Q: WHY MAKE INDIE FILMS?

A: Because if you make the right one, you can make enormous PROFITS!

The Top 10 highest grossing Indie Films of all time (Domestic and International theatrical) are listed below.

Most of these films were made within the last few years at a point in time when ticket prices were higher than ever and larger foreign audiences clamor to be entertained.

In addition to the gross ticket sales reported from domestic and international theaters, bear in mind that these films made a great deal of additional money through TV and cable sales and ticket prices(VHS and DVD) and that they are still earning money in the marketplace. These sales are usually not reported.

1 - $611,899,420 - The Passion of the Christ
2 - $368,744,044 - My Big Fat Greek Wedding
3 - $289,317,794 - Shakespeare in Love
4 - $248,639,099 - The Blair Witch Project
5 - $231,399,720 - Juno
6 - $225,933,435 - Good Will Hunting
7 - $222,446,882 - Fahrenheit 9/11
8 - *112,892,319 - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
9 - $213,928,762 - Pulp Fiction
10- $213,525,736 - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

* = (Domestic gross only) The oldest film on this list was released in 1975 when it was standard practice not to report foreign box office gross. Earning 1975 dollars not adjusted for inflation, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW could be estimated to probably fall in the #2 or #3 slot.

Copyright © 2009, Stanley Lozowski. All Rights Reserved.
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Foreign fare evolves with audiences

With an anticipated haul of $16 billion this year, foreign box office has become crucial to Hollywood — but the studios are noticing the makeup of those audiences is changing. This shifts could mean changes for studios’ distribution strategies — as well as changes in their production priorities.

Falling birthrates are just one of the factors affecting who goes to the movies overseas, how often they go and what films they choose to see.

Five countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and South Korea) have seen a serious drop in birthrates. Eastern Europe and Russia are also seeing declines. Each year in these countries, fewer moviegoers enter the core teen/young adult audience — though increasing income levels prop up the box office in most of these areas. Teens and young adults are also increasingly downloading films instead of going to theaters.

Countering those trends is the fact that adults are getting out more and becoming frequent moviegoers. People aged 40 and up are going to movies more often as their children grow up. They are becoming increasingly important in territories ranging from Australia to France.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE By TIMOTHY M. GRAY, DAVE MCNARY -
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997670.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

© 2008 RBL, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.