Quote Originally Posted by Frobisher View Post
People always come out with this estimate calculation (marketing doubles the cost to the studio etc), but to me this seems to hugely oversimplify the value of a movie over time. Movies always get a second life on rental, DVD, TV and streaming, and some continue to bring in revenue for decades. Obviously you get cult hits like the orgiinal Austin Powers and Blade Runner that made far more money in home formats than they ever did at the box office - enough to get sequels exploit that cultural cachet.
DVD sales are a pittance next box office, especially in today's market.

For example the movie Titanic. One of the biggest movies ever in history and one that came out in the height of the VHS / DVD era. Lifetime its brought in a grand total of about $33 million in VHS / DVD / Blue Ray sales. And thats before you take out store cut and production costs.

DVD sales and cable can popularize a movie after release and thus get a movie that flopped first time around a sequel. Austin Powers is a good example. But they won't ever be enough to make or break a film. Especially now. If Titanic only made $33 million how much do you think a movie that comes out today in the streaming era makes?