Yeah, between Thunderbolts and F4 "flopping" (though I really do think we need to reassess what a "flop" really is in this day and age),
Agreed, yes please!
it's a real shame, especially because both were, in my opinion, great movies.
Again, agreed. I'll never stop praising Thunderbolts. I expected it to be entertaining and got so much more.
Ironically, I think it's the studios themselves that are at least partially responsible. Streaming really has done catastrophic damage to the theatrical industry; if folks know they can see a movie they're not sure about at home in a matter of weeks, why waste time and money at the movies?
Definitely. When we went to see FF, it was so damned expensive. Partly because my son refuses to see a movie without popcorn. And of course I totally get that it's a whole experience, but back in my day...
Anyway, I'm definitely one who prefers to wait. When I do go to the theater, I always plan for early showings, weekdays if pot, to ensure the smallest audience, so I can't really bitch about that. But also I'm spoiled by recent inventions like rewind and pause control.
If they started consistently doing a PPV sort of release, even if it was a week after theatrical premieres, and good for one viewing, and $50, I would go for it. It's still gonna be cheaper than taking all five of us to the theater.
Same with the physical release- as much as I love my physical media, I think I'd happily go back to how it used to be- sometimes as much as 6 or so months after a theatrical release before it hits home media.
That may be smart but there were plenty of movies back in the day I was willing to wait the six months for. Especially when I worked at video stores heh. But I was kinda over the theater experience long before the pandemic. I know it l, and streaming just in general, has done a lot of damage to the industry, but I'm kinda surprised the industry hasn't adjusted MORE to the new paradigm.
Still, I always view a "flop" as something that not only tanked theatrically but also was something of a mixed bag with audiences to the point that it could be considered a cult classic (but not always).
Yeah, in my mind a true flop is something not worth seeing at all. It performed poorly because it really was bad. I've seen plenty of box office flops that still looked entertaining to me and enjoyed them, so I kinda forget sometimes that they are "flops". One of my favorite movies of all time is The Thing which definitely was a flop at the time.
For the most part, both Thunderbolts and F4 have done well with audiences, as have a lot of other recent "flops". I know the general rule is that it has to make back twice-ish its budget in order to break even/make profit, but in this day and age, I think it could really benefit studios to not only reign in the budget a bit
YESSSSSS!!! I keep saying this as well. I don't see how any studio, even one producing 1-3 films a year, can truly sustain itself solely on big budget blockbusters, and certainly not in this age. I don't expect Marvel to start doing low budget Kevin Smith style comedies, but come on. Leaning harder into other genres would not only be smart as far as more diversity for the audience, but also for box office expectations. Do a sixty million comic book comedy that doesn't need to make half a billion to break even. Do straight up comic book horror (not Sam Raimi style horror with three stooges homages, but sincere horror), and so on.
, but for everyone- studios, critics, audiences, etc. to redefine what a "flop" really is. A lot of these movies go on to have huge lives on streaming. It may be a theatrical flop, but doesn't necessarily flop in general.
Right, and with how things are now, for all studios, that needs to be factored in not only with how they calculate profit but how they plan budgeting. It's just... Kinda an insane time right now because a lot of people have multiple streaming services, each with lists and saved shows/movies FULL of things they'll never get to, and what they do watch is usually on their phone while at work or something. It is such a different world.
Same with some streaming films- they're sometimes too good for streaming, and many agree they'd have done better on the big screen. It just feels odd- yet also strangely fitting- that we change so much in this world, but not our definitions of things to meet them.
Definitely agree once more. I dunno, I don't feel like I have the answers but I know adjusts are crucial.
Anywho, in order to keep things at least somewhat on topic-
@Soundswipe - show us some pics of them 'bolts, my friend! Let us live vicariously through you until ours arrive!
Yes please!!!!!