“DEADPOOL”, which so far has taken more than $500m in cinemas worldwide, is an atypical blockbuster, a foul-mouthed anti-hero film with a mature “R” audience rating. But in one important respect it is typical of many of Hollywood’s most successful movies: it does not rely on a world-famous star to sell it.
In contrast, two recent “star vehicle” films struggled to attract audiences despite heavy promotion and high-profile openings on Christmas Day in America. “Joy”, with Jennifer Lawrence, and “Concussion”, with Will Smith, both failed to earn back their production budgets at the domestic box office and also fared poorly overseas. What happened? Ms Lawrence is by the reckoning of some the biggest star in Hollywood’s firmament; Mr Smith held that unofficial title for years. Have film stars lost some of their lustre?
Overall, the cinema business’s health seems as rude as ever. Revenue from the American box office grew by 6.3% in 2015, to a record high of $11 billion. Thanks to droves of new filmgoers in China, where the market grew by 49% last year, global revenues increased by 4% to $38 billion. The industry has...Continue reading
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