Factors that lead to the emergence of Blockbusters

• Thomas Schatz called the ‘New Hollywood’ • key to the survival and long term success of

the Hollywood studios is the blockbuster movie

Historical / Sociological

US film industry had been in a long period of decline prior to the mid-1970s

• 1946 with record revenue of over $1.5 billion• weekly admission of 90-100 million the post-

war era

Historical / Sociological

Supreme Court’s Paramount decree in 1948

• forced studios to sell off their cinema chains, reducing their control of the market

Historical / Sociological

Rapid Rise of TV 1950s / 60s

Historical / Sociological

1969

• Hollywood was in recession• Film historian Tino Balio to describe it as the

period when ‘Hollywood nearly collapsed’

Historical / Sociological

The Godfather (Ford Coppolla: 1972)

• “Pre-sold”• film benefited from the huge sales

of the novel – (Mario Puzo, originally published in 1969)

• Paramount Studios– Highest Grossing Film 1972: $81.5

million– Success of film demonstrated to

studios they can make lots of money at once

– Gave Coppola credibility

Jaws (Spielberg: Summer 1975)

• Universal Studios – low expectations of its success (summer release)

• Wide release, opening on 465 nationwide

• Market saturation• $2.5 million were spent on marketing• Inlcding $700,000 on television time

on national network reaching over 200 million people

Jaws (Spielberg: Summer 1975)• Huge Success• earning a record-breaking $100 million

in 1975• promotional tie-ins and merchandising • soundtrack featuring the theme tune

was available to buy, as were stuffed sharks, beach towels, t-shirts, and action figures

• Schatz describes Jaws as a ‘social, industrial, and economic phenomenon’

Star Wars (Lucas: 1977)

Star Wars (Lucas: 1977)

Star Wars (Lucas: 1977)• Lucas Films & 20th Century Fox• Similar release strategy as Jaws• promotional tie-ins and

merchandising • Ground breaking Technology (Dolby

Surround and THX sound design)• earned over $100 million in box

office revenue, and made as much from ancillary revenue in merchandise sales

SEQUELS – success of the franchises lead to sequels

Emergence of home entertainment systems / VCRs meant that Hollywood was booming from

this revenue in the mid 1980s

The Rise of the Multiplex in 1980

What does a multiplex offer audience?o More choiceo Better technology – Dolby Surround Soundo Access to Hollywood filmso Longer running time for Blockbusters

Further Research

• The Exorcist (Friedkin: 1973)• Warner Bros.

• Superman (1978)