2011 Australian films down in box office on 2010
Australian cinema dropped in the overall box office earnings in 2011, compared to the previous year, according to Screen Australia.
Last year Australian films took only 3.9% of the total box office, compared to 4.5% in 2010.
In total, national box office earnings totalled $1.09b. Of these, 44 were Australian, taking $42.9m.
In 2010, 41 Australian films were released, taking $50.6m, or 4.5% of the total, $1.13b.
Red Dog was far and away the best performer in 2011 making up half of the local takings, grossing $21.3m.
It is the first time in two decades an Australian film took over $20m without Hollywood backing.
In second place, the James Cameron produced Sanctum took $3.9m locally but over $100 million internationally. In third place Oranges and Sunshine was close behind with $3.8m.
Elsewhere, in Australian theatres, US films accounted for 81.8% of the box office with UK films a distant second, taking 11.5% – a large portion of this from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
In other words, had it not been for Red Dog the Australian Industry would have only taken $20m at the box office resulting in a drastic result of decline in the Australian industry compared to the year before it.
When is the industry going to rethink what productions they invest in. Why aren’t there more genre film being made?
Why aren’t films being made for mainstream audiences, rather than made for themselves.
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Sam…we’ve been asking that question for years, welcome to the fold
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@ Doug. Put up or shut up?
Why the hell don’t you stop your continuous negative whinging & do something positive about it? Contact minister Crean – state your views & apply for a position at Screen Australia – & let us all know how you went.
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