Originally Published on May 31 2018
Hi! This was originally written as an essay for my film class last year. Now that the industry seems to be churning out more and more big-budget, high-grossing movies, I figured now was an appropriate time. Also, my blog posts are becomming more and more scarce these day...so, sit back and enjoy this ‘blockbuster’ edition of my blog.
Mr.Bee
A Hollywood Blockbuster can be an expected or a surprise based solely off ticket sales. A modern example for an expected blockbuster is Star Wars: The Force Awakens while an unexpected blockbuster is Deadpool. The three characteristics that both these films share are starpower or notoriety and a diverse audience bolstering box-office returns.
True Hollywood blockbusters either have notable movie stars and/or another form of notoriety. For example, the name “Star Wars” alone automatically gives a film credibility even though an argument can be made that there may not be a true “a-list” celebrity in the movie. However, most blockbusters draw obvious stars. For example, Ryan Reynolds, the star of Deadpool, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. Notoriety through either measure makes the public more likely to pay the ticket price to go see the/their movie on the big screen. Batman vs. Superman was a recent “blockbuster” despite the fact that most critics panned the movie as sub-par. The movie, overall, did not perform as expected but still made $873 million on a $250 million dollar budget. The Transformers franchise is also another example of poorly received blockbusters. Many film fans consider the series one of the worst of all time, but they keep making money and movies. Some form of notoriety is the reason that nearly half of summer blockbusters are remakes or sequels.
A true blockbuster has a huge box-office intake due to its appeal to a diverse audience . In order to be a box-office hit, it has to make double its budget including advertising. In addition, if a movie has a far-reaching appeal, then it sustain its popularity thereby bolstering its intake. For example, a movie like Frozen, which, granted isn’t your typical blockbuster, was a box-office darling that audiences couldn’t let go of. Children loved the movie and watched it over and over again and it was watchable by adults because they were also entertained. Further, merchandising for the movie held on for years. Another instance of appealing to a diverse audience is the United States’ overall apathy for foreign films. Many foreign films are critically acclaimed, but don’t become blockbusters because they can’t draw a big audience in the States because of lack of interest. Spirited Away or Ponyo are examples. In summary, a blockbuster needs a broad appeal and relatability in order for people to go see it thereby increasing its box office take.
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