Current Event - Projected 2012 Box Office Earnings

Despite increasingly inflated ticket prices and the artificial addition of overpriced 3D tickets, box office earnings have been on a downturn over the last three years, falling from 10.595 billion dollars in 2009 to 10.174 billion in 2011. The viewership statistics have declined more considerably given this artificial price inflation, and while many industry economists find the trend rather bewildering, it's quite simple in nature. The cinema isn't an easily calculated industry, as it has no true standardization. While the summer and holiday seasons have always been slated for significant blockbuster releases, developments in digital entertainment have progressively devalued the draw of going to one's local theater, placing box office earnings into the hands of the few films that can attract universal public attention through strategic advertising. Enter the Hunger Games and the Avengers, grossing 400 and 557 million respectively in domestic earnings, already edging 2012 towards a half of 2011's total earnings.

While total year projections are nonexistent as of now, industry specialists have released expected earnings for many of the summer's most substantial upcoming films. The Dark Knight Rises is currently projected to gross 520 million domestically, down slightly from the predecessor's 533 million. However, after Avengers' resounding success, even a projection of that magnitude may be undervaluing the film's potential. The Ultimate Spider Man also appears undervalued at only 233 million, given the success of recent trailers in drawing a distinct differentiation between this film's tone and atmosphere with Sam Raimi's earlier incarnation. Brave, Prometheus, and Ice Age are all projected above 200 million, but this brings up the potential detriment of such astounding box office giants as the Avengers, as the film has left Battleship, John Carter, and numerous other potential earners with historical losses. The winter and oscar season is looking strong as well, with strong critical contenders sporting widespread appeal including Spielberg's Lincoln starring Daniel Day Lewis, Tarantino's next masterpiece Django Unchained (trailer released today), the Great Gatsby, the Hobbit, and my personal most anticipated film of the year, Life of Pi. If projections continue as expected, we're finally in store for an upturn.

http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/
http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/long_term_predictions