This week Neil Calloway wants Hollywood to stop blaming franchises for bad box office returns…
Recently the Los Angeles Times reported that this summer’s US box office could be the lowest in a decade. This might seem like terrible news, but given that films are expected to earn $4 billion during the summer months it’s hardly time to start a fundraiser for hard up Hollywood executives just yet.
Inevitably fingers are being pointed at the proliferation of sequels, remakes and other franchise movies, as well as the rise of streaming services. Of course, there is some truth to this; why go out and pay over the odds for an average film when you can stay in and watch original drama in the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the price?
Let’s be honest, “franchises, reboots and Netflix” is a poor excuse when there are plenty of original films out there both making money and garnering critical acclaim. Anyone who knows anything about films will be able to reel off a recent list of movies that are original, successful and good. Get Out, for example cost less than $5 million but has so far made more than $200 million. Last year Hidden Figures made more in the US than the Ghostbusters remake/reboot did. La La Land, Moonlight, the list goes on. There are plenty of impressive, original films out there.
Like Jamie Oliver blaming Brexit for the closure of six of his restaurants, blaming the Avengers or Batman for your movie failure is easy but ultimately you’re deflecting the blame, and the problem lies with your movie. It’s an excuse to wheel out over a dinner (on expenses, naturally) when someone asks why your latest film wasn’t a success. You want bigger hits? Make better movies.
The truth is that not every original movie flops and not every franchise film tops the box office; sometimes they fail and the franchise comes to a juddering halt. I’m as guilty as anyone for moaning about studios relying on movies based on other sources, but remakes, reboots and sequels are as likely to flop as original films.
In reality, there are two types of film; good ones and bad ones, and the good ones usually do well, eventually, and the bad ones are soon forgotten.
Neil Calloway is a pub quiz extraordinaire and Top Gun obsessive. Check back here every Sunday for future instalments.
Originally published May 14, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
