Despite the massive influx of 3D films, summer movie attendance has fallen to its lowest level since 1997.
On the other hand, however, 3D, IMAX and standard ticket price hikes have all led to record revenue for the studios and theater chains.
Tickets sold from May through Labor Day are expected to drop 2.6 percent to 552 million, almost as low as 1997’s 540.3 million tickets sold.
“The movies just didn’t excite people the way they needed to,” says Paul Dergarabedian, president of Hollywood.com Box-Office. “When you raise prices and perceive that quality goes down, you have a major problem.”
Revenue will set a record at $4.35 billion, a 2.4 percent jump from last year. The average ticket price will increase 5.1 percent from $7.50 to $7.88, thanks mainly to 3D and IMAX showings which cost $3 more, on average.
Result for: films
Starz has announced the VOD release of the Rob Zombie film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, testing a new method in which the company debuts the films via on-demand weeks before it premiers in theaters or on DVD.
The film will cost $6.99 USD however, if customers choose to watch it earlier.
The Starz Media senior VP of digital media, business development and strategy Marc DeBevoise did note however that the new VOD debut was simply a test, and the company was testing the waters for possible future releases.
“It’s the right timeframe,” DeBevoise said, via VB. “It’s a totally different piece of content than you see anywhere else. We felt this was the one to really experiment it on.”
Horror films have, in the past, performed well on VOD.
Result for: films
Although it is unclear why, Best Buy has been given a one month exclusive head start for the Universal Blu-ray films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.
The two titles are currently available at the retail chain, and Universal says they won’t be available anywhere else until September 22nd.
Besy Buy has long been considered the top retailer for Blu-ray films and both films are expected to sell well.
It also appears that Best Buy has been given an exclusive run with the Anchor Bay Entertainment’s Blu-ray Grace which will become available elsewhere on September 15th.
