Record-breaking year at the box office?

[Thorin]

Usually around this time the Motion Picture Assn. of America formally issues, with much fanfare, its annual entertainment industry report on the prior year.

The document is a detailed snapshot of the biz that includes the average production budget of a studio pic, marketing costs and the number of movies made.

So far, the 2008 report is missing in action despite the fact that it was a record-breaking year at both the domestic and international box office.

Turns out that's the problem --insiders say MPAA topper Dan Glickman doesn't want to publicly tout the health of the box office during the economic crisis. Nor does he want to give Washington politicos ammunition.

But, but, but...  I thought all those movies being downloaded were bankrupting the movie industry, rather than making it a record-breaking year?!

[Tom]

Usually around this time the Motion Picture Assn. of America formally issues, with much fanfare, its annual entertainment industry report on the prior year.

The document is a detailed snapshot of the biz that includes the average production budget of a studio pic, marketing costs and the number of movies made.

So far, the 2008 report is missing in action despite the fact that it was a record-breaking year at both the domestic and international box office.

Turns out that's the problem --insiders say MPAA topper Dan Glickman doesn't want to publicly tout the health of the box office during the economic crisis. Nor does he want to give Washington politicos ammunition.

But, but, but...  I thought all those movies being downloaded were bankrupting the movie industry, rather than making it a record-breaking year?!

They will probably just say all of their lawsuits have SAVED the industry.

[Darren Dirt]

It's simple FUD-economics, really -- publicly claim piracy is killing your business, privately encourage the piracy since those folks who can't "afford" to go to the theatres DO in fact have the spending $ to purchase the DVD later but also the video game tie-ins as well... bigger bottom line, and the ignorant folks believe your victim line as well for extra bonus PR points!

[Mr. Analog]

That's like how could the music industry have a record money-making year, yet CD sales are down? (Well, all sales are down, but still)