disney movie. I did not wait long enough as you can pick up Mulan for $10 in UHD when it is on sale.

HBOMax saw the potential for new movies to get subscribers. Unlike Disney+, the new releases are included with the streaming fee. This is how I have watched Wonder Woman 1984, Godzilla vs Kong, and Mortal Kombat. While Disney+ is only $80 per year while HBOMax is $15 per month. This is a bit of a difference monthly until you compare the extra $30 Disney charges for new movies vs HBOMax that includes them and there will be a few this year still to come that I am looking forward to seeing. An important thing I notices was that once Wonder Woman was available for purchase, the movie was removed from HBOMax to stream.

Paramount+ is joining this movement. Unlike the other two, it will show new releases in a little as a month after theatrical release at the included price of $10 per month for no commercials. The two movies to expect to see on this service will be Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible 7. It appears there must be some kind of contract between Tom Cruise and Paramount this year. This is a middle of the road idea. Unfortunately for HBOMax and Paramount+, Disney appears to simply buy the competition giving them a large collection of movies that will only be on their streaming service or to own.

The Future

We have started to feel the war with streaming services. At least HBOMax releases their movies and TV series on disc or digitally for purchase. I am still waiting on Disney's Mandalorian and the final season of Clone Wars to be officially released. This makes me question if they simply plan to stop releasing their products for purchase so you are forced to subscribe to their services. I hope this is not the case. At least HBOMax is still selling their movies and series. 

I question what the movie industry will do. We can already see a decline in "B" movies. Who could blame the industry for being picky about what is released when the cost may not justify a box office returns that they once did. Theaters try to bring people in with specials like renting the whole theater for up to 20 guests for $99 for fan favorites or $150 for new releases. This is much cheaper than the $10- $20 per ticket that were charge before COVID. This is a great deal for the customers but I doubt it will be enough to save the movie industry as we once knew it.

There is a potential that studios will decide to make lower budget movies to keep their profits high. I see exclusively on this streaming service as a way to keep subscribers to their service. Possibly more newer performers that don't require huge paydays. We will see.

I don't see the industry as dying any time soon. I do expect shifts in new release deliveries. The potential for exclusive rights that will prevent you from owning your movies. Forcing you to sign up for the streaming service that will come with a monthly fee that will end up climbing as need. No one knows for sure but we can expect the movie theater experience from before 2020 to change.




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