The Word On Film

The Number 1 Movie in America:
Everyone wants to see it, but is it any good?


We hear this phase almost every week for almost every new film. "This film is The Number One Movie in America!" When I thought of this column, "Bruce Almighty" was the number one movie in America. Now it's "2 Fast 2 Furious." By the time this is published, my prediction will be that "Hollywood Homicide" may overtake the Racing Duo only to be replaced by Ang Lee's "The Hulk." How long will "The Hulk" last as The Number One Movie in America? Well, may be long enough to get the commercials distributed to the networks. I wouldn't be surprised if that ad has already been made, and is just sitting in the can, waiting to be unleashed.

What is the hype behind being The Number One Movie in America? Well, let's look at this logically. You get to strut your stuff, that's a big reason. My movie grossed more that your movie. Another big reason-you just made a ton of money. Third reason, you get to air the damn commercial proclaiming that your movie is The Number One Movie in America, and if you haven't seen this movie yet, get with it! But, there is another reason to consider: the longer you can say that you are The Number One Movie in America, the more money you are permitted to spend on advertising and distribution so that you stay The Number One Movie in America.

Ok, I know that it is a lot like the time traveling-whoops, I killed my grandfather-- paradox, but it works. Think about the stock market back in the 80s, the more you spent the more you made. Movies work the same way. Executives and producers review daily box office reports (usually provided by good ol' Neilson) to determine negotiation strategy between exhibitors and distributors. Execs are also determining the effectiveness of their multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns. Being The Number One Movie in America is a meter of financial success. The current number one movie, "2 Fast 2 Furious," earned $50.5 million dollars its opening weekend. Compare that to "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," which has been screening for 25 weeks and is about to make $400 million in cumulative gross sales. Is it possible to keep up that momentum? Well, "X2: X-men United" has just grossed $200 million in only six weeks. So, if you do have a blockbuster (and believe me, that is a whole separate column), then you just might have a contender.

But, here is the one thing that I have been pondering. Are the Number One Movies in American any good?

Generally, I think, no.

I mean, they're fun and exciting, a bit too trendy, and in some cases gone from the theaters in sixty seconds. Also, these movies that claim to be The Number One Movie in America, sometimes for only one week, tend to be some of the worst movies of the year.

I have always been one to run away from the masses. As a kid I told myself that I didn't like chocolate cake because everyone else liked chocolate cake. Although the same mantra didn't work with Michael Jackson's "Thriller," it worked with the Back Street Boys and "Titanic." I refused to see "Titanic" in the theater. When I finally saw the video, I realized that the second VHS tape, the sinking of the ship, was the only tape of the pair worth watching. Are The Number One Movies in American any good? I don't think so. I find them too gimmicky, too ephemeral, too now. Not that I don't enjoy them, I just wished that anything labeled the number one anything was pretty damn good.

So, not personally satisfied with that weak opinion, I decided to do a bit of research. How many of The Number One Movies in America have actually proven their status by winning an Oscar? Because I didn't want to sit before the computer all night toggling between the New York Times All-Time US and Canada Box Office list and The Academy Awards Legacy page, I only compared Best Picture, not Best Actor/Actress, Screenplay, etc.

Out of the 100 Top Grossing Films in American (and Canada) - and I am pretty positive at one point during their runs were proclaimed The Number One Movie in America - only eight films have won Best Picture Oscars.

In all fairness, there is somewhat of a trend with the All-Time Box Office mega moneymakers. Only 20% of the movies were made before 1990. Think of any movie in the past thirteen years that had major special effects and "star power," and it will be on the All-Time list. This also brings up statistical improbability. There are 80 remaining box office blockbusters competing for 65 Oscar nominations with only 13 awards to go around. How many of the 80 All-Time Box Office movies were nominated for an Oscar? Well, that too is another list and another column.

I do know that there are other movie awards to consider, like the Golden Globe Awards and the MTV Movie Awards, not to mention the short-lived Blockbuster (movie rental chain) Awards. I refer you back to my original statement; I didn't want to be in front of the computer all night. However, to address the all fairness issue once again, let's take a look at the MTV Movie Awards for Best Movie. (Why the MTV Movie Awards? Well, their award has only been on the books since 1997, so less toggling…)

Maybe The Number One Movie in America can be seen as the booby prize for losing - or not even being a contender for - the Oscar or Golden Globe. "Chicago" may have the Best Picture statue for 2002, but "Spider-Man" had over $400 million in sales, placing it number five on the All-Time Box Office list. So, should we use the moniker "The Number One Movie in America" to sway our movie going preference for the evening? With my fiancé, a man who loves movies but really loves movies with explosions, then by all means, follow that yellow brick road to the movies. For someone like me, someone anti-chocolate cake, go to the Oscar Legacy list, pick a movie, and enjoy a rental for the evening.

Rebecca invites your ideas, insights, reviews, arguments, thoughts and incredibly wrong opinions:
back-talk Rebecca

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