This month’s releases of the comedies THE NAKED GUN and FREAKIER FRIDAY on consecutive weekends marked a significant change to Hollywood’s pattern of theatrical releasing. In fact, big-budget comedies have been on the decline over the past decade, with most studios opting instead for action and fantasy blockbusters, animated films, or horror movies. The Los Angeles Times took a moment to consider the state of comic features and whether the tide could be turning back in its favor.
A comeback for comedies would be a welcome development for exhibitors. This year, there will be 18 comedy features released to theatres, with a projected box office of $650 million worldwide. This pales in comparison to the state of affairs 20 years ago in 2005, when Hollywood released 50 comedies that produced over $4 billion worldwide.
A factor that has been cited frequently is a general downturn in interest from international audiences in American-made comedies. Others point to a trend for these titles to move to streaming platforms, with the most recent example being the Netflix release of HAPPY GILMORE 2, which is reported to have done exceptionally well on the platform.
Traditional studios have recalibrated their approach by making comedies such as THE NAKED GUN, FREAKIER FRIDAY, and ONE OF THEM DAYS on more modest production budgets to lower the bar for profitability. There are signs that this new approach may prove successful, with THE NAKED GUN and FREAKIER FRIDAY on track to have profitable runs in theatres and a sequel to ONE OF THEM DAYS confirmed to be in production.
