Movies

Column: ‘Wicked’ box office proves Hollywood needs to take family films seriously again

BBG News

Column: 'Wicked' box office proves Hollywood needs to take family films seriously again

As a parent who has spent countless hours in movie theaters with my own little movie critics, I can confidently say that Hollywood is missing out on a golden opportunity if it continues to overlook the power of family-friendly films.

There’s a lot of speculation about whether “Glicked,” the potential blockbuster that could break records and boost the industry before Thanksgiving, being a mix of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” will be this year’s equivalent of “Barbenheimer,” the record-breaking summer sensation resulting from the combination of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.

Could be. Hope so. But it’s hard not to think that everyone is missing the point.

In my opinion, what truly matters for Hollywood’s future isn’t which movie you catch on the same day. Instead, it’s all about experiencing “Wicked” with someone, right there in the very same row! Enjoying a bag of Twizzlers and a shared tub of popcorn together – that’s the real magic!

Families.

Two-for-one deals are an innovative and entertaining method to captivate viewers and boost ticket sales, and I wouldn’t dream of disregarding the Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer,” which was exceptionally successful considering its serious biopic category. As for “Gladiator II,” it appears to be quite promising.

However, it was “Barbie” and “Wicked” that managed to fill a substantial number of cinemas: Universal Pictures’ musical adaptation grossed $114 million at the domestic box office this weekend, outperforming Paramount’s swords-and-sandals epic by a significant margin with its $55.5-million take. If estimates hold true, it will be “Moana 2” that maintains this trend over Thanksgiving weekend, potentially earning a whopping $125 million in its opening week. It seems that family-friendly, all-ages movies are the ones driving ticket sales, rather than R-rated or demographically specific projects.

Originally, being “something the whole family can enjoy” was a popular selling point. However, in today’s era of niche audiences and Hollywood’s tendency to assign R ratings as a mark of importance, it has become something of a joke. Labeling a movie as “family-friendly” if it’s not produced by Pixar or Disney instantly makes it seem outdated and unappealing. Despite their claims about four-quadrant productions, most studios are not actively producing family-friendly films these days, especially those outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Similarly to “Barbie” and the recent blockbuster “Inside Out 2,” “Wicked” has been enjoyed by vast crowds spanning various demographics and age groups, including numerous families. If early reports are any indication, these audiences were eager to join in singing many of the songs, which may have caused some discomfort among those less inclined to do so.

To successfully revive itself, Hollywood should internalize this crucial insight: To maximize ticket and snack sales, families represent the most valuable market segment. Here’s why:

Even though streaming platforms have become globally popular, let me assure you that many parents still prefer to take their children of all ages to the cinema. If your kids are young, it provides a unique chance to engage in an activity they’ll enjoy, allowing you to relax for two hours without disputes or continuous requests – pure bliss! If you enjoy the movie as well, it’s an added bonus.

For teens and young adults, movies provide a unique chance to immerse in a shared experience where everyone is fully focused, unlike family nights at home, dining out, or other group activities. In movie theaters, cellphone use is prohibited, offering an uninterrupted movie-watching experience. Despite occasional issues with cinema behavior, it’s still more likely that you can enjoy watching a movie without worrying if your child is really paying attention. They are, as there’s no other option. Additionally, during the drive home, you’ll have plenty to discuss that doesn’t involve explaining old city navigation methods or understanding TikTok videos.

Once again you have, if only temporarily, a shared language. Amazing!

Among all the cinema-goers, I find it particularly heartwarming when multi-generational families make a visit to the movies. For them, this cinematic journey isn’t complete without sharing some tasty treats together – making the movie experience an outing that includes indulging in delicious snacks as part of the adventure.

After putting in all the effort to coordinate everyone’s schedules, deciding on seats, purchasing tickets, and ensuring timely arrival at the theater, it’s not likely that a parent (or grandparent, aunt, or older brother) would draw the line at just providing hot dogs and slushies. Instead, this has now become a mini-outing, so everyone can enjoy pretzel bites and Skittles. Plus, going to see “Wicked,” the price of concessions makes it a more budget-friendly experience compared to attending the stage version.

In an industry grappling with the challenge of maintaining traditional storefront businesses amidst the digital era, one might wonder why so few films are produced that cater to family viewing.

Back in the day, a variety of four-quadrant films could be found across numerous genres. Ah, those were the days of the “Harry Potter” era, where for three consecutive years it shared the spotlight with “The Lord of the Rings.” I still vividly recall the magic of 2005, a year filled with family-friendly blockbusters such as “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Batman Begins,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Madagascar,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Corpse Bride,” “King Kong,” “Nanny McPhee,” “Robots,” “Sky High,” “Zathura: A Space Adventure,” “Hoodwinked!”, “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and, of course, the timeless masterpiece “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D.

Our family practically lived in the cinema that year.

This statement isn’t trying to criticize films with mature content such as sex, violence, or themes that earn an R rating. In fact, the same year produced a variety of high-quality, mature films like “Brokeback Mountain,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “The Constant Gardener,” “Cinderella Man,” “A History of Violence,” “The 40 Year-Old Virgin,” “Wedding Crashers,” and “Pride and Prejudice,” among others.

However, apart from the genre of superhero films, it appears that Hollywood is becoming more inclined to discard even the young child, if not the infant, alongside the bath water.

While combining diverse films like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” or “Wicked” with “Gladiator II,” may seem smart due to cross-promotion, we should always remember which movies attract larger crowds. To put it simply, as suggested by a movie that appealed to many generations, if you create something appealing, audiences will follow. And this is particularly true when families are involved.

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2024-11-25 14:32

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