When Avatar was released ages ago in 2009-its already been 2 1/2 years!? It revolutionized the movie industry. Avatar made around an extra $200 million dollars off of just higher ticket prices and charging people for 3D glasses! Soon basically every "major" movie of 2010, and "every other movie" of 2011 was filmed or post-converted into 3D. The 3D frenzy is still in high gear in Hollywood, but the popularity of it overall has dropped. Are re-releases having any effect?
The 3D re-release of Toy Story did a middling $30 million, but it was a limited engagement. Though on the other hand, The Lion King, which was supposed to a limited release, soon got a full run after its successful opening, and went on to make $94 million, which was enough to push it back to #9 all time. Soon a wave of new re-releases were announced, most from Disney. 3D is doing just fine overseas, but does America really care? Beauty and the Beast and Episode 1 did somewhat "disappointing" numbers, and Titanic was re-released last weekend and finished #3; its 5-day opening total was a somber $25 million.
Titanic's problem was that it is still aired regularly on television, I watched it in February on cable, and plus the facts that it is over 3 hours long and many theaters not offering 2D showings probably turned people away. Is this a sign that 3D re-releases are failing? In my opinion, not necessarily; I do believe 3D is fading fast and most people, especially families, are resorting back to the typical 2D format, and I feel moviegoers are wanting more original ideas like Safe House, Chronicle, and The Vow, but I think the fails of Titanic and Star Wars were mostly that they're just too long and too expensive to view again when they are still widely available.
3D is becoming a thing of the past, again, but re-releases for now should be fine. My advice to Hollywood, add 2D options! Shoot even 4D, just don't make 3D the only choice for the movie goer, or they will wait.
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