Jump to content

lilmac

What was the first global blockbuster?

Recommended Posts

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

 

In looking at the biggest world grossers, it is difficult to say which would be the first to lay claim to Global Blockbuster.. 

 

Independence Day is widely viewed as the vanguard for the Global Phenomenon but Lion King, released two years prior, grossed more OS back then.  Then there's Jurassic Park before it.  Movies like Gone with the Wind don't count because while they breached the vaunted $1 billion mark, they did so mainly through domestic grosses.  Let's use this thread to analyze what should be considered the first global blockbuster.

Edited by lilmac
Link to comment
Share on other sites





 Gone with the wind did like 35million admissions in UK. That is crazy. So its GWTW for me as well.

 

Edit: Australian adjusted gross is over 400M.

 

http://melbfilmblog.blogspot.in/2010/04/avatar-and-alleged-box-office-gross.html

 

France: close to 17M admissions(All time number 5)

Edited by keysersoze123
Link to comment
Share on other sites



Yep, GWTW.

 

By the way, I recall that before its 3D re-release, The Lion King was sitting at $328.5m DOM and $783m WW, so its original OS gross would have been $455m. Independence Day, meanwhile, made $510m. And Jurassic Park had outgrossed them both with over $550m anyway.

Edited by Jake Gittes
Link to comment
Share on other sites





From what I remember growing up, "Jurassic Park" was the first hugely anticipated Hollywood movie in India. It was probably the first big movie released after the economy opened up to the world and the trailers made it an event. It was also released in multiple languages and almost 4-6 months after the US release which helped hype it up even more.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites



I thought the Age of Super Blockbuster got started in 1989, the year of Burton's BATMAN, INDIANA JONES 3, GHOSTBUSTERS II, STAR TREK, Disney's HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS, Cameron's THE ABYSS, & the highly lucrative LETHAL WEAPON 2. BATMAN is the model of contemporary summer movie marketing & the importance of opening big. The template for summer line up complete with counter-programming with dramas & comedies started to take shape in 1989: look at the grosses for DEAD POETS SOCIETY (opened in June), WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (July) & PARENTHOOD (Aug).

 

In todays' dollars BATMAN & LAST CRUSADE more than $400M. LETHAL 2 would have made close to $300M. Summer 2013 looks lame compared to the time before Netflix, Tivo & HBO. That was the time when comedies families & decent adults could enjoy could gross around $200M adjusted (HARRY & SALLY, PARENTHOOD, DEAD POETS). These are quality PG-rated stuff, not the kind of crass entertainment we get today (BAD GRANDPA, MILLERS & IDENTITY THIEF). 

Edited by zackzack
Link to comment
Share on other sites



 Gone with the wind did like 35million admissions in UK. That is crazy. So its GWTW for me as well.

 

Edit: Australian adjusted gross is over 400M.

 

http://melbfilmblog.blogspot.in/2010/04/avatar-and-alleged-box-office-gross.html

 

France: close to 17M admissions(All time number 5)

I don't buy that adjusted number for GWTW in Australia.

Link to comment
Share on other sites







I've seen documentaries about the making of Batman and they mention it was highly ancipated and Batman merchandise was sold out before the movie came out. Not even Superman which had very successful had the same level of hype although Superman wasn't number 1 movie of that year, that was Grease

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites



I thought the Age of Super Blockbuster got started in 1989, the year of Burton's BATMAN, INDIANA JONES 3, GHOSTBUSTERS II, STAR TREK, Disney's HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS, Cameron's THE ABYSS, & the highly lucrative LETHAL WEAPON 2. BATMAN is the model of contemporary summer movie marketing & the importance of opening big. The template for summer line up complete with counter-programming with dramas & comedies started to take shape in 1989: look at the grosses for DEAD POETS SOCIETY (opened in June), WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (July) & PARENTHOOD (Aug).

 

In todays' dollars BATMAN & LAST CRUSADE more than $400M. LETHAL 2 would have made close to $300M. Summer 2013 looks lame compared to the time before Netflix, Tivo & HBO. That was the time when comedies families & decent adults could enjoy could gross around $200M adjusted (HARRY & SALLY, PARENTHOOD, DEAD POETS). These are quality PG-rated stuff, not the kind of crass entertainment we get today (BAD GRANDPA, MILLERS & IDENTITY THIEF). 

 

That's an interesting choice for a non-crass film (and it was rated R)...

Link to comment
Share on other sites



 

That's an interesting choice for a non-crass film (and it was rated R)...

 

It is rated R therefore it is crass? Have you seen endless stream of crude & mostly unfunny stuff like TAKE HIM TO THE GREEKS, MILLERS, THE BABYSITTER, ID THIEF, BAD GRANDPA? THERE'S SOMETHING ABT MARY is the original crude-fest and "one of a kind". Underneath it, it is a sweet underdog movie. Anything labelled gross-out comedies that come after this movie is just lazy, exploitative, crude and most importantly: soulless & unfunny.

Edited by zackzack
Link to comment
Share on other sites





Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Guidelines. Feel free to read our Privacy Policy as well.