‘Paranormal Activity 3’ Only Survivor in Hollywood Horror Film Bloodbath
Via THR:
Only a few years ago, a new horror movie was considered as close to a sure thing as anything Hollywood produced.
From 2005 to 2009, studios like Lionsgate, Screen Gems, New Line and Dimension made millions releasing hit after hit, grossing north of $50 million at the domestic box office on low-budget slasher pics and remakes of such genre classics as Friday the 13th and The Amityville Horror.
But this summer and fall, title after title has disappointed, capped by a weak $8.5 million opening for Universal’s early Halloween entry The Thing, a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 horror sci-fi pic of the same name.
And what seems to be the cause of the collapse in B.O. for horror films? Hit the link and find out:
The likely culprit: The flight of younger moviegoers from the multiplex.
“I don’t know what’s happening. The young people just aren’t there,” says Universal president of domestic distribution Nikki Rocco. Chris Aronson, senior vp domestic distribution at 20th Century Fox, was one of the first to notice the decline of younger moviegoers, a trend that began during Christmas 2010 and continues to worsen. “These are the kids who are the stable for this kind of fare,” he says.
In a THR article analyzing the weekend numbers [Paranormal Activity 3 grossed a whopping $54M]:
While Paranormal 3 got fewer younger movieogers than the previous two films, more people in their 30s and 40s turned out, likely influenced by good reviews. Those under the age of 25 represented 47% of those buying tickets, compared to 60 percent for Paranormal 2, and reflecting the ongling flight of younger consumers from the multiplex. Those over the age of 25 represented 47% of the audience, as compared to 40% for the sequel.
A 13% drop in moviegoers under the age of 25 between PA2 and PA3. So even with a record-breaking horror movie, there is a drop in young adults.
So all you folks from 16–25. Where are you? What are you doing? Why aren’t you going to the movies and in particular horror films? Have you found other forms of entertainment you prefer over movies? Are you put off by high ticket prices? Watching movies at home and on alternate venues?
Hollywood would like to know where you are!
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