‘Worlds’ a long shot to end box-office slump

Familiarity may have bred some contempt among movie fans.

Russell Crowe’s “Cinderella Man” was designed to repeat the success of the horse-racing flick “Seabiscuit,” another serious, uplifting, Depression-era sports drama released amid summer blockbusters. While well-received by critics, Crowe’s boxing tale drew may have looked like a “Seabiscuit” retread on two legs instead of four.

Will Ferrell’s sports comedy “Kicking & Screaming” essentially was a soccer version of “The Bad News Bears,” the baseball romp with a remake of its own hitting theaters in late July.

Audiences were apathetic toward Ice Cube stepping into Vin Diesel’s shoes to take over the “XXX” action franchise or Cedric the Entertainer putting his stamp on Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden in “The Honeymooners.”

“House of Wax” seemed like the latest in a can’t-miss formula of horror remakes, but its skimpy box-office returns may be a sign that fright fans are growing tired of retreads — or co-star Paris Hilton.

The makers of “Kingdom of Heaven” had hoped to repeat the magic of Crowe’s “Gladiator.” Same director, Ridley Scott, same release period of early May, same concept of a reluctant hero battling impossible odds. Orlando Bloom’s leading-man status proved far less potent than Crowe’s, while the Crusades epic did not have the same luster as the glory of gladiatorial Rome.

19 weekends?
If revenues are off again over the Fourth of July, it would extend Hollywood’s slump to 19 weekends. A 1985 slump of 17-straight weekends had been the longest since analysts began keeping detailed box-office figures.

Domestic movie revenues climbed to a record $9.4 billion in 2004, but factoring in higher ticket prices, actual admissions were down the last two years. So far this year, revenues are at $4.2 billion, down 6.4 percent from 2004, and admissions are at 654 million, off 9.2 percent, according to box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

The summer season, Hollywood’s busiest time, looks even bleaker. Since early May, movie grosses have totaled $1.5 billion, a 9.2 percent decline, and attendance is at 233 million, down 12 percent.

Moviegoing begets more moviegoing as people are exposed to posters and trailers for upcoming films. With fewer people heading to theaters, that ripple effect has diminished.

“There’s no better marketing tool than a satisfied moviegoer,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations. “They become marketing foot soldiers, but you’ve got to get them in the theater, make them happy, and send them out happy, so they’re going out to tell other people about movies.”

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