Blockbuster is an entertaining product that arouses interest and at the same time brings significant profits to movie owners. Significant profit is understood to mean, as a rule, income of at least $ 100,000,000.00, the condition of which is to receive benefits in a relatively short period of time, for example, for several months. In addition, revenue must be generated in the North American market.
The original meaning of the word “blockbuster” was associated with the financial and economic activities of the play, but today a blockbuster is a movie that satisfies the interests of the audience. In addition, he more than replenishes the budget of the creators. Sometimes these definitions are attributed to any successful film, but it should be understood that a successful product is understood as a blockbuster. What does this mean for film producers? One of the essential factors for any blockbuster is a considerable profit, which will not only pay off the direct production of the film, but also go to pay and bonuses to everyone who participated in the development of the product.
The success of the first blockbusters haunted Hollywood directors
The film "Jaws" set box office records in the summer of 1975. In addition to this motion picture, blockbusters include films such as The Ten Commandments, Gone With the Wind, and Ben Hur. They received their status solely due to the amount of money earned at the box office. "Jaws" is considered as the first film of the Hollywood era of blockbusters in the modern sense of the word.
If the film is constantly being relayed after the end of its successful screening in theaters, this is a blockbuster. What does this mean? This is the second, no less important feature of the term - the constant interest in the film, which manifests itself in the number of Internet downloads and video sales. Thus, income continues to flow after the end of the show in the cinema.
After the success of the picture Jaws, many Hollywood producers tried to create such "event films" with a broad commercial strategy. Film companies created high budget films, relying on a massive advertising company.
Classics and contemporaries
Recently, almost any blockbuster often generates a violent reaction from film critics. The meaning of the word "blockbuster" today goes to a new level - a review is compiled by a well-known critic for every sensational movie. A review may be meritorious or judgmental, but in all cases it provokes a public reaction. Often such a review is surrounded by a halo of mystery or, conversely, by shocking facts, in a blockbuster. What does this mean for the movie itself? The fact is that, despite the fact that the audience agreed with the decision of the film critic or not, in any case this is additional advertising and publicity for the film, followed by additional benefit to the publishers of the film. Even those blockbusters that received the coolest reviews from critics are enthusiastic about the audience.
Terms for theater and cinema
Theatrical circles also use the word blockbuster. What does this mean? This indicates that the game demonstrates some features of successful films, for example, the generation of high attendance at performances, the support of public interest in the long term.
A classic blockbuster is a film whose interest does not disappear over time and is confirmed by the next generation through regular viewing. In any definition of the term, a blockbuster should be considered as a competitive product that arouses public interest in comparison with similar industries.