According to box office tracker Media By Numbers, the theatrical movie business is expected to set a summer revenue record of US$4.2 billion from the first weekend in May through Labour Day."It is truly one of the least-expensive ways to entertain yourself for a few hours," said Sony's Rory Bruer, whose summer releases included Will Smith's $200-million-hit "Hancock".
Warner Bros. 'Batman' sequel "The Dark Knight", at $500 million and counting, amounted to one-eighth of overall Hollywood revenues, passing "Star Wars" to rank No. 2 on the domestic revenue chart, behind "Titanic" at $600.8 million.
"We would not be looking at a $4 billion summer if not for "The Dark Knight", according to Paul Dergarabedian, Media By Numbers."In this case, one film made a huge difference."
"The Dark Knight" and "Hancock" joined four other superhero films, including Paramount's "Iron Man", Universal's "The Incredible Hulk" and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army", to ring up $1.25 billion, or 30 per cent of the summer box office. Add in a $315 million take for Paramount's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull".
Animated features "WALL-E" from Disney and "Kung Fu Panda" from DreamWorks both topped $200 million. Warner's "Sex and the City" and Universal's "Mamma Mia!", both scored $100 million.
"It's the old story," said Warner's Dan Fellman.
"Give the people what they want and they'll come out in big numbers..."
