Movie Seasons

The world of cinema releases is extremely predictable and aptly revolves around a reasonably strict set of rules what I like to call the movie seasons.  Distributers want to get the greatest mileage out of their releases (money, money, money).  Showcasing a film at the correct period can make or break the success of the features box office career. 

There are two main “seasons” within each and every year, the first of which being the “Blockbuster” season, starting around April through to late September.  Films released in this period are generally low on story, character development, relationships and more about the spectacle, the “wow” factor being literally exploded into the minds of the audience. 

The second period is the lead up to the academy awards.  From around the end of the Blockbuster period, studios release their more touching, sentimental, thought-provoking films; usually character dramas, that will cater to the mass audience and hopefully score a few Oscars on the way.

Scattered throughout the year we have other “mini-seasons” being Easter, thanksgiving, Christmas, and studios will once again release films. So what has happened?

Movies are now being manufactured to cater exactly for these times of the year.  They’re becoming more and more generic derivatives of what audiences expect to see.  We need directors to think outside the box in order to find success.