It has been a challenging year for major studios as hundreds of writers, actors, and other talent went on strike—many of which were in favor of better wages and more opportunities in the industry. While Hollywood’s writers have already reached an agreement with the studios, and actors successfully negotiated contracts with some of the larger studios, it appears that the prolonged strike has taken its toll on the box office revenues of some studios’ movies.
For example, Universal Pictures’ recently released “Cats” was met with mixed reviews from critics and moviegoers alike. While the film was visually stunning and featured an all-star cast, it appears that its box office success has been compromised due to the effects of the prolonged strike. Many of the insiders Familiar with the production of the film noted that the script underwent numerous rewrites due to a lack of writers and other talent. This scrutiny and subsequent rewrites led to a final result that many have called “unfinished” – a fact that contemporary critics have seized upon in their reviews.
It seems that the box office of “Cats” is far from the only film that has been affected by the strikes. Movies that have gone through numerous rewrites, such as Sony Pictures’ recently released “Little Women” haven’t fared much better. Despite garnering more favorable reviews than its counterpart, the film’s box office hasn’t been nearly as profitable as some expected.
In light of this, it’s no wonder why studios are beginning to voice their complaints about the effect of the strikes. It appears as though these disruptions have caused many of their films to suffer in viewership and reviews; two factors that are critical in ensuring the success of any film.
And yet, the strikes have also been beneficial in many ways. For one, they have ensured that talent in the industry is paid what they are worth, while also broadening the opportunities that are available for such individuals. In the long run, this should give studios the assurance that their productions will have the best possible talent available—something that may be beneficial in terms of their box office and viewership.
Ultimately, the effects of the recent strikes are difficult to gauge. While a few studios’ box office revenues have been affected in the near-term, the long-term effects may ultimately be positive. Only time will tell.
