The mood was generally optimistic, but concerns, and room for improvement, remain.
If it runs into September, then you get worried.
Most movies can still make their dates if they can get into production by the end of the summer.
Netherlands, Austria and Norway have seen growth while Spain and Italy in May achieved results close to 2019.
The UK remains a market to watch.
And its been really feast or famine, either breaking records, or we have nothing.
We always have movies perform better than other movies.
We have always had movies that underperformed against expectations.
Normally, you’re able to point a finger at something.
I think thats been a little more challenging this year.
Was it the way they were promoted?
Was it the content?
Was it the audience?
But the movies that are not performing are doing worse than they ever did… As an industry, Cripps continued, we can do better.
We have to do better if were going to attract that audience.
Is it because the films arent there to attract that segment of the audience?
Thats part of it… All studios were producing fewer movies post-pandemic.
Were still catching up…
There are challenges inherent in the industry to doing that at the moment.
And hopefully that changes over time.
We have generally seen also relatively better performance on specialized films likeBelfastlast year andMrs.
HarrisandTarbetter than domestic relatively, and especially in Europe.
I think its more a matter of awareness.
Theres a lot of runway there to build up that reputation.
OnEvil Dead Rise, a movie that was made for HBO Max, Cripps noted a pivot.
Thats a movie that did $140 million around the world, and was incredibly successful.
And thats $140 million that wasnt going to be in the in the ecosystem.
Said Cripps, He was right.
It did $90 million around the world… Richards was bullish on closer collaboration with the Hollywood majors.
Cripps offered, I would say, work with us.
Were all challenged with budgets, movies are more expensive, the macro-economic situation is challenged.
Swinkels concurred, I think the biggest transformation in marketing has been exactly that, its the smarts.
And its the data analytics that go beyond behind it…
It is a testament to building those relationships and maintaining those relationships, because its essential.
Its not for any other reason than to be stronger together.
Looking to the future, Cripps offered, We spend a lot of time arguing about short term wins.
Weve got to focus on the long term.
So I would just encourage everyone focus on the long term.
Lets make it a better industry.
And then, upgrade the experience on both sides, really lean into special formats and bringing it forward.
Speaking of PLFs, Cripps called them a critically important part of the economic equation.
And its no coincidence in my mind that theyre more expensive, but they sell out faster.
Consumers want an experience and I think we have to continue to provide a differentiator from the home experience.
There are some fantastic blockbusters this summer, said Cripps.
But looking at the fall, theres still a gap in the release schedule.
Weve got to continue to take a stab at provide consumers with year-round entertainment.
But its not going to happen this year.
Fortunately, this year, we get a taste of it.
And I think weve hopefully got a good summer.
But weve got this big gap again in the autumn.
We just need more films.
The exhibition exec is sanguine on the coming years.
Really starting ground zero again.
And we have that opportunity to do something special to create a longer term basis for the industry.
