Oh, so THAT”S why movies aren’t doing so well.
Bill Leonard, former California State Assemblyman and current member of the Board of Equalization, regularly writes "The Leonard Letter." His most recent issue explains why the box office is in a slump. You will be pleased to know that it is not because movies suck. Oh no. It is because of our strong moral compass.
Here is his theory:
Lackluster Blockbuster
Have you seen an article or listened to a television report that movie box office numbers are down? A few weeks ago, before the summer movie season began, Hollywood executives were hand-wringing because people did not seem to be going to theaters as much anymore. They suggested the reason was that people are enjoying the comfort of their home theaters and perhaps not willing to pay the high price of movie tickets these days. Both of those things may be true, but I suggest the movie execs also consider a study from earlier this year that was sponsored by the Christian Film and Television Commission (http://www.gopwing.com/print.php?sid=691). It concluded that movies that contained very strong moral content earned six times more than movies with strong immoral, negative content or very strong pagan, humanist, socialist, homosexual, occult, or anti-religious content. The movies based in strong morals also performed substantially better at the box office than movies with graphic violence, foul language (more than 25 profanities), sexual immorality, nudity or criminal acts like stealing, kidnapping, etc. If Hollywood wants to boost its box office, it not only needs to re-examine its pricing policy, it also needs to get back to telling good stories with good, uplifting values. If they film it, we will come.
So, what do you think?
-S
Here is his theory:
Lackluster Blockbuster
Have you seen an article or listened to a television report that movie box office numbers are down? A few weeks ago, before the summer movie season began, Hollywood executives were hand-wringing because people did not seem to be going to theaters as much anymore. They suggested the reason was that people are enjoying the comfort of their home theaters and perhaps not willing to pay the high price of movie tickets these days. Both of those things may be true, but I suggest the movie execs also consider a study from earlier this year that was sponsored by the Christian Film and Television Commission (http://www.gopwing.com/print.php?sid=691). It concluded that movies that contained very strong moral content earned six times more than movies with strong immoral, negative content or very strong pagan, humanist, socialist, homosexual, occult, or anti-religious content. The movies based in strong morals also performed substantially better at the box office than movies with graphic violence, foul language (more than 25 profanities), sexual immorality, nudity or criminal acts like stealing, kidnapping, etc. If Hollywood wants to boost its box office, it not only needs to re-examine its pricing policy, it also needs to get back to telling good stories with good, uplifting values. If they film it, we will come.
So, what do you think?
-S
posted by Scott at 8:22 AM
3 Comments:
Actually, if you look past the hyperbole, there's some core truth here.
Looking at films last year, the top earning film last year was "Shrek 2", a family film. Number 2? "Spider-Man 2", no profanity, mild violence...essentially a family film. Number 3? "Passion of the Christ". While we can debate the extreme violence, this was a 'red state' movie -- a film people WANTED to see. Number 4 was "Meet the Fockers" -- Obviously this was less 'family friendly' but it wasn't "Old School". Numbers 5 and 6? "The Incredibles" and "Harry Potter 3". Family films. Really you have to go down to #13 on the list of biggest money makers last year before you find an R rated film and it was "Troy"!
The point here is that in general (and I could do this exercise for every year and I'd say 80-90% of the top films are family films with moral messages) family films do better than films laden with sex, violence and profanity. What is astounding is that one of the best films and best performing films out there right now is "March of the Penguins", rated G. There are so few G-rated films released in a year, you could count them on your hands and never get to your toes for counting. Out of HUNDREDS of released films.
So, what should the message to Hollywood be? Make movies families can go see together. What does Hollywood do? Continue to court males 18-34.
Stupid.
I know as a parent of a 6 year old I go to far more G and PG rated movies that I did in my pre-parent days. I wonder if the trend noticed in this study is more a result in a change in demographics than morals. Are we in the midst of a new little baby-boom?
Same here, unslessSame here, unless my 7 year old daughter can see it, it waits until video, unless we go to the drive-in. But even the PG and G movies are filled with double entendres and sexual innuendo. They have to do something to keep the parents entertained.
I think that it comes down to the quality of the film. The films on the top ten list were good movies, for the most part.
And Troy just blew.
-S
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