Advertisement

2017 summer box office could be worst in a decade

Summer of flops?... analysts worry summer 2017 could be the lowest box office in a decade - Credit: Warner Bros
Summer of flops?… analysts worry summer 2017 could be the lowest box office in a decade – Credit: Warner Bros

The movie business is bracing itself for what could be the worst summer at the box office for a decade, according to reports.

The Los Angeles Times has cited a range of industry insiders who fear that the market could be down by as much as 10 percent from last year’s takings.

2016 saw the US movie business take $4.45 billion from May to September, but it’s thought that figure could drop below $4 billion this year.

That would make the takings the worst since 2007.

One producer speaking anonymously told the newspaper: “Man, this is depressing. It is just entirely sequels and franchises, and something’s got to give.”

Chris Aronson, head of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox, added: “Some of the tent poles are just not as strong this year. ‘Pirates?’ It’s the fifth one. ‘Transformers?’ It’s the fifth one.”

The prominent releases for summer 2017 are indeed mostly either sequels, remakes or movies from already established franchises.

It’s notable, for example, that the new Spider-Man movie, ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’, has made much of the appearance of Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark, to ensure that the connection is made to the ‘Avengers’ films.

(Credit: Sony Pictures)
(Credit: Sony Pictures)

Meanwhile, the movies that aren’t already from established franchises have a question mark over how successful they’ll be – notably Guy Ritchie’s ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (which has been predicted to flop) and Stephen King adaptation ‘The Dark Tower’, starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey.

There are also concerns about Luc Besson’s ‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’, which has cost an eye-popping $180 million to make.

Summing up the worrisome situation in Hollywood, Shawn Robbins, chief analyst for BoxOffice.com said: “There’s so many movies that could go one way or another.”

Read more
Does Blade Runner 2049 trailer drop a massive spoiler?
Wonder Woman “exciting and entertaining”
Is Christopher Nolan producing Bond 25?