Is Anyone Else Happy...?

[Peter Pirate]

That at least "Alexander" isn't a Disney flick?

These time pieces sure seem to 'die' more than they succeed. Why the big budget risks on so many not so sure things? Can't hollywood learn?

 

[KNWVIKING]

When I look at the numbers they post on Mojo I just scratch my head in amazement & confusion. I can only imagine that by the time the movie is playing six times a week on TNT or USA it's made back all it's production & marketing costs.....regardless of what they are. If not, why bother taking the chance with a big budget film.

 

[crusader]

The studios look beyond the domestic box office.

If you click on the international box on the mojo site you'll see a very different picture regarding the yearly ranks - particularly with Troy and King Arthur.

Here's another table which shows the worldwide take:http://www.boxofficeguru.com/intl.htm

 

[Peter Pirate]

Thanks crusader. That list and the breakdowns are very interesting.

 

[crusader]

I thought Shrek 2's numbers were very interesting - particularly given the quality of that film.

Box office mojo ranks the annual take internationally - and so far both Troy and Arthur fall within the top 10. So who knows? Alexander may fare much better overseas as well.

Right now, Disney is ranked very favorably in holding the market share for films this year. The incredibles contributed heavily to this but weren't the only driving force. It would support the argument that one definitive hit balanced with a variety of moderate successes really can make all the difference in this industry.

Add to that the ABC turnaround this year - (quite exceptional particularly with the Globe nominations - but the big bucks won't be realized until this coming year when the major ad campaigns are renewed) and the parks continual recovery and we're talking a much more favorable situation for Eisner to walk from. It's time.

And if there is an even greater upswing over the next 18 months it'll be hard to argue away from Iger's candidacy.

 

[Peter Pirate]

I'm uplifted to see these 'historical' pieces doing well, at least in the overall. My daughter has just learned much of this in school and is very interested in them (not to mention the star appeal).

What about Alamo? That surely tanked worldwide, did it not? This is their fly in the ointment for the last year, I guess.

You're right about ABC, Eisner and Iger.

The ABC turnaround is much faster than they ever predicted but I think many of us here could forsee it. I mean TV is so hit and miss that there seems little concrete logic in predicting winners (who'd guess that anyone would watch that Gilligans Island thing?)

Eisners' shadow suddenly doesn't look so gloomy and just imagine if somehow a Pixar/Disney continuation is reached on his watch...

Surely all of this helps to support Iger. There is no way they'll bail from an insider Captian on a ship that seems to have righted itself and is moving forward with quite a bit of steam.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

You have to remember that the US represents only a very small percentage of the world's population.

 

[Peter Pirate]

Oh that's true but we're the main user of most things so actuality can get lost in translation, if you know what I mean.

 

[crusader]

Yeah, remember the Alamo? Blame it on American conflicts - they carry the weight of the battlecry with them, while European History is highly romanticized. The Emperors; the Monarchs; the Fall of the Empires - complete with wealth, deception; power and nobility which has rippled throughout our world. America is all blood and guts.

There is one exception - World War. I checked back to 2001 to see how The Patriot compared to Pearl Harbor worldwide and found the spectators to be far less for a film depicting the Revolutionary War vs the U.S. under attack during WWII.

 

[jarestel]

You have to remember that the US represents only a very small percentage of the world's population.

I'd remember that most of the world is begging for US movies and tends to watch whatever is shown. Sort of like if you have a high def tv, you find yourself watching whatever is on in high def regardless of actual interest level.