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Saturday, December 23, 2023

Where Are the Blockbusters?

 If you are a movie theater owner, Hollywood is a major disappoint this Christmas and you will have to resort to other content to earn some bank at the box-office.

Many independent cinema operators are screening old Christmas movies to make up for the shortfall in first run films and are getting solid box-office gate. 




Movie theaters are getting 75-125 admissions for 'A Christmas Story', 'Nightmare Before Christmas', and 'Home Alone 1 and 2' on weekday nights vs. 20 or so admissions for current Hollywood movies. It proves that moviegoers want to view the old films on the big screen once again.

There are no blockbusters this Christmas. Disney lost its groove by embracing wokism and political correctness. TV isn't doing any better as late-night talk shows have completely lost their audience and don't address any current social issues in comic fashion for fear of hurting anyone feelings. 

The Biden Administration's many problems and incompetence are not addressing these, and other issues and they should be. Then there is the ancillary issue of concert ticketing. Two bills were introduced in congress last week which are intended to curb excesses in the ticketing market. The "Fans First Act" is intended to curb illegal ticket sites and make the process more transparent. Will this work, NO!

Streaming and a slew of podcasters and individuals with their own online channels have upended the media conglomerates as consumers turn away from mainstream entertainment. Look for new alliances and mergers and shared content between the major entertainment companies, as they try to stymie the current trend away from big media and entertainment. 

As for independent movie operators, they will need to go their own way in 2024. What works for your cinema and what your patrons demand is very different then the past. And don't count on Hollywood to fill the box-office void and fill seats. 

By: Jim Lavorato

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