Comments on: The actual most popular US movies of all time http://ongoingprocess.net/the-actual-most-popular-us-movies-of-all-time/ Spirit, geekness, and life Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:29:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Chris http://ongoingprocess.net/the-actual-most-popular-us-movies-of-all-time/#comment-46462 Chris Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:18:33 +0000 http://ongoingprocess.net/the-actual-most-popular-us-movies-of-all-time/#comment-46462 You do make a good point (and I had no idea GWTW had so many releases!). The culture of entertainment has changed so much, and in particular at breakneck speed over the last decade or two, that it's hard to make comparisons. But I do so love crunching numbers. :) And even if it's not as much a definite measure of popularity, it's interesting to see how it plays out. And yes, a number of modern movies are doing incredibly well by any standard! You do make a good point (and I had no idea GWTW had so many releases!). The culture of entertainment has changed so much, and in particular at breakneck speed over the last decade or two, that it’s hard to make comparisons. But I do so love crunching numbers. :) And even if it’s not as much a definite measure of popularity, it’s interesting to see how it plays out. And yes, a number of modern movies are doing incredibly well by any standard!

]]> By: Travis http://ongoingprocess.net/the-actual-most-popular-us-movies-of-all-time/#comment-46461 Travis Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:55:29 +0000 http://ongoingprocess.net/the-actual-most-popular-us-movies-of-all-time/#comment-46461 Interesting way to think about it. But I don't think you can truly put together any real list of "most popular" movies because all those old movies at the top of your list didn't have to compete with video games, DVD's, and modern "cinema quality" TV programs. When a movie came out back then, there was no "I'll just wait for the DVD" option. You couldn't download a pirated copy. You either saw it at the theater, or you might never see it at all. Back then, movies were truly a national pastime, whereas today they are only one form of available entertainment. Also, Gone With the Wind came out during a definite "lightning in a bottle" time frame. Americans flocked to the movie theater as a cheap way to escape from the troubles of the Great Depression. Britons went to it as a way to (figuratively) escape from Hitler's bombs. It was a true "event" movie that allowed people to escape from the horrors of modern war and poverty to a more romantic (though fictional) time. It played for four straight years in the theaters. Nothing like that could possibly happen today because people have countless avenues to escape their everyday lives--and many avenues to see movies without going to the theater. Also, if you're going to call out Star Wars for being re-released, call out Gone With the Wind, too. It was re-released on several occasions: 1947, 1954, 1961, 1967, 1971, 1989, and 1998. My point being (if I have one): Movies such as Avatar, Titanic, LOTR, Harry Potter, and even poor little Spider-Man 3 at the bottom of your list are, I think, doing astonishingly well considering all the other entertainment options they're competing against. To say any of them is less "popular" than the really older movies is problematic, no matter how many numbers you crunch. Interesting way to think about it. But I don’t think you can truly put together any real list of “most popular” movies because all those old movies at the top of your list didn’t have to compete with video games, DVD’s, and modern “cinema quality” TV programs. When a movie came out back then, there was no “I’ll just wait for the DVD” option. You couldn’t download a pirated copy. You either saw it at the theater, or you might never see it at all. Back then, movies were truly a national pastime, whereas today they are only one form of available entertainment.

Also, Gone With the Wind came out during a definite “lightning in a bottle” time frame. Americans flocked to the movie theater as a cheap way to escape from the troubles of the Great Depression. Britons went to it as a way to (figuratively) escape from Hitler’s bombs. It was a true “event” movie that allowed people to escape from the horrors of modern war and poverty to a more romantic (though fictional) time. It played for four straight years in the theaters. Nothing like that could possibly happen today because people have countless avenues to escape their everyday lives–and many avenues to see movies without going to the theater.

Also, if you’re going to call out Star Wars for being re-released, call out Gone With the Wind, too. It was re-released on several occasions: 1947, 1954, 1961, 1967, 1971, 1989, and 1998.

My point being (if I have one): Movies such as Avatar, Titanic, LOTR, Harry Potter, and even poor little Spider-Man 3 at the bottom of your list are, I think, doing astonishingly well considering all the other entertainment options they’re competing against. To say any of them is less “popular” than the really older movies is problematic, no matter how many numbers you crunch.

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