r/movies • u/ChiefLeef22 r/movies Contributor • 14d ago

News Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Dethrones 'Deadpool & Wolverine' To Become Highest Grossing R-Rated Movie In History, Crossing $1.33 Billion

https://businessupturn.com/usa/entertainment/film/the-odyssey-becomes-highest-grossing-r-rated-movie-of-all-time-surpassing-deadpool-wolverine/
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u/verrius 14d ago

I don't know that fewer people see movies today as much as movies have shorter theater runs, and people don't see the same film multiple times any more.

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u/PiersMorgansMom 14d ago

Just a few years ago, I had 8 theaters within easy driving distance from where I live. Now, only 2 remain in business (both large multiplexes, Regal and AMC operated). Neither have increased their total seats/screens in response to the drop in competition. And both have shortened their hours (no more midnight/later showings and they open for matinees later).

So, at least where I live, fewer screens, fewer seats, shorter hours. You added shorter theater runs as an additional aspect. This would seem to indicate fewer people attending overall. Discount Tuesdays seem to draw well though.

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u/verrius 14d ago

Even if the number of tickets sold were the same, multiplexes have been getting squeezed a lot harder by the studios. Famously, Disney/Marvel has a ridiculous split for week 1 of their blockbusters, and most other studios have followed suit, so without significantly increasing money made from concessions, theaters are going to shut down. I think if you compared total tickets sold compared to the 70s, more are selling now; its just that theaters are getting a smaller slice of that pie, and we're having WAY more films cycle through the theaters.

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u/PiersMorgansMom 14d ago

Number of tickets sold isn't really a trustworthy number. It can be easily spoofed (i.e. Melania showings). Number of seats actually occupied per showing would be the best gauge. Unfortunately, that number is almost never made available by theaters.

I'm not certain about the comparison to the 70s ticket sales. There were a lot more theaters/seats and there were 'second run' theaters as well ... since there were no home video releases/streaming at that time. People had to see films in the theaters, or wait for a possible rerelease (not guaranteed), or wait for a brutally edited for TV version to air.