Hollywood hits TIFF after dismal summer box office
Posted September 3, 2014 5:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With TIFF only a day away, dozens of celebrities are expected to fill the downtown streets but after a dismal summer at the box office, they may not be in the mood to party.
2014 saw the worst summer at the box office in North America since 1997.
Taking in $281 million, Guardians of the Galaxy was the clear winner with fans this summer with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles placing second with $166.3 million. After that the box office draws drop dramatically.
“Everything that opened at the 4th of July just tanked like Tammie and Deliver Us From Evil,” NOW magazine senior film writer Norm Wilner explained.
The numbers were especially hard for Hollywood after 2012 and 2013 saw the biggest grossing years ever recorded thanks to blockbuster hits Ironman 3, The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers.
Wilner points the finger at changing viewing habits, especially with the younger demographic.
“They’re a generation that’s grown up never know another way to watch a movie but on their own terms, whenever they want it.” he explained. “The movie experience is fundamentally unchangeable and that’s the problem that the industry is dealing with.”
But will these poor numbers spill over to TIFF?
“For the most part (summer blockbusters) are not made as art they’re made as commerce and TIFF is supposed to be celebrating the artistic side,” Wilner explained.
Only audiences will determine if the summer blockbuster numbers will rebound next year but with Avengers 2, Ted 2 and another Hunger Games scheduled for release, it doesn’t look like all hope is lost.
