I just received a press release from a PR firm representing Hollywood.com with what they have determined to be the “Top 10 Most Significant Movie Developments of the Past Decade” and it’s an interesting list to ponder and outside of a couple of the selections I agree with most all of it. However, it is quite obvious the biggest influence over the last decade has been the Internet, but before adding any more comments, here’s the list as determined by Hollywood.com:
- The evolution of social media (Twitter, blogs) to propel box office numbers
- The advancement of Computer-Generated Imaging
- The rise of 3D films and IMAX theaters
- The creation of Netflix, as well as the ability to download movies before they are available on DVD or Blu-Ray
- The launch of online ticket sales
- The major influx of movies based on comics
- Fantasy books made into major feature films including The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Harry Potter
- The surge in piracy (Remember the X-Men Origins: Wolverine leak?)
- The rise of the Fanboy and nerd culture as movies targeted this influential demo
- The development of High Definition technology and Blu-Ray
While the first major movie news blogs/websites started in the mid-’90s with Ain’t It Cool News beginning in 1996 and Dark Horizons in 1997, the last decade certainly brought a much larger number of commenters into the fold. However, I wouldn’t say they have propelled box-office numbers as much as they have had an effect on the films studios focus on, but I guess one affects the other. Either way, I can’t argue the effect they have had on movies in general and it’s a category well-deserving of the #1 spot.
The advancement of CGI is definitely notable if not occasionally annoying, but the third slot going to “the rise of 3D films and IMAX theaters” seems more of a gimmick people are going to realize sooner rather than later. It’s one of the items on this list I would say doesn’t belong.
Netflix and online movie rentals and watching is certainly a big deal and could potentially become the absolute future. Will we all decide to one day stop owning physical copies of movies and enjoy them only in digital form? For the most part it’s happened to music, why not movies? I’m sure they can figure out a way to turn DVD/Blu-ray software into one downloadable program so we can still get special features and the like without having to purchase a shiny disc. When will it happen? Will it be the #1 item on the next best of the decade list ten years from now?
The launch of online ticket sales is another item on this list that seems to exist solely due to Movietickets.com and Fandango.com being particularly capable in overloading people’s inboxes with email press releases citing this number and that number. I don’t think this has had an impact on the industry whatsoever as much as it is simply a matter of convenience.
The idea of fantasy novels being made into movies is hardly a new idea, but I guess you could say the emphasis on franchising and marketing of these bigscreen adaptations is significant with the likes of The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and most recently Twilight. This one also has a lot to do with #1, and the growing voice the fans of these franchises have online.
The surge in piracy is significant, sure, but it’s only an inevitable significance due to advancements in technology. Piracy has been around forever but the Internet has just made it easier.
At #9 is “The rise of the Fanboy and nerd culture as movies targeted this influential demo.” Again, like #6, this sort of goes hand-in-hand with #1 considering this is the audience visiting and discussing movies on social media and blogs, it’s not as if this hasn’t been the target demographic all along. Now they just have much more specified tastes.
I already started discussing #10 with #4. Sure, we now have Blu-ray technology and I love it, but how long will it be around. Considering Blu-ray discs are more like computer software than ever before doesn’t it makes sense too look at the future of films in digital form only as highly possible. I mean, these releases now come with digital copies of their own. Granted it’s standard definition DVD-quality (or maybe less) copies, but that just tells me they can make all of it digital and just aren’t doing it to make more money at the moment.
Consider the fact Blu-ray.com is reporting revenue from Blu-ray software sales during the week ended November 24 was a record $69.06 million, up 224.04% from the same week in 2008. This growth more than offsets the fall in DVD revenue, which was down 7.89% year-on-year. Packaged media as a whole was up 1.02%. Look at that folks, you did it! The movie studios are now 1.02% richer than they were one year ago and you made it happen. Perhaps those downloadable copies aren’t in the near future after all.
What do you think? Anything on this list you disagree with? Anything you would add?
