By Kit Bowen, Hollywood.com Staff
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Friday, December 30, 2005
Daniel Radcliffe stars in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire |
2005 proved the studios can no longer bank on what they once considered bankable. The total box office grosses for 2005, which are estimated at about 8.8 billion, are 5 percent down--or nearly $461 million--from 2004, making it the steepest year-to-year decline in at least two decades.
Over the summer, not even the blossoming Darth Vader, Batman’s beginnings or a War of the Worlds could help. Sure, thanks to smaller budgeted fare--such as a quirky chocolate maker peddling his factory wares, some penguins protecting their young, a couple of guys crashing weddings and a 40 year-old who hasn’t done the “deed” yet--the box office got a little boost. But it wasn’t nearly enough.
Does this mean big-budgeted blockbusters will be a thing of the past? That remains to be seen. It’s picked up somewhat since November, thanks to Harry Potter and his quest for the Goblet of Fire, which broke the $200 mark in just two weeks. Traipsing through Narnia and fending off a 8,000 pound gorilla haven’t hurt either. Still, overall, it looks like the times are indeed a-changin’.
As we’ve done each year, we took a gander at each big studio's successes (and failures—there were a few of those too) to find out which reigned supreme in 2005. From lowest to highest, here’s how they scored.
10. Lion’s Gate (approximately $283.7 million; 12 wide releases)
Finally, one of the little guys makes on the list. Fahrenheit 9/11 and Saw gave the indie studio a major jolt in 2004--and they haven’t looked back.
Show Us the Money: Of course, Lion’s Gate is still getting their feet wet playing with the big boys, but they had a decent showing in 2005 with hits such as Diary of a Mad Black Woman ($50.3 mil) and the Oscar contender Crash ($55.3 mil). Then they hit a jackpot with Saw II, which took in a bloody $86.4 million. Not too shabby! Keep a watch out for these fellows.
The “Ouch!” Factor: Then again, Lion’s Gate is also responsible for Christian Slater’s awful Alone in the Dark and Ashlee Simpson’s misfire Undiscovered. Oh well, can’t win them all.
9. New Line Cinema (approximately $423.3 million; 9 wide releases)
OK, so it might not have been a Lord of the Rings profit-boosting year, but R-rated comedies were still very, very good to New Line in 2005.
Show Us the Money: Who would have thought raunchy comedies would be all the rage? The Wedding Crashers brought in a whopping $209.1 million for the studio, while the less raunchy but just as profitable comedy Monster-In-Law helped out with its $82.9 million take. Plus, although taking in a modest $30.9 million, New Line may also see some Oscar gold with its A History of Violence. Sometimes it’s about quality over quantity.
The “Ouch!” Factor: Unfortunately, New Line couldn’t walk away completely unscathed. They also lay claim to Son of the Mask and King's Ransom. Yeah, that’s got to hurt.
8. MGM/Miramax (approximately $481.8 million and 12 wide releases combined)
Since MGM was bought by Sony and Miramax (sans the Weinsteins) is now solely under the Mouse House’s thumb, this will probably be the last year these two will stand on their own.
Show Us the Money: Neither studio had anything to write home about, save for MGM’s horror remake The Amityville Horror, which took in a respectable $64.2 million. John Travolta’s Be Cool ($55 mil) and Queen Latifah’s Beauty Shop ($36.3 mil) also did fare business for MGM. But out of seven releases, Miramax’s Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl was the only one that did any business for them with $39.1 million.
The “Ouch!” Factor: Miramax really got the short end of the “ouch” stick this year with ill-fated films such as Cursed, Brothers Grimm and Venom. But hey, it’s not really their fault. It’s hard to lose mom and dad--or two dads, in Miramax’s case--and still keep your chin up.
7. DreamWorks (approximately $500.5 million; 8 wide releases)
DreamWorks has always been about quality over quantity, and 2005 proved to be another year of smart choices--with maybe one mistake. We’ll see what happens next year now that Paramount has bought out the big DW.
Show Us the Money: It’s all about the penguins. DW’s biggest success story was their delightfully hilarious CGI-animated zoo comedy Madagascar, which hauled in $193.1 million. Runners-up were the not-as-scary sequel The Ring Two ($75.8 mil), the surprisingly taut thriller Red-Eye ($57.8 mil), the veddy British and claymated Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit ($55.3 mil) and the ghostly romantic comedy Just Like Heaven ($48.2 mil).
The “Ouch!” Factor: The Island. Enough said.
Photo(s) by Warner Bros.- © 2005- All Rights Reserved