Midnight movie premiers: From underground to mainstream Kayla Dimick
The time is 11:59 p.m. The smell of rich, buttery popcorn and anticipation fill the air as movie goers crowd movie theaters across the nation. Equipped with their favorite energy drinks and cozy blankets, they are ready and excited to be some of the first people to see the years biggest blockbuster movies. In recent years, the number of movie theatres that are enabling cinefiles to get their big screen fix at midnight showings has been on the rise for the past decade, starting with Gladiator in 2000. Blockbuster films like Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games premiering in recent years have provided even more fuel to the trend. Avoid repetition. But this is good stuff excellent lead. And, the box office numbers suggest midnight premieres are rising significantly. In 2011, there were roughly four midnight movie premiers. This year, that number has increased to seven. According to Kyle Edwards, program director of the cinema studies program at Oakland University, midnight releases have been around for decades, but are recently becoming more mainstream. Edwards said that midnight releases gained notoriety in the 1970s and 80s, when people would flock to special midnight showings of exploitation films, otherwise known as cult films. AMCs Filmsite defines cult movies as strange, offbeat and quirky films with outrageous characters that can sometimes be rather controversial. Cult films usually span various different genres. Also, they tend to feature newcomers or unknown actors and are made by individualistic film-makers with a low budget. The reason they are called cult films is because typically, these films did rather poorly at the box office. However, through word of mouth, the films would slowly gain popularity and become a cult film due to their exclusive, underground status. Underground cult films still exist, but now, midnight releases are used to build mainstream followings. Beautiful transition!
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Hollywood studios began premiering more big-budget movies at midnight in the last decade or so in order to increase the level of attention surrounding the release of the film, Edwards said. Drawing in diehard movie fans with the promise of being the first in the nation to see the film, midnight releases not only create a buzz, but they send box office numbers skyward. Showing up in droves, these super fans single- handedly push their favorite movies up the list of the top grossing movies of all time. According to Inside Movies, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which is the last movie of the Harry Potter series, shattered midnight release records. They reported that the film earned $43.5 million at its midnight release on July 15, 2011. Thats not all. Box Office Mojo reports the film holds the number one spot of the Top Single Day Grosses. In one day, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 made a total of $91,071,119. Right behind Harry Potter on the list of top grossing films at midnight is the 2012 Batman film The Dark Night Rises, which raked in a whopping 30.6 million dollars at its midnight showing, according to The Wrap. Also, Hollywood studios discovered they could use their films that made a killing at the box office with their midnight releases to drive their DVD sales. For example, they remind viewers that a certain film was the number one hit romantic comedy of the summer, Edwards said. Why do people haul themselves out of their warm, comfortable homes to a public place in the dead of night just to watch a movie? I go because its exciting. Its fun, said Mallorie Krul, college student and frequenter of midnight releases. I get so into whats going on in the movie, and I dont think Id be able to handle not seeing it knowing that all my friends have already gone. I always want to be in the know. Edwards attributes the skyrocketing box office numbers to socialization. I think people often go for the social experience as more than the enthusiasm for the film itself, he said. Arranging an outing with a group of friends, waiting in line for the show, and being in the theatre for the very first available screening of the film is a unique experience that often overshadows whether the film itself was good or bad.
Nate Hamblin, college student and midnight enthusiast also attends midnight movie premieres for the excitement. When the true fans are there is really when you can enjoy the experience, Hamblin said. I like going with everyone who truly enjoys the movies. Unfortunately, its impossible to talk about midnight openings without addressing the elephant in the room- the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colo. this July at the midnight showing of the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. CNN reported that after entering the theatre through an emergency exit and releasing a noxious gas into the theatre, masked gunman James Holmes opened fire on the crowd, killing twelve and injuring 58. After the incident, experts speculated whether the shooting would change midnight releases. I think these tragic incidents definitely influenced the security measures taken at midnight premieres. I do not think it has influenced the number of movies that open at midnight, Edwards said. It definitely made me nervous for a while because of copycats, but during the last midnight show I went to there was security and I saw an employee checking to make sure the exit door in our theater was locked, so that made me feel better, Krul said. Since the shooting, one film, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 has released at midnight. While this tragedy has affected many people, it did not affect the box office numbers. The film sits comfortably at number six on the Top Single Day Grosses, according to Box Office Mojo. Rachel Kearney, who attended the midnight release of Breaking Dawn Part 2, said she noticed a change in how the crowds were handled. They upped security after the shooting and made it safer for everyone, which I guess is kind of comforting after everything that happened, Kearney said. But it was different that it usually is. I think they should continue with the midnight shows, try to go on like normal. Otherwise, the shooter wins, Krul said.
Kayla,
This is an exemplary piece. It is publishable. Im sure The Post would like to have this but may want you to ramp up the OU sources This is the only 100 in the class. Excellent writing, reporting and editing. Keep writing. And Im happy to help if you want to try to publish this piece.
SIDEBAR 1: Top 10 highest grossing films adjusted for inflation: Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Film Gone with the Wind Avatar Star Wars Titanic The Sound of Music E.T. the ExtraTerrestrial The Ten Commandments Doctor Zhivago Jaws Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Worldwide gross $3,301,400,000 $2,782,300,000 $2,710,800,000 $2,413,800,000 $2,269,800,000 $2,216,800,000 $2,098,600,000 $1,988,600,000 $1,945,100,000 $1,746,100,000 Year 1939 2009 1977 1997 1965 1982 1956 1965 1975 1937
SIDEBAR 2: Midnight cult films mini history lesson: EL TOPO Considered to be the first ever midnight cult movie showing Called the definitive cult spaghetti western About a violent gun-fighters quest for enlightenment Otherwise known as The Mole Premiered in 1970 in a rundown theatre on Eighth Avenue in New York City, and ran seven nights a week at midnight for several months First line:
El Topo: (to his son) You are seven years old. You are a man. Bury your first toy and your mother's picture. ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Premiered in 1975 Said to be one of the most popular cult films of all time Tim Curry, who played Dr. Frank-n-Furter, a transvestite scientist, was relatively unknown at the time Crossed genre lines as a musical/comedy/ horror/sci-fi/satire film At midnight showings, attendees dress up, bring props, shout lines and even act out the movie in front of the screen First line: Voiceover: Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still but he told us where we stand.
