There was a time when blockbusters were films like 'THE GODFATHER' and 'JAWS'. There was a time when blockbusters were quality films. Unfortunately, that time has past. That time past long ago. Now, the film industry is in a phase of great big films with massive budgets and minimal story.
I understand that people enjoy comic book films and action blockbusters. My major question is why do these genres control the industry? We rarely see films with great story and character and when we do, the films get a limited release. 'IRON MAN 3' was released on May 3rd and since then it has played in over 4,000 theaters this year. The film has made over $400 mil and had an estimated budget of around $200 mil. 'MAN OF STEEL' opened on June 14th and also spent time in over 4000 theaters and the film has made a little bit under $300 mil. 'THOR: THE DARK WORLD' opened November 8th (today is November 14th) and has played nearly 4000 theaters and has already made over $100 mil. The list goes on and it's not just comic book films. 'FAST AND FURIOUS 6', over 3000 theaters and has made over $200 mil. 'DESPICABLE ME 2', nearly 4000 theaters and made nearly $400 mil. 'WORLD WAR Z', over 3000 theaters and over $200 mil. These films are ALL blockbusters; three are comic book films and 5 of the 6 are sequels or reboots. The one exception being 'WORLD WAR Z' which is solely a blockbuster. Although, on a side note, a sequel is in development. Anyhow, all of these films have made huge numbers with their time in theaters and 'THOR: THE DARK WORLD' just came out.
So, those are a few bigger films, action films, summer films. Let's look at some different films like 'MUD'. 'MUD' was, in my eyes, one of the best films of the year. It opened in less than 400 theaters and made around $21 mil. Is that a bad number? After all $21 million dollars is a lot a money, right? Not when the budget of your film is around $12 million. It's a nice bump but it's not huge numbers. It's not the type of number that make (most, not all) studio executives say, let's make more films like this. We need more character studies. 'MUD' is a brilliant film that deserved to be in more than 400 theaters and to make more than $21 million dollars. Another marvelous film and one of my personal favorites, 'THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES', had a budget of right around the $15 mil mark and only made around $21 mil. 'FRUITVALE STATION', another powerful, emotional film...made around $16 mil. The last film on the list is 'THE WAY WAY BACK' which had an estimated budget of around the $5 mil mark and made, right around, $21 Mil. So, smaller films are making less money and getting less exposure. Why? Maybe because great stories don't sell anymore. If that's the case, it's on US, the consumer. Moving along...
When 'THE GODFATHER' was released in 1972, the films budget was around $6 mil. $6 MILLION DOLLARS! That is less than every film on this list, minus 'THE WAY WAY BACK'. 'JAWS' had an estimated budget at $8 million dollars. The film made an estimate of a hair over $21 mil by April of 1972. People saw 'THE GODFATHER. People saw 'JAWS'. Everyone saw 'THE GODFATHER' and everyone saw 'JAWS'. People still see them. 'THE GODFATHER' has been re-released in theaters and so has 'JAWS'. Why? The reason is because they are great stories with great characters and raw emotion. They aren't blockbusters because of explosions and action. These films are what created the term "blockbuster." 'JAWS' and 'THE GODFATHER' are blockbusters because there were lines around the block to get into the theater. Not to see zombies or fast cars or explosions, but to see amazing, quality cinema. That is what a blockbuster was; that is what a blockbuster should be.
I ask whoever reads this, when did we decide that action was better than story? That fast cars were better than great writing? That zombies were better than real characters? When did it become ok for studios to release huge action films without the character? Why is it ok to push character studies to the side? If someone can tell me when and how that became ok, I'd appreciate it. Until then, I'm going to watch the films like 'MUD and 'THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES' because at this rate, they won't be around much longer.
- George McCann
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