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The year's animated slate failed to produce a $200 million hit, the first time that's happened since 2005. Likewise, comic-book superheroes slipped in 2011, the genre unable to deliver a $200 million hit for only the second time in the last 10 years. Even Adam Sandler, one of Hollywood's most-bankable stars, had a
mixed year, managing a $100 million hit with "Just Go With It" but
barely crossing $70 million with "Jack and Jill." Studio executives typically blame slow business on "the product"
-- weak
movies that leave fans indifferent. But during the first few months of the
year, when business lagged as much as 20 percent behind 2010's, studios were
confident they had great product coming, with many executives predicting
that 2011 would finish with record revenues, topping the all-time domestic
high of $10.6 billion in 2009. The movies themselves turned out fairly good, and surprise smashes such
as "Bridesmaids," "The Help," "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "The
Smurfs" boosted business. But the year was littered with duds ("Happy Feet Two," "Tower Heist,"
"Cowboys & Aliens"). And with only days left in 2011, Tom Cruise's "Mission:
Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" is leading a batch of holiday releases that so
far has done only so-so business, despite generally good reviews and high
marks from the fans that are showing up. Hollywood is left right where it was 12 months ago, finishing the year
quietly and looking ahead to a promising lineup to turn its fortunes around
next year. Even more so than 2011's schedule once looked, the 2012 film list looks
colossal. Among the highlights: the superhero tales "The Dark Knight Rises,"
"The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Avengers"; the latest in the animated
franchises "Ice Age" and "Madagascar," along with "Brave," the new adventure
from animation master Pixar; Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' "Men in Black
3"; Daniel Craig's new James Bond thriller "Skyfall"; Johnny Depp's vampire
story "Dark Shadows"; Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," a cousin to his sci-fi
classic "Alien"; and Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,"
the first in a two-part prequel to his "Lord of the Rings" films. That's just a small sampling of 2012's big-screen titles, which also
include 3-D reissues of "Titanic," "Finding Nemo," "Beauty and the Beast"
and "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace." Looking ahead, there's good reason for optimism in Hollywood. Looking
back, though, the past year spells caution. "I'm not prepared to be Chicken Little yet, but if the films coming in
2012 can't reverse this trend, then I think we need to reevaluate our
expectations," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "We are living
in a different world today than we did in the mid-'90s in terms of the
technology available to deliver media. That may finally be having an
impact."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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