Monday, June 13, 2016

MST3K Reunion Show, Robot Movie Trivia, Top Grossing Films Ever, 2016 Music Roundup, and Ninja News

I had the honor of a guest post at Anne R. Allen’s Blog on Sunday, June 12!
She and Ruth Harris maintain a top notch site for writers – one of Writers Digest’s Top 101 Sites for Writers. If you’re a writer, you need to check it out.

MST3K Reunion Show

We are just two weeks away from the MST3K Reunion show!

Why is this such a big deal? Outside of a Con appearance or two, these guys have not been seen together for fifteen-twenty years.

The originator of the show, Joel Hodgeson, is in the middle of relaunching the series with new actors. He hopes to draw from the most popular MST3K episodes, which include a mix of Joel and Mike as hosts. The new host, Jonah Ray, will also be part of the reunion tour.

Writers since the first season or two and the ones to continue and complete the series - Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, Mary Jo Pehl, and Bridget Jones Nelson – have continued with the famous RiffTrax riffs, movies, and live shows.

Trace Beaulieu, and Frank Conniff, who played Dr. Clayton Forrester and the first Crow T. Robot and TV’s Frank respectively, have worked on other projects after the show.

Noticeably absent is Jim Mallon, producer and the one who played Gypsy.

But spanning the years, this is the core cast. No fringe members. (Such as Josh Weinstein who did a poor turn as Tom Servo in season one.) These are the ones who matter.

And for two hours, they will be trading off and on as they riff a selection of really bad shorts for millions across America. Pure MST3K joy!

Tuesday, June 28 at 8:00 pm – don’t miss it! Get your tickets HERE - many theaters have already sold out.

The Semi-Annual Music Roundup

It's time for my Semi-Annual Music Roundup! (That I just started.) 2016 has been a great one for music, with enough rocking variety to blow your pants off. So without further ado...

Baroness – Purple: Already reviewed but still in heavy rotation. Early contender for album of the year?

Megadeth – Dystopia: Just when I think that Megadeth is swirling the drain, Dave Mustaine pulls out an amazing heavy record. Best stuff in over ten years.

Serenity - Codex Atlanticus: This really didn't click the first couple listens, but I really dig it now. It's a symphonic rock concept album about Leonardo Da Vinci. Cheesy....you bet, but also very catchy.

Dream Theater - The Astonishing: It is...astonishing. (Reviewed this one previously.)

Omnium Gatherum - Grey Heavens: While not as great as their last effort, the song Skyline is Scandinavian metal at its finest.

Redemption - The Art of Loss: Criminally underrated. This is such a great release. If you are a fan of heavy prog rock, give it a listen.

Amon Amarth – Jomsviking: Got to hand it to these guys, every album is about Viking mythology and culture. You'd think it would grow boring and stale, but this album rocks. Great music for working out. (Or looting and pillaging.)

Kvelertak – Nattesferd: These guys are all over the map musically and I dig it. Not as good as the debut but a step up from their sophomore release.


Ninja News

Today’s Themes That Rocked the Challenge feature at the A to Z Blog is J.A. Scott and his rocking theme of childhood television shows and commercials!

The WEP August Challenge is Gardens.
Post prose, poetry, images… up to a thousand words.
See the site for more details.


Steps Along My Shore by Elsie Amata
Elsie Amata shares her personal account of how she healed from the Relational Trauma caused by discovering her husband’s sex addiction.
Find it at Amazon
And through June 15, it’s free!

You. I. Us. by Annalisa Crawford
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and Book Depository


Movie Trivia

Robot movies! Guess the movie from the robot’s name.

1 – V.I.N.C.E.N.T. and B.O.B., 1978
2 – Evil Robot Us-es and Good Robot Us-es, 1991
3 – Bishop, 1986
4 – Hector, 1980
5 – Gunslinger, 1973
6 – Dot Matrix, 1987
7 – Bubo, 1981
8 – Huey, Dewey, and Louie, 1972

Answers next week!

The Billion Dollar Money Makers – Are They Worthy?

Box Office Mojo now lists twenty-six movies that have crossed the billion dollar mark. Avatar is number one at approximately 2.8 billion and The Dark Knight is number twenty-six at one billion. Jurassic Park is the oldest film in the bunch – 1993, while Titanic was the first to cross one billion.

One thing that is interesting is the domestic to foreign dollar ratio. Most of the billion dollar movies are one third domestic (USA) and two thirds foreign. (Notable exceptions are the two Dark Knight movies and the two Star Wars films on the list.) In order to have a shot at a billion dollars, a film has to do well in foreign markets. Some do really well, making only a quarter of their profit in the USA.

But when you look at the list, you have to wonder how some of those films managed to do so well. Inflation means newer movies are more likely to cross the mark, and a strong foreign market can offset a low domestic take.

The results – films such as Transformers: Age of Extinction cross a billion dollars. (Which has the highest foreign percentage at 77.8%.) In fact, there are two Transformers movies on the list. In contrast, there is only one Harry Potter and one LOTR movie over a billion dollars. What!?

I don’t want to debate which movies deserve to be a billion dollar films based on personal opinion. (Because for one, I thought Alice in Wonderland was awful. It doesn’t surprise me its sequel is tanking.) But based on quality, appeal, and popularity, what films really should be in the billion dollar club?

Here are the films, from top to bottom:
Avatar, Titanic, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Jurassic World, Marvel's The Avengers, Furious 7, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Frozen, Iron Man 3, Minions, Captain America: Civil War, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Skyfall, Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Dark Knight Rises, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Toy Story 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Jurassic Park, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Alice in Wonderland (2010), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Zootopia, The Dark Knight

What do you think? Even if the quality was mediocre, was the subject matter appealing enough anyway? Are those all billion dollar films?


Going to the MST3K Reunion show? What are your favorite albums of the year so far? Posting for WEP in August? Know any of the robot movies? And what films should and shouldn’t be in the billion dollar club?

Don’t forget to visit Anne R. Allen!

122 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

Ah! the first of many comments for you Alex.
Loved reading all the news and gossips that is happening in Blogsphere.
Also the books, authors and films.
Have a good week.
Yvonne.

Heather R. Holden said...

Will have to remember to check out your guest post! And huh, it seems like I've only seen two movies from that billion dollar list. (I continue to be pop-culture deficient, as always! XD)

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

I've seen three of those movies, but one of them was on DVD, not in the theater. The only two I did see in the theater were the Star Wars ones.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Wow, I've heard of *none* of the music! I'm seriously old. You've given me a great place to start to investigate what's current now, Alex, thanks!

Fascinating to me about foreign markets being key for big income...have a feeling that books will be trying to break the foreign markets very soon.

mshatch said...

Absolutely none of the middle three Star Wars movies should be on that list. I mean really, is there anyone who actually liked Jar Jar?

Natalie Aguirre said...

Really enjoyed your guest post, Alex.

I'm surprised about that movie list and that Harry Potter, LOTR, and Star Wars didn't do better.

Mason Canyon said...

I've got to start listening to music more. I feel totally lost. I'm surprised by some of the movies in the list.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Yvonne, you are first!

Heather, and I've seen all of them...

Elizabeth, I'll take a big bump in book sales from foreign markets.

Marcy, agree with you there!

Natalie, I'm just as surprised.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the shoutout, Alex! It's so good to see my book over here. I feel so famous and accomplished. Hope it can help some folks.

Jonah Ray is so funny! Have you had a chance to see him on @Midnight yet? Makes me laugh every time he's on. I'll bet he's a great addition to the tour, huh?

I have to admit, I haven't listened to any new Megadeth in a long, long time. I'm still a fan of their old stuff. I'm talking like the 90s. Maybe it's time to give them another listen? Especially if you're saying the best stuff in ten years because that's when I fell off the band wagon...get it? Band wagon? I'll be here all week folks!

The Cynical Sailor said...

I'm surprised by how many of those billion dollar movies I've actually seen. Knowing the ones that I do, I can see how they ended up in this category - full of action, look good on a big screen and lots and lots of marketing behind them. Off to check out your guest post :-)

kaykuala said...

Looking at the movie list Hank is very much behind. So many that had missed out. Perhaps need to get by slowly starting with the box-office ones

Hank

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

Thanks for the music roundup. As you know I put metal on the back burner this year as my interests have shifted to EDM, rap and hip hop, but I have no doubt the pendulum will swing back one day and when it does your list will come in handy. I am particularly interested in Megadeth, Dream Theater, Redemption and the Viking metal of Amon Amarth. Enjoy the rest of your week, good buddy Alex!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Alex, left a comment on Anne's blog. You summed up the whole anthology benefits for everyone very well.

Love the sound of Annalisa's book. The title and book cover are both very eye-catching.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Thanks for the shout-out Alex :-)

I've bought several CDs that haven't clicked straight away, too - some are now my all-time favourites.

Joanne said...

I am out of it based on your music list - just not my genres. I've seen the majority of the billion dollar movies - entertaining and not surprised by the list. I know true fans (target males -15 thru 20s) see them multiple times and pay full price. That has to add up. I loved Annalisa's book - heartily recommend it to all.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

The music I've never heard. The movies I've seen five of. The rest I haven't a clue. I need to get out more into the world.

Have a nice week.

Jo said...

Surprisingly I have seen a lot of those movies Alex. I loved Avatar. I am also surprised the Harry Potter movies didn't do better.

Alex, are you familiar with Queen? I am not into rock bands so don't know them much to the horror of my family as granddaughter is in the Queen musical.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

I haven't even seen most of the movies on that list. The superhero movies, the Transformers, and the like -- not things I ever watch. Do they deserve to be there? I can't bring myself to watch any of them, so I don't understand the appeal. Some of the others are mysteries to me, too. Skyfall was a decent Bond film, but I don't think it was as good as Casino Royale. Why did it make so much?

Yolanda Renée said...

Billion dollar movies, wow, no wonder the tickets cost so much! Amazing! Is it the technology the salaries or the exotic places they're shot?
I've seen most of them, but as videos.
Thanks for plugging the WEP! Gardens should be fun, we need some fun!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Elsie, you're welcome! Haven't seen Ray yet, but I will in two weeks. And give the new Megadeth a listen - you won't be disappointed.

Shady, you will be ready when it does swing back.

Rachna, I saw that - thank you!

Annalisa, you're welcome.

Joanne, this fan always hits the matinee showing. I'm cheap.

Jo, of course I know Queen. Not my style of music though.

Dianne, I've asked the same question about Skyfall.

H. R. Sinclair said...

The Reunion Show should be a blast.

I don't know if all those movies were worth that kind of money, but maybe they worked for someone.

Dixie@dcrelief said...

I'll check out Elsie's book.
Number 8 on the Robots is, "Silent Running." Great movie!
Avatar will always be a favorite for me!
Have a great week, Alex.

Bish Denham said...

I like Alice in Wonderland... (oops, should I admit that?) but I don't know that it's a billion dollar baby. I'm surprised all of the Lord of the Ring movies aren't on it. As for The Hobbit, I didn't care for it nearly as much.

I don't know any of the music, but that shouldn't be a surprise since I like mellow jazz. :)

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I'm very proud of Elsie!

Happy new week, Alex.

Pat Hatt said...

I can see how they got so high. But it is laughable when you factor in inflation. Some go way down. Not sure how Alice in Wonderland is up there though, that was crap. I know why Star Wars Episode 1, Transformers, Skyfall and those crappy Pirates sequels are up there as they have name brand. Do they deserve it? Pfffft.

Jurassic World is a head scratcher though. Never thought it would do that well, as it was an okay movie at best, and most 20+ years later rarely do that well. Avatar only did that well because it was new technology at the time, not that it was the greatest ever. Dark knight rises, harry potter, toy story(or not) and lord of the rings were all last ones, so the hype were higher for the end.

Heck, Frozen, Jurassic Park and Zootopia are the only three there with no name brand, unless you count Disney. The rest all had sequels, technology, loose true story, actor death, etc. to help them out. End rant lol

Wow, the only one I know is 5: Westworld. 8. Gizmo duck? I suck at names anyway haha but no Johnny 5 Is Alive?

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

The guest post was excellent. The original Jurassic Park was so good compared to Jurassic World. So Titanic and Furious 7 are the only big movies that weren't science fiction or fantasy. Unless the Dark Knight movies would be considered real world settings. That might say something about humanity but I'm not sure what.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Just because I'm old and sentimental, I'm going with yes for Titanic and Jurassic Park.

I'm not even going to guess at any of those robot movies....

Re-watched Annabel this weekend in preparation for seeing The Conjuring 2 soon. Will hopefully watch The Conjuring again, too.

Anonymous said...

I only know two of the trivia this week: #1 Black Hole and #7 I think is Clash of the Titans. I've actually seen quite a few of the billion dollar movies. I can't imagine how some of them got on that list. I mean, Phantom Menace and Alice in Wonderland?? Really?? I'd agree with Avengers, Return of the King, and Jurassic Park, anyway. It's interesting how much more money is made in foreign markets.
Off to check out some links!

Christine Rains said...

Yay for the MST3K reunion! If one of your clones could babysit, I could go. ;) I don't think some of those movies should be on that billion dollar list. But my usual tastes tend to be off to the side of mainstream. I'm off to visit Anne's. :) Have a good week, Alex!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex … Great books – Elsie’s personal account – I’m certain that will be found by those who need it … You.I.Us – great title by Annalisa … while the WEP August Challenge of “Gardens” … great opportunity …

While the Themes that Rocked the Challenge – great choice by Jeffrey … I’ve kept Anne Allen’s post to read when I can concentrate … cheers for now - Hilary

Tamara Narayan said...

Through the Looking Glass was pretty bad, wasn't it? I am surprised Alice in Wonderland made so much money. I've seen less than half of those billion dollar films so I can't really comment on whether or not they should be there. People spend money on all sorts of strange things, like coffee and cigarettes, so drawing a correllation between quality and profit is dubious at best. I doubt many of these films would make my top ten list.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

As far as movies crossing the billion dollar mark, I don't have a well-thought out opinion on that. However, I do hope that the Warcraft movie makes enough money to warrant a sequel. I disregarded pessimistic reviews (as I played WoW for many years) and went to see it and absolutely loved it. So yeah, I'm part of the audience/critical disconnect for sure.

Chrys Fey said...

I do think with movies it is about popularity. Especially appeal to the younger generation. If it's something that is big and has a big following (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel Comics), it'll get big bucks and a lot of people watching watching it. I am surprised about Minions and Alice in Wonderland being on that list.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Yolanda, you're welcome. And that's how much the movies have grossed, not how much they cost to make.

Dixie, well done!

Pat, I have no idea why Jurassic World did so well when none of the other sequels did. And you got one.

Susan, those are the only two that aren't some kind of fantasy or science fiction.

Madeline, seeing The Conjuring 2 tomorrow.

Lori, I know! And you got two right.

Tamara, good point.

Michael, I have no desire to see it, but it's killing in foreign markets right now.

Chrys, I get Minions because they are popular, but Alice baffles me.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

The quality of movies I'm attracted to don't make the big bucks. However, I did love Harry Potter, Star Wars, Spider Man, Bourne series, and The Dark Knight, but I watched them on dvd. I was surprised SpiderMan wasn't on the list. If I was producing movies, I'd be thrilled to have a sleeper. I would think the cost of making these movies means they're charging way too muchto attend the theatre. Keep the costs down, make a ton of money, and produce a film that will stand the test of time. Ps. I had to look up MST3K. I've never seen it on Canadian television. Don't think we get it here.

Andrew Leon said...

Movies frequently owe more to hype than quality.

A Beer for the Shower said...

Yeah, some of those do surprise me. Not just the bad ones, but the ones which are very much 'meh'. There are very, very few movies on that list I'd want to see twice.

And hey, it looks like MST3K is playing at a nearby theater (for once). May have to check that out.

Patsy said...

Of those films on the list which I've seen, none stand out to be as being considerably better than others in a simalar style/genre. There seems to be little logic about which films (or books) become massively popular and which sink without trace.

Birgit said...

I don't know any music that I would want to buy from this year but it wouldn't be heavy metal:) as for the robots...I know #5 is Westworld...I think anyway and I know the names of the others but can't think of the names. I am thinking is there one that stars Hume Cronyn and Jessican Tandy?. A Disney film has to be there. I guess no Hal or Robbie the Robot? I know that these films would be considered the ones who made the most money but if one would accurately place movies who made the most money in today's dollars Gone With The Wind made over a trillion! I was shocked but I did look it up a few months back. The Sound of Music, Star Wars, and the Jungle Book animated film are all in the top 5. It's amazing how much some of these movies actually made.

The Angry Lurker said...


1 – V.I.N.C.E.N.T. and B.O.B., 1978 BLACK HOLE
2 – Evil Robot Us-es and Good Robot Us-es, 1991
3 – Bishop, 1986 ALIEN
4 – Hector, 1980
5 – Gunslinger, 1973
6 – Dot Matrix, 1987
7 – Bubo, 1981
8 – Huey, Dewey, and Louie, 1972 DARK STAR

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Like Elizabeth, I know none of the music you listed, but then few out there know of Diana Krall, Matias Puumala, Mythos, Thomas Bergensen, Jesse Cook, Thea Gilmore, or Sissel. We all have different musical tastes. I am happy so much of the music you enjoy has been released this year! Thanks for visiting me today and chatting. :-)

Sandra Cox said...

Just went over to Anne's. Great post.

Susan Kane said...

I am truly surprised some on this list. Read the list and thought...yeah..maybe..okay...I can see that...

Sometimes it feels like the weak premise and poorly written script are wrapped with computer effects, which is supposed to rescue the film.

stephen Hayes said...

I wish the writing in Avatar was better. I've seen the movie and the story was too riddled with cliches to hold my interest.

Liz A. said...

What? No Number 5 in your robots? No Short Circuit love...

Billion dollar movies. Must have a fairly broad appeal. Or hit the zeitgeist in some way. Something to think about.

Mark said...

I think the issue with billion dollar marks for Harry Potter and LOTR is that the stories are sequential and people want to see the other films first, but with Batman it doesn't matter whether you saw the other films first because each has a very standalone quality to it. Food for thought in terms of marketing strategies.

Karen Lange said...

The August challenge looks interesting. Will have to check it out. Happy Monday!

Elephant's Child said...

As always congratulations to those with books out.
This non-writer (but obsessed gardener) is considering the WEP August challenge.

J E Oneil said...

The reunion show sounds great. But the billion dollar club really confuses me. Some of those movies are awesome, but two Transformer movies?! Alice in Wonderland?! But on the other hand, how some sequels got greenlit is suddenly starting to make sense...

Anonymous said...

I always enjoy looking at your musical selections. I look forward to Annalisa's book.

Tonja Drecker said...

Congrats on the guest post! I'm going to have to pop on over and take a look. I've actually seen most of those movies (wow), but whether they all are a billion dollars worth...huh. But then, my taste and opinions tend not to always go with the general flow anyway :) Have a great week!

Fundy Blue said...

I enjoyed visiting Anne's blog and reading your post, Alex. I still remember the thrill of having a short story of mine published in "The Antigonish Review." It was more of a literary journal than an anthology, but that didn't diminish the thrill. How nice to see that Elsie's book has been published! I haven't heard any of the music CDs that you reviewed. All I've gotten this year is "Whispers" by Passenger and Adele's "25." But then, I've hardly been home. As for the billion dollar movies? I'm surprised at how many I've actually seen! Thanks for all you do to encourage writers! Have a good one!

Liza said...

I didn't know about WEP. I'm investigating. Thanks!

Fundy Blue said...

btw, October might be hard for me to co-host. If you need someone in November, I can help. It's the least I can do to help someone who does so much for others.

John Wiswell said...

It's pointless trying to connect lasting value with profitability of art. There's no painting in the world worth seven figures to me, and there's no ulcer worth arguing over the merit of the Transformers movies. All they have to do is convince people they're worth an afternoon of escapism. I didn't care for Avatar either, but so long smaller movies like Moon get made, I can be a happy boy!

Janie Junebug said...

I must admit I don't know what you're talking about, except with the movies. But I try to learn new things. I was more up on current culture when my son was a teenager. He taught me the names of bands and what was popular. Now he's thirty-six. We like to watch documentaries together. Sometimes he explains something current to me, but often when I ask who someone is or what something means, he's as clueless as I am.

Love,
Janie

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Joylene, that's a crime you don't get it. The show began in Minnesota.

Brandon and Bryan, go! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Birgit, you got one. And yes, inflation adjusted, Gone With the Wind would be number one.

Fran, you got two - so close on that last one!

Thanks, Sandra!

Susan, sometimes that does happen. Like the Transformers movies.

Liz, thought it would be too obvious.

Mark, very true.

Elephant's Child, you should.

JE, now you know why...

Fundy, November it is!

DMS said...

It is interesting to think about the fact that billion dollar movies have to do so well in the foreign market because that is where a lot of the money comes from. I think that makes the list make more sense to me because I think a lot of action transcends different cultures and language barriers and many of the movies on the list are visually appealing for the action scenes that are happening. I haven't seen them all- but I did like Titanic, LOTR, Star Wars and many others.

Great post!
~Jess

Jenni said...

I have fond memories of watching MST. I didn't know about the tour. I really like the look of you. i. us.--what a gorgeous cover. I'll be checking out your guest post.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Well, I have put my own dollars into each of those movies (I've seen them all), so I guess I can see other people having paid to see them. I'm surprised, like you, that there weren't more HP and LOTR films on there, though. Huh?

Rhonda Albom said...

Sometimes when I read your blog I feel like I live in a bubble. I have only seen a handful of the billion dollar movies (and of course this list includes the one filmed in New Zealand). But worse, today I was very lost as don't even know MST3K (so no reunion show for me). And as for the robots, I know one of those.

Botanist said...

Interesting that such an overwhelming proportion of the billion $$ films fall into the sci-fi/fantasy category, yet that is supposed to be an unpopular/nerdish genre in books.

I'm happy that Avatar is #1. I know it's been disparaged as "Dances with Smurfs" but just speaking for myself I found it one of the best movie experiences in recent years.

Truedessa said...

Hi Alex,

Well, that sure was a loaded post. Filled with a lot of news. I have seen many of the movies, but I am surprised that some made the billion dollar mark. I really enjoyed Avatar and Lord of the Rings was epic.

I read your guest post, I found it interesting and now I am pondering.

I did buy some of Dream Theater's music. It is a bit unique which is probably why I enjoyed it.

Hope you have a good week!

Jemi Fraser said...

I haven't seen a lot of those movies. A few I love, I few I didn't like much at all. Proves we all have such different tastes! And that makes the world an interesting place :)

Charles Gramlich said...

I may have to watch this, see if I can get into it. That is, the reunion show.

dolorah said...

I've seen all those movies except Zootopia. Very good movies, though I can't say what should or should not make any "list". I just know what I like.

My grand kids are now introducing me to new music. Fantastic, lol.

Nilanjana Bose said...

I have seen some of those billion dollar films, wow, I must be a more frequent cine-goer than I thought! :) Some of them are truly great. Utterly baffling ones are those where techno-fanciness is supposed to substitute for good story telling.

Your post on anthologies was thought provoking and crisp as usual. I loved Parallels. Short fiction is one of my favourite formats and I particularly enjoyed this compilation.

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Your list kind of explains why Hollywood keeps doing remakes and sequels.

I can't believe Megadeath is still rocking! They've been around for a long time.

Tammy Theriault said...

It's said that Alice in Wonderland is gonna down the "rabbit hole" but I wasn't a fan of Avatar so what does THAT tell you?

Helena said...

I enjoy the Harry Potter and Star Wars movies, but I'm also tired of the big, over-the-top spectacle films dominating productions because of the overseas appeal. Maybe this is yet another reason why I loved grown-up, intelligent flicks last year like Bridge of Spies and Brooklyn. Sometimes I want a movie that feeds my brain and heart, not just my adrenal gland.

Roland Clarke said...

Know some of these droid movies. Gunslinger guy was scary like the King of Siam. As for the Duck guys that was a great movie with Bruce Dern but name escaped me until someone got it wrong. Will keep thinking.

Patricia Stoltey said...

I'm not a big fan of a lot of the billion dollar movies. I would include, however, all of the Lord of the Rings films, and most of the Star Wars movies.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Shannon, I can't figure it out.

Rhonda, burst that bubble!

Ian, that is ironic, isn't it? And I thought Avatar was great. Apparently, so did a lot of people.

Truedessa, awesome! You rock.

Jemi, it does make it interesting...

Donna, my nephew and I share new bands with each other.

JH, for thirty-five years, and Dave was with Metallica before that.

Roland, you know two of them!

Sandra Cox said...

On the movie list: I really wasn't that wowed by Avatar.

Cherie Reich said...

It's a bit surprising that more of the Harry Potter and LotR movies didn't reach that billion dollar threshold. If doing well in foreign markets is key, then I think that would answer why some films cross that threshold and others don't. For example, I have heard how hard it is to get a film in China, so it stands to reason that if a film isn't being shown there, then it'll have less of a chance of making a billion or more dollars.

Intangible Hearts said...

I must be weird because I don't see any great movies that I loved and watched over and over again in the list of billion dollar movies and I'm not familiar with most of the music either but the one used for pillaging might be interesting. LOL

Arlee Bird said...

I see on the schedule that a June 28th MST3k show will be playing at a theater about 5 miles from where I live. I won't be going though. Haven't been to a movie in a theater for maybe 11 years?

I've seen a few of those billion dollar movies and a few were good, but several don't interest me that much. It's a lot of money, but you figure that the government spends at least a billion dollars a day and a lot goes to crappier things than those movies. Oh, what I could do with a billion dollars and it would take me a long time to do it and I'd still have a lot left.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Dot Matrix - Spaceballs.

The MST3K show will be so funny.

shelly said...

I don't watch enough newer movies to give an opinion .

Stephanie Faris said...

Those aren't my type of movies, but those are the ones most avid moviegoers seem to love, so yeah. That's a good list for that. I watch comedies when I do watch movies--mostly I'm a TV watcher these days, though.

Dean K Miller said...

Cool books this week. Billion dollar movies? Guess so. Worth it? Not so sure, but the public votes with their dollars.

Elizabeth said...

I was rooting for the new Star Wars movie to pass those James Cameron films. I do see a few of my favorites listed in there. I agree with you, the new Alice in Wonderland was terrible, I don't know how it made the list.

I am considering participating in the WEP, I already had it bookmarked :)

Carrie-Anne said...

Unsurprisingly, none of those movies are really my style, though I've seen some of them. I'm surprised nothing older than 1993 made the cut, though I agree about inflation possibly making older films higher-grossers by modern standards. They all, however, do seem like the types of movies to earn that much money, since they appeal to the masses and aren't period dramas, indie films. or subtitled films.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

What the billion dollar club for movies prove is that above all you have to entertain your audience. People are not shelling out the big bucks and multiple viewings for a bore. No matter what the critics say. I'm just glad Zootopia crossed over the threshold into the billion dollar club. Such an amazing movie and it's nice to see a non princess make the animated billion dollar list. I enjoy princess movies but sometimes it seems that's all female animated movies will let us star as most of the time. I mean Judy Hopps is the only female starring character in the top fifty animated films (theaters) list that is not a princess. With the various male characters that says quite a bit. There are some male starring ones with great female co-stars or ensembles. But it still makes me think.

Deniz Bevan said...

I still like the fact that Dave Mustaine likes Outlander :-)
An album about da Vinci? And songs all about vikings? Those sound really neat!

Sean McLachlan said...

I don't think any Madrid theaters will be showing the MST3K reunion, but I'm stoked that the show will be coming back!!!!

Jennifer Lane said...

Wow, James Cameron OWNS it. There are quite a few movies on the billion dollar list I haven't seen--I'm not into the superhero phenomenon. Seen a few MST3K movies and they are hilarious so I'm glad they're coming back.

Sandra Cox said...

Still discussing movies:)
I enjoyed Alice in Wonderland:) I've never seen a Transformer movie. I may have to rent the original. (See how outdated I am....renting:)

Crystal Collier said...

I honestly don't get it on some of those movies. Seriously. I mean, maybe I'm just picky, but many of the top 25 I think are just okay. Where the heck is Serenity anyway. ;)

Robin said...

I hadn't been over to Elsie's place yet. So happy to see her book is out. :)

That movie list is something. I guess it isn't all that surprising that foreign markets are going to different. I think we also must consider the teenager market. They see a lot of movies. When you consider the teenage foreign market, well... maybe that clears it up by making it really muddy. Who knows what they're thinking????

Murees Dupè said...

Congratulations to all the authors with new releases. Awesome! I liked Avatar. it was good. Can't believe only one of The Lord of the Rings movies is on the list though. A few of those movies leave me feeling "What?" But that's just me. Have a great week/ weekend, Alex.

Al Penwasser said...

Zootopia????
Already?
Is that right?

Jeffrey Scott said...

Once again I'm behind in all my blogging and reading. I'm hoping to catch up in the next few days.
So here I am now, a little late. I apologize.

I would love to see the MST3K reunion show. But unfortunately, I'm not in the area.

Thanks again for the mention. I'm certainly honoured to be featured first as a theme that rocked the challenge.

As for the robots, Vincent and Bob are from the Black Hole. Bishop is from Aliens, Gun-slinger from Robot World?
The rest sound familiar and I'm sure I'll be banging my head against the wall when I hear the answers.

Unknown said...

Amon Amarth is one of those bands my sons love and I'm still trying to get used to. An acquired taste, perhaps.

Those movies . . . I find it astounding that Toy Story 3 is there but not the first one (which, IMO, was tons better), so I have to believe that at least some of those on the list are simply because of inflation. Most of them, though, are ones I've enjoyed, so at least I know my taste isn't too far off the mark—other than my incredulity at seeing only one LOTR and one Harry Potter there, as you'd mentioned.

Nicki Elson said...

So...wait - they've continued putting out new music since the 80s? How come nobody told me?

Huh. Interesting that the best Pirates movie didn't make the list. I guess it makes sense since it was the first and momentum grew after. But still. Raiders of teh Lost Ark (*hmph* not on the list) is coming back to the big screen at a theater near me next week. I"m so excited!!

Julie Flanders said...

It's sad that I don't know even one of the trivia movies this time. I guess it's safe to say robots are not my thing LOL.

I need to check out Anne's blog.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Cherie, very true! And those Oriental markets eat up movies like Transformers.

Lee, you should go! It's a completely different experience.

Diane, correct!

Elizabeth, good to know I wasn't the only one who didn't think Alice was good.

Sheena-kay, Zootopia was a great film. And good point it didn't star a princess.

Deniz, you should pick it up!

Sean, so am I!

Sandra, the first one is the only one worth watching.

Crystal, yeah! Where is Serenity?

Al, it is! And just in time for the DVD release last week.

Jeffrey, you're welcome. And you got two right.

Lynda, inflation has a lot to do with it. And your sons rock!

Nicki, you know now! And be cool to see Raiders in the theater again.

Gossip_Grl said...

Love all the movies listed for the Billion Dollar Club! They belong there. :)

Loni Townsend said...

I hope you really enjoy the reunion show!

Interesting about the money makers. It makes me think of Warcraft and how it tanked in the US but is doing great in China. Heh. All those gold farmers. :)

Leandra Wallace said...

I've never heard of MST3K before, but now I'm curious. I loved Avatar, that to me is definitely a billion dollar movie. And the Harry Potters, Lord of the Rings, and Jurassic World.

M Pax said...

I would love to go to the reunion, but I"ll be working. I'm always working these days. I never watched a transformers. The whole idea bores me. Star Trek should be on the list. I'll be there in July at the IMAX.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Furious 7 made the list? Aside from honoring a great man who happened to be a decent actor and some nostalgia, I don't get that one. I only don't get the Transformer movies - I fell asleep in one, and barely stayed awake in another.

Love your semi-annual list and your shout-out for MST3K!

Sandra Cox said...

Congrats to Annalisa and Elsie.
Happy Thursday, Alex.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Toy Story 3 and Zootopia seem rather out of place on that list. Jurassic Park and Star Wars definitely deserve the billion dollar mark since they broke new ground. Very exciting MST3K news!

Sherry Ellis said...

I haven't heard any of the music you've listed. Maybe I should expand my horizons. ;-)

mail4rosey said...

I was standing in line at Disney and people were getting VERY excited about the new Avatar movie!

Toi Thomas said...

Sad to say, money making movies are all about marketing, release date, and hype (but foreign sales do make a difference). It's easy for mediocre kids or "family" movies to become blockbusters. With the right release date, marketing, and merchandising a billion dollar movie is a predictable stat (quality has nothing to do with it). Every now and then, a truly good film gets just the right release date and marketing to shine as it should.

Lux G. said...

I don't know for both Transformers and Avatar. Not really a fan of both. But I love The Hobbit. :)

Unknown said...

I've seen your tweets about the MST3K show. You must be very excited!

Congrats to Annalisa and Elsie on their releases!

I really enjoyed about 5 movies on the billion dollar list. But if I wrote a personal Top 50 movies, none of those would be on it.

Unknown said...

Oh! I almost forgot about your guest post. I'm scurrying off to Anne's now. :)

Jeff Chapman said...

Looking forward to the MST reunion. I remember killing a lot of time watching that show.

Sandra Cox said...

Have a great weekend, Alex. How was Dori?

klahanie said...

Hi Alex,

Sorry, but you've lost me in regards to MST3K Reunion Show. I never even heard of the original show.

Loads of links, as per usual, good sir. I shall attempt to get over to your guest post.

Have a peaceful, hopeful weekend.

Gary

Unknown said...

I love most of those billion dollar movies. Especially excited to see a Harry Potter movie on the list. That's cool Zootipia made it on there, haven't seen it yet.

Unknown said...

I love most of those billion dollar movies. Especially excited to see a Harry Potter movie on the list. That's cool Zootipia made it on there, haven't seen it yet.

David Powers King said...

I really could use more MST3K in my life. So glad the crowdfund was a success! :)

Mason T. Matchak said...

1: The Black Hole, 2: Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, 3: Aliens, 6: Spaceballs. That's all I've got, though half's not bad.

And from a writer's perspective, it boggles my mind that Jurassic World made over a billion dollars. I don't care if the effects were good and - as my friends keep reminding me - the entire point of it was dinosaurs eating people. The writing in that movie was horrible. And the whole thing could have been done better if they hadn't had the kids. -_-

As for music, the only new release I care much about is Garbage's new album. ^_^

Tara Tyler said...

Hey Ninja Buddy!
Here's my 2 cents on films and money
So, film prices have jumped in the last few years, and so have computer animated sequences - which I haven't done my research but I know this cost shouldn't be as much as "real f/x" but is costly for all the people and time it takes to create...

Anyway, I always question monetary rankings. Of course good new films are going to break box office records, they cost more to see (think of 3D as well!)

Quite frankly, I don't see how minions and zootopia made the list, summer releases and needed to get the kids out? That might have something to do with it too. And did you notice how many are Disney? they know how to promote! You know I'm a numbers gal, lots of bias in this list that lends to their high $$!!

The Happy Whisk said...

Have a great time going to see them, Alex. Sounds like a hoot and a half.

Thanks for all your visits this week. Hope your weekend is going well. Tim put up the new blinds in the bedroom. Oh my gosh, I love them. And him. Such a fun weekend.

Cheers and boogie boogie.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Alex, I got your e-mail and Twitter DM. Please let me know if my messages got through. Sorry for all the trouble.

Michelle Wallace said...

I'm off to Anne's blog to check out the post! Almost forgot!

Heather M. Gardner said...

I hope the reunion show is good!

Great music!

Heather