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Business Recorder
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
Studios bet on horror movies to reanimate cinemas
LOS ANGELES: Vampires, zombies and the Grim Reaper are killing it at the box a time when superheroes, sequels and reboots have grown stale among audiences, horror has emerged as an unlikely savior, entertainment industry veterans say. This year, scary movies account for 17 percent of the North American ticket purchases, up from 11 percent in 2024 and 4 percent a decade ago, according to Comscore data compiled exclusively for Reuters. Thanks to the box office performance of 'Sinners' and 'Final Destination: Bloodlines,' and new installments of popular horror films hitting later this year, including 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' and 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2,' cinema owners have reason to celebrate. 'We have identified horror as really one of the primary film genres that we are targeting to grow,' said Brandt Gully, owner of the Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs, Georgia. 'It can really fill a void when you need it.' Producers, studio executives and theater owners say horror has historically provided a safe outlet to cope with contemporary anxieties. And there is no lack of material to choose from: the aftershocks of a global pandemic, artificial intelligence paranoia, the loss of control over one's body, and resurgent racism. 'It's cathartic, it's emotional, and it comes with an ending,' said film data analyst Stephen Follows, author of the Horror Movie Report, which offers detailed insights into the genre. 'Horror movies give space to process things that are harder to face in everyday life.' The often low-budget productions allow for greater risk-taking than would be possible with high-cost, high-stakes productions like 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.' The creative freedom has attracted such acclaimed directors as Ryan Coogler, Jordan Peele, Danny Boyle and Guillermo del Toro. 'Horror movies are an accountant's dream,' said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore senior media analyst. 'If you're going to make a science-fiction outer-space extravaganza, you can't do that on the cheap. With horror films, a modest-budget movie like 'Weapons' can be scary as hell.' Audiences are responding. Coogler's 'Sinners,' an original story about Mississippi vampires starring Michael B. Jordan, was the year's third highest-grossing movie in the U.S. and Canada, according to Comscore. Movie theaters are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic which broke the movie-going habit, and increased viewing in the home. Mike De Luca, co-chair and Warner Bros Motion Picture Group (WBD.O), opens new tab, which released 'Sinners,' said horror was a genre that manages to get people out of the house. 'It's a rising tide that lifts all boats,' he said. 'You know, we're trying to get people back in the habit of going to the theaters.' Fear knows no geographical bounds. Half of all horror movies released by major U.S. distributors last year made 50 percent or more of their worldwide box office gross outside the U.S., according to London-based researcher Ampere Analysis. The breakout international hit 'The Substance,' for example, grossed over $77 million worldwide – with around 80% of that from outside the U.S. Streamers also are similarly capitalizing on the appeal of the genre. AMC's post-apocalyptic horror drama series 'The Walking Dead,' became one of the most popular series when it was added to Netflix in 2023, amassing 1.3 billion hours viewed, according to Netflix's Engagement Report. Director Guillermo del Toro's film adaptation of Mary Shelley's gothic novel, 'Frankenstein,' is set to debut in November. Date night Horror films are ideally suited to watching in movie theaters, where the environment heightens the experience. 'What you can't do at home is sit in a dark room with a hundred other people, not on your phone, and jump,' said Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum, producer of 'Halloween,' 'Paranormal Activity' and other lucrative horror franchises. 'You can't really be scared when you watch a horror movie at home.' Big-budget movies that the industry refers to as 'tent poles,' such as 'Captain America: Brave New World' or 'A Minecraft Movie,' remain the lifeblood of movie theaters. Over time, these blockbusters have elbowed out more moderately budgeted romantic comedies and dramas on movie screens. Against this backdrop, horror has been quietly gaining momentum. 'Superman' returns to screens with 'kindness, flying dogs and space battles' The genre broke the $1 billion box office barrier in the U.S. and Canada for the first time in 2017, Comscore reported, buoyed by the film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, 'It,' and Jordan Peele's exploration of racial inequality in 'Get Out.' Announcements of new horror films from U.S. producers have risen each year for the last three years, including in 2023, when the Hollywood strikes significantly impacted production, according to Ampere Analysis. The number of U.S. horror films that went into production last year was up 21 percent over 2023, Ampere found. 'While more arthouse fare and even some tentpole superhero franchises have had mixed fortunes at the global box office in the wake of the pandemic, horror remains one of the key genres that audiences still make a point of seeing in the theatres,' wrote researcher Alice Thorpe in a report for Ampere's clients which she shared with Reuters. The researcher's own consumer surveys revealed horror is the favorite genre among two-thirds of movie-goers, ages 18 to 24. 'Anytime a teenager graduates to wanting to take a date to the movies, horror gets popular really fast,' said Warner Bros' De Luca. 'It's a great film-going experience to take a date to because you get to huddle with each other and gasp and hoop and holler.' FREAK SHOW Horror has been a cinematic staple from its earliest days, when Thomas Edison filmed 'Frankenstein' on his motion picture camera, the Kinetograph, in 1910. The British Board of Film Classification introduced the 'H' rating in 1932, officially designating the genre. But it didn't always get Hollywood's respect. 'In the first half of the 20th century, it was seen as a freak-show,' said Follows. Perceptions began to change with the critical and commercial success of films like 'Psycho,' 'The Exorcist' and 'The Shining.' Director Steven Spielberg ushered in the summer blockbuster in 1975 with 'Jaws,' a re-invention of the classic monster movie. In recent years, horror movies have become part of the Oscar conversation. Peele collected an Academy Award for best original screenplay in 2018 for 'Get Out.' Demi Moore received her first Oscar nomination earlier this year for her portrayal of an aging Hollywood star who will go to any lengths to stay beautiful in 'The Substance.' Not every horror movie connects with audiences. 'M3GAN 2.0,' a sequel to the 2022 low-budget film about a killer robotic doll that grossed $180 million worldwide, brought in a modest $10.2 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, according to Comscore. Theater chains will have no shortage of horror movies to exhibit this summer. Seven films are slated to be released before Labor Day weekend, including Columbia Pictures's nostalgic reboot of the 1997 film, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' which reaches screens on July 18, and 'Weapons,' which opens on Aug. 8. 'The best types of these movies are ones that elicit an audible and visceral reaction … 'Don't go in there!'' said Screen Gems President Ashley Brucks, who has worked on such films as Sony's upcoming 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' as well as 'A Quiet Place' and 'Scream.' 'You are either squirming or laughing or screaming and just really having fun with it.'
Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Studios bet on horror films to reanimate cinemas
* Studios bet on horror films to reanimate cinemas Horror films provide alternative to superhero movies, reboots * Lower-budget films allow greater creative freedom, attracting acclaimed directors * Horror's global appeal and theatrical experience drive box office success By Dawn Chmielewski LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, - Vampires, zombies and the Grim Reaper are killing it at the box office. At a time when superheroes, sequels and reboots have grown stale among audiences, horror has emerged as an unlikely savior, entertainment industry veterans say. This year, scary movies account for 17 percent of the North American ticket purchases, up from 11 percent in 2024 and 4 percent a decade ago, according to Comscore data compiled exclusively for Reuters. Thanks to the box office performance of 'Sinners' and 'Final Destination: Bloodlines,' and new installments of popular horror films hitting later this year, including 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' and "Five Nights at Freddy's 2,' cinema owners have reason to celebrate. 'We have identified horror as really one of the primary film genres that we are targeting to grow,' said Brandt Gully, owner of the Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs, Georgia. 'It can really fill a void when you need it.' Producers, studio executives and theater owners say horror has historically provided a safe outlet to cope with contemporary anxieties. And there is no lack of material to choose from: the aftershocks of a global pandemic, artificial intelligence paranoia, the loss of control over one's body, and resurgent racism. 'It's cathartic, it's emotional, and it comes with an ending,' said film data analyst Stephen Follows, author of the Horror Movie Report, which offers detailed insights into the genre. 'Horror movies give space to process things that are harder to face in everyday life.' The often low-budget productions allow for greater risk-taking than would be possible with high-cost, high-stakes productions like 'Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning.' The creative freedom has attracted such acclaimed directors as Ryan Coogler, Jordan Peele, Danny Boyle and Guillermo del Toro. "Horror movies are an accountant's dream," said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore senior media analyst. "If you're going to make a science-fiction outer-space extravaganza, you can't do that on the cheap. With horror films, a modest-budget movie like 'Weapons' can be scary as hell." Audiences are responding. Coogler's 'Sinners,' an original story about Mississippi vampires starring Michael B. Jordan,was theyear's third highest-grossing movie in the U.S. and Canada, according to Comscore. Movie theaters are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic which broke the movie-going habit, and increased viewing in the home. Mike De Luca, co-chair and Warner Bros Motion Picture Group, which released 'Sinners,' said horror was a genre that manages to get people out of the house.'It's a rising tide that lifts all boats,' he said. 'You know, we're trying to get people back in the habit of going to the theaters.' Fear knows no geographical bounds. Half of all horror movies released by major U.S. distributors last year made 50 percent or more of their worldwide box office gross outside the U.S., according to London-based researcher Ampere Analysis. The breakout international hit 'The Substance,' for example, grossed over $77 million worldwide with around 80% of that from outside the U.S. Streamers also are similarly capitalizing on the appeal of the genre. AMC's post-apocalyptic horror drama series 'The Walking Dead,' became one of the most popular series when it was added to Netflix in 2023, amassing 1.3 billion hours viewed, according to Netflix's Engagement Report. Director Guillermo del Toro's film adaptation of Mary Shelley's gothic novel, "Frankenstein," is set to debut in November. DATE NIGHT Horror films are ideally suited to watching in movie theaters, where the environment heightens the experience. 'What you can't do at home is sit in a dark room with a hundred other people, not on your phone, and jump,' said Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum, producer of 'Halloween,' "Paranormal Activity" and other lucrative horror franchises. 'You can't really be scared when you watch a horror movie at home.' Big-budget movies that the industry refers to as 'tent poles,' such as 'Captain America: Brave New World' or 'A Minecraft Movie,' remain the lifeblood of movie theaters. Over time, these blockbusters have elbowed out more moderately budgeted romantic comedies and dramas on movie screens. Against this backdrop, horror has been quietly gaining momentum. The genre broke the $1 billion box office barrier in the U.S. and Canada for the first time in 2017, Comscore reported, buoyed by the film adaptation of Stephen King's novel, 'It,' and Jordan Peele's exploration of racial inequality in 'Get Out.' Announcements of new horror films from U.S. producers have risen each year for the last three years, including in 2023, when the Hollywood strikes significantly impacted production, according to Ampere Analysis. The number of U.S. horror films that went into production last year was up 21 percent over 2023, Ampere found. 'While more arthouse fare and even some tentpole superhero franchises have had mixed fortunes at the global box office in the wake of the pandemic, horror remains one of the key genres that audiences still make a point of seeing in the theatres,' wroteresearcher Alice Thorpe in a report for Ampere's clients which she shared with Reuters. The researcher's own consumer surveys revealed horror is the favorite genre among two-thirds of movie-goers, ages 18 to 24. 'Anytime a teenager graduates to wanting to take a date to the movies, horror gets popular really fast,' said Warner Bros' De Luca. 'It's a great film-going experience to take a date to because you get to huddle with each other and gasp and hoop and holler.' FREAK SHOW Horror has been a cinematic staple from its earliest days, when Thomas Edison filmed 'Frankenstein' on his motion picture camera, the Kinetograph, in 1910. The British Board of Film Classification introduced the 'H' rating in 1932, officially designating the genre. But it didn't always get Hollywood's respect. 'In the first half of the 20th century, it was seen as a freak-show,' said Follows. Perceptions began to change with the critical and commercial success of films like 'Psycho,' 'The Exorcist' and 'The Shining.' Director Steven Spielberg ushered in the summer blockbuster in 1975 with 'Jaws,' a re-invention of the classic monster movie. In recent years, horror movies have become part of the Oscar conversation. Peele collected an Academy Award for best original screenplay in 2018 for 'Get Out.' Demi Moore received her first Oscar nomination earlier this year for her portrayal of an aging Hollywood star who will go to any lengths to stay beautiful in 'The Substance.' Not every horror movie connects with audiences. 'M3GAN 2.0,' a sequel to the 2022 low-budget film about a killer robotic doll that grossed $180 million worldwide,brought in a modest $10.2 million in the U.S. and Canada in its opening weekend, according to Comscore. Theater chains will have no shortage of horror movies to exhibit this summer. Seven films are slated to be released before Labor Day weekend, including Columbia Pictures's nostalgic reboot of the 1997 film, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' which reaches screens on July 18, and 'Weapons,' which opens on Aug. 8. 'The best types of these movies are ones that elicit an audible and visceral reaction … 'Don't go in there!'' said Screen Gems President Ashley Brucks, who has worked on such films as Sony's upcoming 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' as well as 'A Quiet Place' and 'Scream.' 'You are either squirming or laughing or screaming and just really having fun with it.' This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Minecraft' movie mayhem raises alarms for America's youth, ‘bad for society': expert
"A Minecraft Movie," the big-screen adaptation of the popular video game "Minecraft," has been packing theaters with rowdy kids and teens since its release this month, spurring a social media phenomenon and sparking concern for America's youth. Videos on social media show young theatergoers huge reactions to one key scene, where one of the film's stars, Jack Black, yells out the phrase "Chicken Jockey!" as a small, Frankenstein-looking creature lands on top of a chicken in a boxing ring to face off with co-star Jason Momoa. The scene has prompted excited fans to scream, shout, throw popcorn around, jump up out of their seats, and in one instance in Provo, Utah, toss a live chicken in the air during a screening, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs, Georgia, told FOX 5 Atlanta that its staff has had to clean up popcorn, ICEEs, ketchup and shattered glass. "The movie-going experience has changed a lot since I was younger," Josh Gunderson, director of marketing and events at Oviedo Mall in Florida, told FOX Business. "And TikTok has changed that quite a bit." "There's a part of me that says this is just dumb fun. There's another part of me [that says] for the poor people who are there at the movie theaters having to clean up this mess, it's a disaster," Raymond Arroyo, Fox News' contributor and host of the "Arroyo Grande" podcast, told Fox News Digital. "And obviously, you know a safety hazard, because … anytime you get 200 young boys in a room, and they're all yelling and jumping in 20 directions, it's sort of like, you know, a social media 'Lord of the Flies,' that's what this is. And I get why they're calling in the cops. I get why some theater chains are saying you can only come with a parent because you can't have that kind of mayhem every day and at every showing." Arroyo added, "I think, if anything, it shows the deep passion and the connection that these boys feel to this video game, and therefore they've carried over to the movie. And that's part of the reason it's such a big hit." "…anytime you get 200 young boys in a room, and they're all yelling and jumping in 20 directions, it's sort of like, you know, a social media 'Lord of the Flies.'" WATCH: KIDS CAUSE CHAOS DURING 'MINECRAFT' MOVIE VIEWINGS "A Minecraft Movie" has earned $557 million worldwide so far, led by the established fandom of the games and the social media buzz created by filming videos related to "Chicken jockey" and other meme-able moments related to the game. The movie's director, Jared Hess, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the chaotic screenings. "It's been way too fun. People are sending me these really hilarious speeches that a lot of teenagers are giving right before the movie. It's so hysterical, man. I'm staying up way too late," he said. Some screenings have had police called to break up the antics, which Hess thinks is a little much. "It's weird when you're having too much fun and the cops get called," Hess told the outlet. "It's funny because I think it's just literally cheering and throwing popcorn, which is so funny to me that cops are getting called for popcorn. Yeah, it's hilarious. I've seen so many funny videos. It's great, especially when people are climbing on their friends' shoulders and standing up and cheering for those moments. It's like this crazy anticipation. But, man, I'm just glad people are making memories with their friends and families." Arroyo is "all for engagement," comparing the theater experience to that of midnight screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or sing-alongs to "Grease." "Singing along or clapping in unison or doing silly things at a certain point in a movie everybody knows and loves … throwing popcorn, throwing live chickens, throwing the guy next to you up into the air, I'm not sure that's the best way forward. "If there can be a more contained audience participation, I think everybody would be on board. But the moment you are [causing] a mess and injuring people, that turns into something very different, and I get why they don't want to tolerate that. It shouldn't be tolerated." Arroyo also sees it as an opportunity to instill some life lessons in young boys. "Boys need an element of freedom, and they need to be a little wild. That's a good thing," he said. "On the other hand, they need to know how and when to rein that in and to discipline themselves, and I worry that when you let this kind of mayhem just go on and say, 'Oh let them throw the popcorn, we love it,' like the director said, that may be good for the ticket sales, it's bad for society. Boys need to learn how to control themselves in public settings. The world is not your rec room." "I worry that when you let this kind of mayhem just go on and say, 'Oh let them throw the popcorn, we love it' …that may be good for the ticket sales, it's bad for society. Boys need to learn how to control themselves in public settings." Jack Black recently attempted to dissuade audiences from bad behavior by popping up at a screening in Los Angeles to deliver a warning. "For today's presentation of 'A Minecraft Movie,' please no throwing popped corn, and also no lapis lazuli… and absolutely no chicken jockeys!" he said in a video shared on social media. "I love the Jack Black public service announcement," Arroyo said. "I think he's worried, too, about their welfare. These are young kids for the most part. And you can see how excited they are because it's a big part of their lives." Arroyo further explained why the "Minecraft" mania has been sweeping the nation. "I think a way to put this in context, so everybody doesn't freak out, what the Barbie movie was for girls and women, this movie is for young boys and teens. It strikes a deep chord, it's something that's part of their growth and childhood and everyday life. It's also how they communicate. A lot of [kids], they put their headsets on, and they're talking while they're playing 'Minecraft.' So it is a… touchstone for them." He continued, "It's an exciting moment. It's like Hollywood validating their lived experience, so that's why you're seeing this level of excitement, I think. And it's a callback that they feel is only theirs, it's their own little personal thing. So it becomes kind of a communal ritual almost for them. That's what this is. This is a communal ritual of young guys saying, look, we all play this, we get the reference even though these idiot parents and everybody else don't. "But there is a level where you have to say, 'Guys, you've crossed a line here.' You need an adult in the room," Arroyo added. National theater chain Regal Cinemas is trying to manage some of the excitement by offering "Chicken Jockey" screenings on April 20. "Customers are invited to dress up as their favorite 'Minecraft' characters, whoop, yelp, clap and shout 'Chicken Jockey!' There are some rules we don't break. So here's the deal: build excitement? Absolutely. LOL with friends till you're rolling in the aisles? Totally. But please don't go full Creeper in the auditorium," their website states. Representatives for Warner Bros. Pictures and Cinema United (formerly the National Association of Theater Owners) did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Arroyo noted that the hype for the "Minecraft" movie appears to be part of a cultural shift in taste from the superhero domination of the Marvel movies to an upswing in video game-based stories. "This is the prevailing culture among young people, particularly for boys. 'Mario Bros' was a big hit. You saw 'The Last of Us' on HBO, 'Fallout' [on Amazon Prime]. These are all video games that have spawned spin-offs. Some of them good, some of them not so good. But there's this built-in IP and what novels and stories and Broadway provided in years past to Hollywood, now video games are furnishing with IP and storylines that are already well-known enough that it diminishes your risk when you bring it to the big screen." He added, "That is dying out, and we just imagine kids remain excited about that. I don't think they do. It doesn't hold the same fascination it held for us."
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TikTok trend sparks chaos: Minecraft movie screenings disrupted in Georgia
The Brief A TikTok trend called the "Chicken Jockey Challenge" is causing moviegoers to throw food and drinks at screens during the new Minecraft movie, leading to significant damage in theaters nationwide. The Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs experienced a chaotic scene with shattered glass and concessions thrown at the screen, prompting police involvement. Theaters are increasing security and urging parents to discuss proper behavior with their children, while Minecraft voice actor Jack Black has asked fans to be respectful during screenings. SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - A viral TikTok trend tied to the new Minecraft movie is causing chaos in theaters nationwide — including one in metro Atlanta. Moviegoers are throwing food and drinks at the screen during a specific scene, leaving behind costly damage and frustrated staff. What we know The Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs was among the latest theaters to be affected. On Friday night, what began as a routine showing ended in a mess of popcorn, ICEEs, ketchup, and shattered glass — all part of a TikTok trend known as the "Chicken Jockey Challenge." "It was horrific," said Alexi Alvear, who works at the theater and was left to clean up the aftermath. "It took me three hours." Theaters across the country are reporting similar incidents where, during a scene in the animated Minecraft movie, young viewers hurl concessions at the screen in mimicry of videos circulating online. At the Springs Cinema, the damage was significant. What they're saying "Full ICEEs just thrown at the screen," said Brandt Gully, owner of the Springs Cinema & Taphouse. "They just somehow think that's okay because of something they see on TikTok." The theater called police, but many of those involved fled through a fire exit before officers arrived. "It was a horrible scene," Alvear added. "This? Not to that extent." Gully, who prides the theater on its role in the community, said the actions don't reflect the spirit of their mission. "It's always been about quality movies and being part of the community," he said. Even Minecraft voice actor Jack Black has stepped in, posting a message online urging fans to be respectful during screenings. "It's a good film that people are enjoying," Gully said. "They just need to enjoy it the right way." What's next Theaters nationwide are now increasing security and asking parents to talk to their children about appropriate behavior in public spaces. The Source FOX 5's Alli Levine spoke to the owner and employees at Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs for this article.
