Are Moviegoers Losing Interest in Watching Movies in 3D?
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Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The box office totals for the latest 3D films were eye-popping, and not necessarily in a positive way for the movie industry.
Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com reports that 3D ticket sales accounted for approximately 30 percent of Monsters University’s $82 million debut, “one of the lowest, if not the lowest, percentage for an animated film ever.”
He also notes that 3D ticket sales for Brad Pitt’s World War Z accounted for approximately 34 percent of the film’s $66 million opening, an unimpressive number for an action flick.
So, is the 3D trend petering out? No, says Dergarabedian, though he adds, “Expectations that 3D should be 70 or 80 percent of the box office are, I think, unrealistic. And that once the newness, so to speak, wore off, we’re now in a situation where audiences are selective in what movies they see in 3D.”
Dergarabedian offers a few possible reasons why the appeal of 3D films has worn off: “price, discomfort maybe with wearing the glasses…some kids might be afraid of the glasses.”
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