Showbiz Sandbox 213: Has Thor Brought The Hammer Down On 3D Movies?
November 11, 2013
There is no disputing the financial success of “Thor: The Dark World”, a sequel in the franchise based on the Marvel Comics superhero. What’s less clear is what the film’s box office grosses say about the adoption of 3D. During opening weekend 700 2D screens in North America accounted for 60% of tickets sales, as opposed to the 40% earned by 3,100 3D screens. Is this yet another sign audiences have given up on 3D movies?
Netflix doesn’t care how you see a superhero movie, so long as you’re watching it through their service. Last week the on-demand video powerhouse cut a deal with Disney to produce four new original series based on Marvel superheroes, all of which will lead up to a crossover miniseries.
As if competing with Netflix wasn’t bad enough, television broadcasters are still figuring out how to deal with DVRs and the growing number of audiences who time shift their content. One major broadcast network is pushing for advertisers to pay for increased viewership on DVRs for up to seven days after a show originally airs.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including the death of Blockbuster Video, the official release date for “Star Wars: Episode VII” and Richard Branson brings reality television into space.
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Will ‘Thor: The Dark World’ Near $90 Million in Domestic Debut?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-preview-will-thor-653923
‘Thor: The Dark World’ Strikes Big With $180 Mil Worldwide
http://variety.com/2013/film/news/box-office-thor-the-dark-world-strikes-big-with-180-mil-worldwide-1200815937/
‘Wolverine’ Sequel in the Works With James Mangold
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wolverine-sequel-works-film-second-653337
‘Hunger Games’ Theme Park Possible, Says Lionsgate CEO
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hunger-games-theme-park-says-654613
CBS Chief Lobbies To Extend Ad Payment Window for Delayed Viewing
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-cbs-moonves-lobbies-for-commerical-ratings-20131106,0,7454805.story
Disney’s SOAPnet Channel Headed for the Drain
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-disney-soapnet-20131109,0,3311291.story
Big Fish to Close on Broadway December 29, 2013
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-BIG-FISH-to-Close-on-Broadway-December-29-2013-20131110
Morissette To Bring ‘Jagged Little Pill’ To Stage
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2013/11/07/alanis-morissette-to-craft-musical-theater-version-of-jagged-little-pill/3464219/
‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Gets December 2015 Release Date
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-episode-vii-gets-654284
Blockbuster Video-Rental Chain Will Shut All U.S. Stores
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-06/blockbuster-video-rental-chain-will-shut-remaining-u-s-stores.html
Why DC Entertainment Is Leaving New York
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/11/04/why-dc-entertainment-is-leaving-new-york/
Fantagraphics Turns to Kickstarter to Fund its Spring 2014 List
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/59882-fantagraphics-turns-to-kickstarter-to-fund-its-spring-2014-list.html
McSweeney’s Publishing House Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for $15. Yup. For $15.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229830
TV Ratings: ‘Sean Saves the World’ Gets ‘Voice’ Lift, ‘X Factor’ Falls Again
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-sean-saves-world-654617
Booksellers Say ‘No’ to Amazon Source
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/59888-booksellers-say-no-to-selling-kindles.html
NBC To Air Richard Branson’s Inaugural Space Flight Live
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/08/entertainment-us-space-branson-idUSBRE9A70VJ20131108
Nikki Finke Goes Solo, But Battle With Jay Penske May Not Be Over
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nikki-finke-jay-penske-20131106,0,7243154.story
Netflix Orders Four Original Marvel Series
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvel-netflix-agree-create-original-654171
3-D is dead on a regular basis. A few times a year, marquee movies that work hard on their 3-D — like Gravity and The Hobbit and Avatar 2-4 — will draw audiences in droves. But when you make a lot more money on Thor 2 with 700 2-D screens than with 3100 screens in 3-D, the audience is speaking loud and clear. Studios and theaters will wise up soon or pay the price. Why make it hard for families to find animated films in 2-D when most kids hate the glasses?
As you say correctly, what’s less clear is what Thor’s box office grosses say about the adoption of 3D, which has clearly stalled. I don’t think we’ll have that clear answer until glassless 3D displays are widely available for consumers. If the public embraces those, the creative community will have the incentive to produce in 3D. If that doesn’t happen, the 3D naysayers will likely be proven right.
Nick, if autostereoscopic displays become commonplace in the home, would that not have a negative affect on 3D in the cinema? If I can watch 3D at home without glasses, why would I go to the theater where I’d have wear glasses to view such content?
Or, were you suggesting that autostereoscopic technology would be present for both cinema and the home?