Star Trek's box office numbers

[Mikey]

Adam West is right.

I can't count how many times i've heard people say "I'll wait till it comes out on video"

Back in '77 up to the early '80's, nobody said that.

They either went to the movies or waited 3-5 years before it was played on television.

[kennermike]

yeah im with type1kirk im not getting a cut ! ill wait for the dvd !no I meant betamax! tee hee!!

[livnxxxl]

The numbers of today vs. back in the day is like comparing apples to oranges. For the simple fact that the population has exploded so many times over. By todays standards there are so many people in this world that it would be hard to not produce a movie that would be #1. Every time a new movie comes out it seems like that it is #1 at the box office. Even if the movie completely sucks it is still #1 at least for a little while until like someone else mentioned a newer better flick comes out in the next day or so. This would be like comparing Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire. The math really does not add up. There are too many things to factor in regarding then vs. now.

I am not slamming on the new Star Trek movie at all. I have not watched it and I will not watch it until it comes out on DVD. I just cannot stand going to the movies any longer. This is why I prefer to wait and watch it in the privacy of my own theatre room. No screaming kids, no people blabbing on their cell phones, No one getting up every other minute going to the concession stand or to the rest rooms etc...etc.. You get the picture. I am not one of those people that just HAS to be the first one to watch a movie or the first one to camp out in line to get a new X-BOX. I have my own opinion of that and to each their own.

[kennermike]

actually to each their own is right!but I do agree on everything you said I rather watch in the comfort of my house

[trekman101]

One of the biggest problems is that if you did not see it in a theater back then; you were out of luck because there was no home movie release. Now movies follow a life cycle pattern from movie to DVD (there is so much profit in DVDs that many times studios are just looking to break even on the theatrical release and make most of the profit off of the DVD). I only go to see a handful of movies per year in the theaters because I'm willing to wait for the DVD. If there were no DVD; you can bet I'd be at the theaters more often.

Same with me.....I only go to the movies if I can't wait to see it and some times after seeing a movie on cable or DVD I want to see the sequel in the theater

[The Bat]

Seeing it for the 3rd time tomorrow with the Wife...than in a week, for the 4th time with my Sister.

[bobws]

Saw it once, it was ok for a space movie, but oooh soo wrong for a Trek film. the fact it makes more money is just feeding into the studio and exec's and abram's who feel they're better off ignoring the fans who supported Trek for 40 years and just aim movies at the theater going crowds who will give them a bigger hit and not care what they put out there!

[The Bat]

the fact it makes more money is just feeding into the studio and exec's and abram's who feel they're better off ignoring the fans who supported Trek for 40 years and just aim movies at the theater going crowds who will give them a bigger hit and not care what they put out there!

Did we watch the same Movie?? I'm one of those Fans that have followed Trek for 40 years, and don't feel the ignored us AT ALL! Despite todays brilliant FX, it had all the elements I expect from Star Trek(Characters personality traits, humor, and the interaction of the "big three" was dead on!). I don't know how they could have made a better Film...besides actually going back in time, and grabbing Shatner, Nimoy, Kelly, & the rest...and throwing them into this Movie.

[jds1911a1]

Hmm why do I see an old luke going back into time to recreate a new timeline because an old Imperial villian out for revenge goes back into time and.........

Lucas has enough subplot that he doesn't need to use the time travel card. Plus can you imagine the clash of uber ego between him and Harlan Elison. That's a celebrity death match waiting to be claymated

Time travel is a frequent crutch in Trek to explain away the horrendous continuty errrors they make. I mean they couln't even keep continuity clean in 7 contigous seasons of TNG and the first TNG film (remember Scotty thinking Kirk was looking for him, but in the Generations film he knows kirk was lost)

[jds1911a1]

yeah im with type1kirk im not getting a cut ! ill wait for the dvd !no I meant betamax! tee hee!!

Betamax was better quality than VHS but VHS won for one simple reason P*rn*.

[samurainoir]

I think comparing the "success" of a film today to one that was released thirty years ago with any kind of accurate measure is a moving target at best. Particularly with Global Marketing and technology opening up many other windows of oppportunity (or closing them off if you take into account an age of digital bootlegs). Maximizing profits in the minimum time before The Next Big Thing is the name of the game. Remember the days before home video where Star Wars, Superman and Star Trek could stay at the theatres for months/years or were continually rereleased every year?

Back in the day, box office ticket sales was pretty much the measure, but so many more "windows" suddenly open up with the DVD/market, cable, and now digital download at sites like itunes. I understand the worldwide box office/DVD sales has increased as well on the whole in that period of 3 decades... no more rollouts where overseas countries get prints of Star Trek two or three or ten years down the line (if it ever arrives at all).

Not even taking into account the concept of Cross Horizontal Integration when it comes to licensing and related product piggybacking on the brand-campaign. Sometimes the tie in video game is much more lucrative than the film itself! Often the toys and bedsheets as well (if we are talking Star Wars or Batman and similar).

[ctc]

>Not even taking into account the concept of Cross Horizontal Integration when it comes to licensing and related product piggybacking on the brand-campaign.

Oh yeah! I think that's a big part of why so few movies don't make money any more: thanks to the tie-ins a lot of flicks never actually have to come out to cash in. I think that's why so many games, toys and books come out BEFORE the movie. That way, if the movie sucks it doesn't cut to much into profits.

Don C.

[Nostalgiabuff]

movie studios make their real money in DVD sales, not box office receipts. I very rarely got to movie theaters, mostly because I can't see spending $10 bucks on a movie....I do however, frequent the drive in, at least during the summer season....can't beat 2 movies for $7 and I can bring in beer. It's almost as good as watching from home except the screen is 40 feet tall and about a 100 wide.
I saw Trek there and I loved it and plan on going again and on buying the blueray the day it comes out.

[Hector]

Star Trek just tied Wolverine...and by tomorrow...it will pass it.

It already beat Angels & Demons these past few days already.

[The Bat]

There's only one reason I care about Box Office numbers....and that's so I can be assured there will be Sequels! If Paramount makes big Bucks....then I get MANY more Star Trek Movies!!!