[net.movies] Jedi six-day gross vs. Hello Larry

michaelk@tekmdp.UUCP (06/09/83)

How well a movie does in terms of first-week gross is probably more a function
of expectations than actual "goodness".  Even if ROTJ was the most terrible
movie around, it would still have grossed an enormous amount for at least
the first week until the word got out in enough quantity for people to
believe.  And even then, even with the "word" out, people would still go
to "prove" to themselves that it was rotten. Prejudice in favor of the
movie predisposed it to financial success.  This is also a strong condition 
that exists for the Star Trek movies (previous record holder before rotj),
Superman series, and for a few others of the blockbusters of late.  The 
comparisons aren't so much apples and oranges, but as tangerines and oranges.  
If I made $10K per year ten years ago, and $15K per year now, am I 50% better 
off now? The answer is nope, and so it goes with movie statistics that are 
very far apart in time. If one thinks that quantity of viewers means quality of
product, then television must be solid gold, lined with diamonds.  Even 
a cancelled, crummy, rotten TV program has more viewer-hours than most ANY
movie.

Mike Kersenbrock
Tektronix Microcomputer Development Products
Aloha, Oregon