Summer is known as blockbuster season in the film industry, the time of the year when all of the fast-paced action films and gut-busting comedies hit the big screen. I love summer blockbusters because they’re the kinds of movies that help you kick back, relax, and beat the heat for a few hours.
Movies didn’t always work like this, though. Until the 70s, films usually debuted in big cities first, then trickled down to smaller towns and suburbs, relying on word-of-mouth to pave the way to ticket sales.
On June 20th, 1975, that all changed with the release of a little film you may have heard of, Jaws. Not only did Jaws open in over 400 theaters (a huge number at the time) but it was immediately embraced by nearly everyone who saw it. No one could stop talking about Jaws, and people flocked to the theater to see it over and over again. Jaws went on to rule the box office for 14 weekends straight, breaking records and changing the way movies – especially in the summer – are experienced.
Today, Hollywood still strives for summer blockbusters, but they seem to have gone downhill over the years. Once, we watched films like Jaws, E.T., and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Now, we’re given movies like The Hangover, Bridesmaids, and the blockbuster hopeful hitting theaters today: Sex Tape. I know what you’re thinking, and don’t worry. Movies haven’t gotten that desperate – at least not yet. After ten years and two kids, however, the passion has started to cool for one couple played by Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz. In order to “spice up” their marriage, they film a sex tape… and accidentally send it into the cloud. When friends and acquaintances start texting reviews…well, you can imagine the rest!
While it may not be quite as scary as a dorsal fin skimming the surface of the water, watch the trailer (if you dare) and judge for yourself. Will it be a blockbuster hit? Is it worth the $8 ticket and $20 for popcorn and refreshments? Is it just me, or does it seem that the worse the movies get, the more they cost? But then again, what do I know? Thanks to my two girls, I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie that wasn’t rated G!
Whether you line up for light comedic fare like Sex Tape, or prefer another viewing of Jaws on Netflix, I hope your summer is turning out to be a blockbuster….
Pass the popcorn this weekend,
~ Bob
