It's a bizarre season in Hollywood. Almost nothing is "working," and the studios can't afford to waste any more money hoping things will turn around. They're pulling flops from theaters earlier than usual.
This weekend, for example, Warner Bros. is putting out a white flag on "Blade Runner" after three tough weeks. They've cut the number of theaters showing Denis Villeneuve's beautiful film by 855. So far, "Blade Runner" has made just $66 million. Audiences have not clamored to it. And now, week by week, Warners will quietly take it away.
Warner's isn't alone. Universal is pulling Tom Cruise's "American Made" from 539 locations after a month in release. The Doug Liman directed thriller has made just $43 million. Good reviews haven't helped push Cruise fans to theaters. One problem was lack of promotion since Cruise wasn't available. Also, audiences may have just soured on him after "The Mummy" and other flops. With both studios, it wasn't for lack of trying.
Comment: Why is Hollywood doing so poorly?
The Blaze speculates:
... Hollywood has two massive problems facing them: their elite progressivism is often out-of-touch with the vast majority of Americans and the sexual misconduct scandals.
The industry was rocked when the Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein sex scandal broke weeks ago, and heads continue to roll. Those two things are clearly leading to empty theaters and unsatisfied customers.
The Weinstein scandal probably has little to do with it. Hollywood has been tanking for months. And the fact remains,
some films still bring in tons of money - so the issue isn't Hollywood's "elite progressivism" either.
Beauty and the Beast made over $500 million,
Wonder Woman made over $400 million. Out of the top 10 earners this year, four are comic book movies. Three are kids' films (2 animations, and a live-action remake of a Disney animation). That leaves a horror film (
It), another mindless
Fast and the Furious instalment, and the sole "serious" film: Chris Nolan's war movie,
Dunkirk.
It appears that a lot of people are finally getting enough of Hollywood's offerings, perhaps feeling disgusted by the perversity of the industry, as well as the continual rehashing of old films and thinly veiled CIA-backed war propaganda - it's well past time!
Comment: Why is Hollywood doing so poorly? The Blaze speculates: The Weinstein scandal probably has little to do with it. Hollywood has been tanking for months. And the fact remains, some films still bring in tons of money - so the issue isn't Hollywood's "elite progressivism" either. Beauty and the Beast made over $500 million, Wonder Woman made over $400 million. Out of the top 10 earners this year, four are comic book movies. Three are kids' films (2 animations, and a live-action remake of a Disney animation). That leaves a horror film (It), another mindless Fast and the Furious instalment, and the sole "serious" film: Chris Nolan's war movie, Dunkirk.
It appears that a lot of people are finally getting enough of Hollywood's offerings, perhaps feeling disgusted by the perversity of the industry, as well as the continual rehashing of old films and thinly veiled CIA-backed war propaganda - it's well past time!