Video Killed The Radio Star: But It Hasn t Killed Movie-Going With new innovations and choices in home entertainment over the past years, you might guess that moviegoing is waning. However, despite the introduction of video in the 197s, DVDs in the 199s, growing broadband penetration and DVRs, Americans go to the movies about as often today 4- times per year as they did in 196. That s not to imply that the film industry is a steady business. While annual box office admissions have held between 4- for years, a shift of even one movie admission per capita is significant. Box office admissions are currently on a downswing, having declined ~2.6% per year since 22. 2 1 1 Domestic Box Office Admissions per Capita (196-213) Admissions per Capita 1 1972: Pay cable introduced 1968: 78 million TV sets in US Admissions per cap Home entertainment advancements Cinematic experience advancements 197: Jaws begins trend towards blockbusters 1971: Dolby sound introduced 1978: Introduction of VHS 1978: TV penetration: 98%; Color TV penetration: 78% 1997: Introduction of DVD Early 199s: Digital developed 1998: 2% of Adults use Internet at home Late 199s: Megaplex rollout 2: Broadband Penetration > % HH 196 197 197 198 198 199 199 2 2 21 21 Note: 1 Per capita admissions calculated using entire U.S. population; MPAA-reported admissions per cap calculated using age 2+ U.S./Canada population Source: NATO, Box Office Mojo, MPAA, National Academy of Engineering, L.E.K. analysis 24: DVRs > % HH Non-anaglyph 3D theatrical films and digital cinema penetrates How have box office revenues fared?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
Up The Down Staircase: Movie Receipts Rise 2% Movie-Going Falls 1% North American ticket sales have dropped from 1.7 billion in 22 to 1.34 billion in 213, a cumulative decline of approximately 1% in just over a decade. (There s even a slight acceleration in annual decline in recent years.) But box office revenue has increased, rising from 2-29 and remaining stable from 29-213. You probably know why box office is up it s higher ticket prices. Some have attributed the admissions decline to increasing prices, but a 3% increase a year is in line with other products. So what is it? 11 1 9 8 7 6 4 3 2 U.S. Box Office Revenues And Admissions (2-13) 7. 8.1 9.1 Billions of Dollars 9.2 9.3 8.8 9.2 9.6 9.6 Box Office Admissions 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.2 Billions of Tickets 2. 1.. 1. 1 2 21 22 23 24 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213. Source: Box Office Mojo, MPAA, the-numbers.com, L.E.K. Analysis How does the economy affect ticket sales?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
Does A Recession Affect Ticket Sales? If You Film It, They Will Come Despite recent declines in box office admissions, evidence shows that recessions don t really affect the cinema business. In this chart, the yellow bars call out the recessionary periods in the last 4 years. The gray line is the GDP per capita, showing a relatively steady increase of 1.8% per year since 197. The erratic red bar shows the number of movies attended per person in North America, clearly indicating no correlation between admissions and GDP, or even admissions and recessions. We all tighten our belts a little and watch our spending in tougher economic times. But if that alone is not the major factor impacting the recent decline, what is? 7 6 4 3 Admissions per Capita 1 And Real GDP per Capita (197-213) Admissions per Capita Admissions Per Capita (left scale) Recessionary Period 22-13 Trendline Avg = 4.7 2 197 197 198 198 199 199 2 2 21 21 Note: 1 Per capita admissions calculated using entire U.S. population; MPAA-reported admissions per cap calculated using age 2+ U.S./Canada population Source: MPAA, Box Office Mojo, NATO, BEA, U.S. Census Bureau, L.E.K. analysis Real GDP per Capita (right scale) Real GDP per capita $K in 29 dollars 4 3 2 1 What other factors affect ticket sales?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
It s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World: Despite Less Admissions, A Mad Increase In Movies and Movie Budgets Movie production is up from 7 in 29 to 773 in 213 (8% growth per year). But major studio releases are down from 111 to 84, and all the growth came from independent and mini-major releases. The vast growth in nonmajor studio films did not replace the lack of major releases. 8 7 6 U.S. Film Releases by Studio Type (29-13) Number of Films 7 63 Other 1 Major Subsidiary Major(MPAA) 69 677 773 69 Note also that the studios spent far more per movie in this period. The number of movies with production budgets over $1 million rose from 72 in 29 to 18 in 213. 4 3 2 1 399 47 422 37 468 37 49 34 3 The bottom line: Lifts in production budgets and the surge in independent films has not made up for the cuts in major studio releases. 111 29 72 14 21 9 14 211 97 94 212 9 84 213 18 # of Films with Production Budgets > $1M Note: 1 Includes independent and mini-major studios Source: MPAA, the-numbers.com, IMDB, L.E.K. analysis How have exhibitors counteracted the declining volume of their product?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
A Star Is Born: Why Movie Ticket Prices Shot Up Between 21 And 29 Rising ticket prices have been a key factor in higher box office revenues, and 3D releases are an important contributor. At one point, 3D was heralded as the savior of movies at the box office. Recently, though, admissions have been declining and growth in ticket prices has tapered off over the last 3-4 years. 9 8 7 6 Average Ticket Price (21-13) Dollars 3-D movie ticket sales decreased in 211, resulting in limited growth in average ticket prices While there is no denying 3D has a significant impact on the industry, what exactly has this impact been and what does it look like going forward? 4 3 2 1 21 22 23 24 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 Note: 1 Forecast CAGR assumes growth consistent with years 21 through 213 Source: National Association of Theater Owners, Morgan Stanley, L.E.K. analysis How has 3D affected the industry?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
Houston, We ve Got A Problem: The 3D Growth Run May Be At Or Near Its End The increased availability of 3D movie releases helped drive movie ticket price increases, but the upside potential may be limited. In the five years prior to 211, exhibitors added nearly 13, 3D screens in anticipation of demand. Since 211, exhibitors have only increased capacity by ~1, 3D screens. 4 3 3 2 2 U.S. Theater Screens (2-13) Thousands of Screens Non-digital Digital, non-3d International markets may exhibit different dynamics, given some under-penetrated markets. For a full debrief, visit our series on international trends coming shortly. 1 1 3D 2 21 22 23 24 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A % 9% 21% 26% 44% 3% % 41% 39% Source: MPAA, The Hollywood Insider, L.E.K. analysis 3D as % of Digital Where does 3D go from here?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
Ground Control To Major Tom: 3D Movie Production Skyrocketed, Then Faltered Studios and producers ramped up production of 3D movies significantly in 29-21, reaching a peak in 211 with 4 releases (7.4% of all film releases). As you can see, 3D releases are down from 211. What are consumers saying about the value of 3D and whether 3D will grow going forward? 7. 7. 6. 6... 4. 4. 3. 3. 3D Percent of All Film Releases (22-13) Percent From 29 to 21, the amount of box office revenues from 3D films doubled, rising from $1.1 billion to $2.2 billion From 21 to 211 box office revenues from 3D films declined 2% to $1.8 billion even though the number of 3D releases increased nearly 7% from 26 to 4 3.6 4.6 7.4.9 6.8 2. 2. 1. 1. 1.2 1.3 1. 1.3..4.4 22 23 24 2 26 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 Source: MPAA, the-numbers.com, IMDB, PWC: Entertainment & Media, L.E.K. Research and Analysis What s the value and growth potential of 3D?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
Caught In A Celluloid Jam: 3D Is No Longer The Box Office Draw It Once Was Studios enthusiasm for 3D in 29-211 has since cooled. As illustrated in this chart, opening a movie in 3D used to be an enticing proposition for audiences as approximately 6% of opening weekend (when opened in 2D and 3D) was 3D; that figure has recently ebbed to a more temperate ~3%. 12 1 8 6 3D Share of Opening Weekend Theatrical Revenue 1 (27-13) Percent Avatar Piranha 3D Saw 3D Tron Harry Potter (final film) Glee the 3D Concert Movie Immortals The Avengers Finding Nemo The Amazing Spider-Man Life of Pi Oz the Great and Powerful Iron Man 3 Gravity Frozen Animated in 3D Avg. Overall Avg. Live Action 3D Avg. Many in the industry believe 3D is here to stay but has likely achieved or is near achieving its steady state. 3D was a much needed infusion to the industry what s next? 4 2 Animated in 3D Live Action 3D 7/28 3/27 7/21 12/29 11/213 1/211 1/212 12/212 Note: 1 Data includes all films whose 3D share of opening weekend box office was published Source: Box Office Mojo, L.E.K. Research and Analysis What s next for the movie industry?» L.E.K. Consulting / February 21
Our Outlook: Back To The Future? In summary to our series of posts on box office trends where we discussed the decline in admissions, increasing ticket prices, and the leveling off of 3D s impact, we ask: what s next for the movie business? While it is impossible to forecast outcomes with certainty, it is likely that exhibitors will continue to face pressures that will require a break from the norm. In addition, studios will find that recent successes in franchise management may cause an uptick in acquisitions of mass-appeal franchises. EXHIBITORS Continued pressure from declining traffic and flat box office Decreasing benefit from 3D Increased focus on driving dollars per visit (e.g. dynamic pricing, premium features and benefits) Subscription pricing a future game changer? STUDIOS Continued focus on tentpole releases with established fan bases Continued acquisition of libraries and franchises as studios seek next big thing Action/adventure, horror/thriller and animated titles are studio favorites Increased gigantism in movie selection, more special effects and fewer releases Our takeaway: while studios can prosper with more special effects, exhibitors will need new ideas. Source: L.E.K. analysis L.E.K. Consulting / is February a registered 21 trademark of L.E.K. Consulting LLC. All other products and brands mentioned in this document are properties of their respective owners. 21 L.E.K Consulting LLC