With ticket sales down and newly released movies hitting streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) services in record time, it's not surprising that films are struggling to make it big in theaters. For comparison, 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road grossed a whopping $45 million over a non-holiday opening weekend, which ultimately led to an impressive $380 million global box office draw. Meanwhile, Furiosa, which is equally well-received, earned just $32 million over the four days that make up Memorial Day weekend. Sadly, Hollywood's slump is becoming much more of a pattern, and there are clear-cut reasons why.
They are:
The Movie Theater Experience Isn't Always Great
Movie Theaters Are Expensive
Bigger Budgets Puts Greater Box Office Expectations On Some Movies
The COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Moviegoing Habit
Audiences Have Been Conditioned That New Theatrical Releases Will Quickly Go To VOD
Streaming Means There's More Choice At Home Than In Theaters
Maybe make something original for a change? We're tired of these mega franchises. Where are the Princess Bride masterpieces, with actual soul and charm? Not looking for another formulaic cash grasp with a thin veneer of woke posturing (looking at you, Barbie).