Kayla Rich

COMM 1500
5 Step Critical Process Analysis Paper 2

5 Step Critical Process Analysis: The Blockbuster Mentality

1. Description

Overall Records

Domestic Star Wars: The Force Awakens $936,662,225.00

Adjusted for Inflation Gone with the Wind $1,826,639,094.00
Worldwide Avatar $2,787,965,087.00

Weekend Records

Opening Weekends Avengers: Infinity War $257,698,183.00

Opening Weekends Avengers: Infinity War $640,521,291.00
Worldwide
Opening Weekends Foreign Fate of the Furious $443,150,534.00

2. Analysis

A major pattern that is common with the films listed as holding the highest grossing records is

that they mostly involve a lot of action. In fact all of the movies with the exception of Gone with the

Wind can be categorized as action movies. All of the movies with the exception of Gone with the

Wind and Avatar are part of an ongoing storyline that has played out throughout different movies.

The prequels that led up to these films were widely popular which only grew the anticipation and

popularity of films like Star Wars and Avengers: Infinity War. These films all include strong male

leads as well as over the top special effects with the exception of Gone with the Wind since it was

made much earlier before special effects were developed. Star Wars has a lot of marketing through

mediums like video games, toys, apparel, books, and is even featured in theme parks. Avengers:

Infinity War is very similar to Star Wars in the marketing sense and their audience is very similar.

3. Interpretation

I think the pattern of most of these movies being a series alludes to the fact that everybody

loves a good storyline. Part of having a good storyline is character development and when people

feel connected to your characters they become invested in watching that development unfold. The
Kayla Rich
COMM 1500
5 Step Critical Process Analysis Paper 2

action in these movies isn’t very realistic but I think that is a reason why people like it. It is different

from their everyday lives and offers a sort of escape for the viewers. Avengers: Infinity War broke

not only national records but records worldwide and I think that is because of the many different

movies that built up to the climax of Infinity War. I think that people really like feeling like they are a

part of something and it is easier to create that connection throughout multiple movies while

watching characters develop and stories unfold. I think because of this, people expect more from

movies and if they really enjoy a movie, are often left unsatisfied if it ends without a having a sequel.

We don’t want stories to end even if they end in the best way. I think a lot of smaller films that don’t

have a long array of prequels and sequels get overlooked because time and energy is being put into

those with series because they feel more fulfilling to the audience.

4. Evaluation

I think it is definitely likely that we will see movies become more and more merchandised.

Movies like Star Wars, Avengers, and Fast and Furious act more like a brands now and that has

proven to be very lucrative. I think people are really noticing that there isn’t only money in box

office sales but also in the merchandising alone. Movies won’t be in theaters for forever and you will

really only ever buy one DVD per household but things like books, apparel, toys, games, etc. are

things that can be purchased over and over again. I think the focus is usually always on the youth

because that is where the most money is because you can transfer that on to toys and such but

currently I think the audience is mainly teenagers through middle age.

It is very popular to be bringing back old school stories like the new Star Wars saga being added

to the old one or the recreations of old Disney movies in to live action ones. Because of the popular

trend of rebirthing these old popular stories, the audiences that are mostly excited to see them are

the ones that grew up with them originally so they are a little bit older. I think they really missed the
Kayla Rich
COMM 1500
5 Step Critical Process Analysis Paper 2

ball with Avatar: the Last Airbender. That was a movie so many people were excited for because

they were getting to watch an old beloved cartoon play out more realistically. The movie ended up

being very dry and nothing like the original series like everyone was expecting. This is a great

example of a negative that comes with rebirthing a popular story. People are much more critical of

what is presented and there is either a love it or hate it mentality. Many believe that so many

different things were great how they were and shouldn’t be dug back up but it is clear box office

records disagree.

5. Engagement

Juno is a movie I had heard about and always meant to watch but I never did because I always

kept forgetting until someone would bring it up. When looking up independent films, I saw this on

the list and decided it was time to finally watch it. One thing that I did notice when searching

through independent films was that all of the names seemed a little odd to me. They were mostly

quirky and seemed to be something you wouldn’t understand without watching the movie. The

movie was good, I thought it had a good storyline and it was very interesting to me. It had some

great actors that I had known from other movies which surprised me. There is this notion that

independent films are lesser than regular ones so it surprised me to see actors that were supposedly

above independent films. I think independent movies lack a hype about them so they often fall in

the cracks. I really did enjoy Juno and it was always something I had been meaning to watch but was

also something that was easy for me to forget about at the same time. They have the story but I

think they need more of the marketing and production budget. I also really don’t think there are

many independent films in the action genre. Action seems to be the most eye catching and exciting

to audiences so those types of movies do very well. In order to make a good action movie you will
Kayla Rich
COMM 1500
5 Step Critical Process Analysis Paper 2

need a large budget which is something that is hard for films being done independently. So again,

they have the story, and even the actors, they are just missing the hype.