{"id":25472,"date":"2015-12-02T18:11:23","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T23:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bejone03.expressions.syr.edu\/trf235\/?p=25472"},"modified":"2015-12-02T18:13:38","modified_gmt":"2015-12-02T23:13:38","slug":"universal-pictures-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bejone03.expressions.syr.edu\/trf235\/2015\/12\/02\/universal-pictures-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Universal Pictures #1"},"content":{"rendered":"
Sam Selby<\/pre>\n
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Universal Logo – Source: Deadline [17]<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n
Universal Pictures
\n100 Universal City Plaza
\nUniversal City, California, 91608
\n(818) 777-1000
\nhttp:\/\/www.universalpictures.com <\/a>[23]<\/a><\/p>\n
Facebook: Universal Studios Entertainment<\/a>
\nTwitter: @UniversalPics<\/a><\/p>\n
ABOUT<\/strong>
\nUniversal Pictures (Universal), a subsidiary of NBCUniversal<\/a> (NBCU), indirectly belongs to the media conglomerate, Comcast<\/a>. Universal ranks as one of the \u201cBig Six\u201d film studios.\u00a0 Universal Studios<\/a> has two main film divisions, Universal Pictures and Focus Features<\/a>. Universal, which is the primary motion picture and distribution arm for Universal Studios, has numerous partnerships for co-productions, acquisitions, and films. Universal possesses an extensive film catalog ranging from Jurassic Park<\/a><\/em> to Bridesmaids<\/a><\/em>, and owns many popular film franchises, including Back to the Future<\/a><\/em> and Fast and Furious<\/a><\/em> [29]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Universal Pictures Iconic Moments and Memories – Source: Inside the Magic [12]<\/a><\/p><\/div>HISTORY<\/strong>
\nIn 1912, Carl Laemmle<\/a> founded Universal Film Manufacturing Company<\/a> by merging with five other film companies [28]<\/a>. Emigrating from Germany to the United States, Mr. Laemmle became a leading film distributor. Unfortunately, the financial setback from a streak of unsuccessful films forced Mr. Laemmle to sell the company. It was not until the 1960s that Universal returned to prominence [18]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
KEY EXECUTIVES<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Ronald Meyer<\/a>, Vice Chairman, NBCUniversal – Source: Comcast [16]<\/a><\/p><\/div>
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Donna Langley<\/a>, Chairman, Universal Pictures – Source: The Hollywood Reporter [26]<\/a><\/p><\/div> <\/p>\n
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FINANCES<\/strong>
\nComcast is a publicly traded company with two publicly traded classes of stock, CMCSA<\/a> and CMCSK<\/a>. With the release of its third quarter earnings<\/a>, Universal was the first studio to have three film releases exceed $1 billion in worldwide box office receipts in the same year. In third quarter 2015, revenue from films increased from $1,186,000,000 to $1,946,000,000 compared to third quarter 2014 [15]<\/a>. Executives attribute this success to the strong box office receipts of its billion-dollar blockbusters, Jurassic World<\/em><\/a> and Minions <\/em><\/a>[19]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
NBCU increased its operating cash flow for its filmed entertainment by 149.5%, from $151 million in its 2014 third quarter to $376 million in its 2015 third quarter. This higher revenue was partially affected by increasing marketing and promotional costs, and larger amortization costs. For the nine-month period ending September 30th, 2015, NBCU reported a 52.4% increase in film revenues to $5,658,000,000 in 2015 [15]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Executives reported that despite fewer theatrical releases during the fourth quarter, NBCU\u2019s film division will continue to perform well as its films are released to home entertainment and content licensing windows [35]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
FALL 2015 RELEASES<\/strong><\/p>\n
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The Visit – Source: Business Insider [21]<\/a><\/p><\/div>M. Night Shyamalan<\/a>\u2019s The Visit<\/a><\/em> was released on September 11th, 2015. The Visit<\/em> is a found footage horror film about two siblings who visit their grandparents and notice strange things about them. Shyamalan self-funded the film\u2019s budget of $5 million [2]<\/a>. Opening weekend, The Visit<\/em> made approximately $25 million and overall the film earned $65 million domestically [11]<\/a>. This film marks Shyamalan\u2019s return after multiple flops for several years.<\/p>\n
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Jem and the Holograms – Source: Entertainment Weekly [25]<\/a><\/p><\/div>Based on the 1980s cartoon<\/a>, Jem and the Holograms<\/a><\/em>, was Universal\u2019s biggest flop of the year. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu<\/a>, is about a small-town girl who rises to fame. Despite a production budget of $5 million, it grossed only $2 million domestically. The film did even worse internationally, only making $70,571 [4]<\/a>. The film opened in 2,413 theaters and made $1,375,320, which averages $570 per theater making it the third worst opening weekend for a widely released feature film [4]<\/a>[31]<\/a>. The creative decision for the film backfired as the target audience was unfamiliar with Jem<\/em>, and it did not connect with past fans. After two weeks, Universal pulled Jem<\/em> from theaters to mitigate losses [31]<\/a>. Given the film\u2019s low budget, the impact is nominal.<\/p>\n
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Steve Jobs – Source: Screen Rant [1]<\/a><\/p><\/div>Steve Jobs<\/a><\/em> was another flop for Universal. The biopic film of the late Steve Jobs<\/a> had a limited released on October 9th, 2015 followed by a wide release two weeks later. Its production budget was $30 million, but the film only grossed $17.5 million domestically [7]<\/a>. Steve Jobs<\/em> featured a star-studded cast including Michael Fassbender<\/a> and Kate Winslet<\/a>, but even this star power did not help the box office gross [22]<\/a>. Given disappointing performance, Steve Jobs<\/em> was pulled from over 2,000 theaters [33]<\/a>. Some critics attribute the film\u2019s failure to not opening wide from the start [22]<\/a>. There is slim hope that Steve Jobs<\/em> will be an Oscar contender [33]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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By the Sea – Source: Los Angeles Times [40]<\/a><\/p><\/div>Angelina Jolie Pitt<\/a> wrote, directed, produced, and stars in By the Sea<\/a><\/em> along with Brad Pitt<\/a>. The film follows a couple whose relationship is falling apart. This is Jolie Pitt\u2019s third feature film [38]<\/a>. On November 5th, there was a world premiere at the American Film Institute Festival <\/a>[14]<\/a>. A week later, it opened in ten theaters and earned $96,250. To date, the film has earned $364,584 domestically due to its limited release. Even accounting for worldwide revenue, the film is not close to recovering its $10 million budget [3]<\/a>. Although Universal is unlikely to recover its budget, it is likely betting that Jolie Pitt will star in Bride of Frankenstein<\/em> given the studio\u2019s backing of her film [32]<\/a>.<\/p>\n
COMING SOON<\/strong><\/p>\n
2015 Year End Releases<\/strong>
\nThe final films of 2015 for Universal are Krampus<\/em><\/a> on December 4th and Sisters<\/em><\/a> on December 18th [39]<\/a>. Krampus<\/em> is a horror-comedy starring Adam Scott<\/a> and Toni Collette<\/a>. Krampus<\/em> is about a demonic force that punishes non-believers [37]<\/a>. Contrarily, Sisters<\/em> is a comedy starring Tina Fey<\/a> and Amy Poehler<\/a>. The film is about two sisters who throw a final party at their childhood home [36]<\/a>. Both films are being heavily marketed as the holiday season brings competition.<\/p>\n
2016 Preview<\/strong><\/p>\n