Let's All Go to the Movies

I think you guys are underestimating the caliber of movies that won't get made without the theatrical release model. Big budget blockbusters with niche appeal like Blade Runner 2049 jumps out. I don't think Dune was going to make its budget back either.

Basically I don't want to live in a world where studios aren't throwing $200M at Denis Villeneuve to make his box office "bombs".
 
LurchingBeast said:
I think you guys are underestimating the caliber of movies that won't get made without the theatrical release model. Big budget blockbusters with niche appeal like Blade Runner 2049 jumps out. I don't think Dune was going to make its budget back either.

Basically I don't want to live in a world where studios aren't throwing $200M at Denis Villeneuve to make his box office "bombs".
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Is anyone underestimating anything? I don’t see anyone saying this is a good thing, more that it seemed inevitable with the pandemic. I don’t think anyone who posts in here wants to see theaters go away, or releases becoming even more homogenized and boring.
 
Litheum94 said:
Is anyone underestimating anything? I don’t see anyone saying this is a good thing, more that it seemed inevitable with the pandemic. I don’t think anyone who posts in here wants to see theaters go away, or releases becoming even more homogenized and boring.
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I am not in favor of theaters going away at all. I do appreciate having access to movies at home right now, especially since theaters aren't allowed to be open in my state, but once we're back to normal I hope that the theater experience is able to return.

Live music, too. And stage plays.
 
My wife's birthday is next Wednesday and we're doing a private watch party at the movie theatre. We'll be seeing Diehard which we watch every holiday season anyway. Also, none of the new releases that they offered were of any interest. Also unfortunately they are not selling any concessions right now which sucks because I was very much looking forward to the popcorn.
 
The Cinemark near us hasn't re-opened at all since the initial shutdown and it's so creepy seeing the sun-faded posters from March in there with release dates that never happened and standees for the summer and fall blockbusters inside the door.

Creeeeeepy.

Also WTF... I looked at you can't rent Die Hard at Alamo Drafthouse for a private screening here in town. Fucking lame.
 
I run by the 21+ AMC in the University District that we'd regularly go to on date nights, and they still have copies of The Stranger (alternative weekly paper) from March that talk about the pandemic. It's really eerie.

There's another theater in the U District that did open for a few weeks earlier this Fall that I also run by, The Varsity. Their reader board now just says "We'll be back after a brief intermission. Stay safe."

I also go by The Neptune, which was one of Landmark's fancy one-screen indie theaters that I saw so many things at over the years, but it was converted into a live music venue six years ago or so. I really hope they can survive.
 
Litheum94 said:
Is anyone underestimating anything? I don’t see anyone saying this is a good thing, more that it seemed inevitable with the pandemic. I don’t think anyone who posts in here wants to see theaters go away, or releases becoming even more homogenized and boring.
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Every time another coffin nail story of movie theaters comes out it seems like some people are celebrating their slow death and cheer the rise of streaming, even before the pandemic. It's worth pointing out the cost of watching everything at home in your underwear for a subscription fee. And there are certainly people who wouldn't mind homogenization, but I digress.

 


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LurchingBeast said:
Every time another coffin nail story of movie theaters comes out it seems like some people are celebrating their slow death and cheer the rise of streaming, even before the pandemic. It's worth pointing out the cost of watching everything at home in your underwear for a subscription fee. And there are certainly people who wouldn't mind homogenization, but I digress.

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I’m not going to argue anything you said. More of a “you’re preaching to the choir” situation.
 
LurchingBeast said:
I think you guys are underestimating the caliber of movies that won't get made without the theatrical release model. Big budget blockbusters with niche appeal like Blade Runner 2049 jumps out. I don't think Dune was going to make its budget back either.

Basically I don't want to live in a world where studios aren't throwing $200M at Denis Villeneuve to make his box office "bombs".
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Counterpoint: Prisoners cost $46M and I still argue it's his best movie. That it made over $122M only helps. Incredibly, Arrival only cost $47M, and it made over $200M. I'm not sure I need him making massive movies like Blade Runner 2049 and Dune when he's shown he's capable of making incredible movies on a way more modest budget.
 
bramsdell said:
Counterpoint: Prisoners cost $46M and I still argue it's his best movie. That it made over $122M only helps. Incredibly, Arrival only cost $47M, and it made over $200M. I'm not sure I need him making massive movies like Blade Runner 2049 and Dune when he's shown he's capable of making incredible movies on a way more modest budget
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LurchingBeast said:
I think you guys are underestimating the caliber of movies that won't get made without the theatrical release model. Big budget blockbusters with niche appeal like Blade Runner 2049 jumps out. I don't think Dune was going to make its budget back either.

Basically I don't want to live in a world where studios aren't throwing $200M at Denis Villeneuve to make his box office "bombs".
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I'm going to add that Sicario cost a pittance at $30M.
 
bramsdell said:
Counterpoint: Prisoners cost $46M and I still argue it's his best movie. That it made over $122M only helps. Incredibly, Arrival only cost $47M, and it made over $200M. I'm not sure I need him making massive movies like Blade Runner 2049 and Dune when he's shown he's capable of making incredible movies on a way more modest budget.
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This misses my point that changing the distribution model will radically alter studios' decision making process for what gets made and movies that everyone here likes might not be viable going forward without regular theatrical releases.

An upward trajectory in budget size is pretty common for successful directors. Prove that you can do more with less so the big wallets will trust you to get the most out of a massive budget down the line. Villeneuve has said in interviews he will probably do a smaller scale movie next, having just done two mammoth sci-fi blockbusters. Hopefully he'll still be in demand after Dune.
 
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LurchingBeast said:
This misses my point that changing the distribution model will radically alter studios' decision making process for what gets made and movies that everyone here likes might not be viable going forward without regular theatrical releases.

An upward trajectory in budget size is pretty common for successful directors. Prove that you can do more with less so the big wallets will trust you to get the most out of a massive budget down the line. Villeneuve has said in interviews he will probably do a smaller scale movie next, having just done two mammoth sci-fi blockbusters. Hopefully he'll still be in demand after Dune.
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That's fair. I just have a much harder time getting excited for blockbuster Villeneuve than I do at the prospect of <$50M Villeneuve.
 
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