Hollywood Fail: 2010 Earns Worst Box Office Numbers Since 1996

They don't make 'em like they used to... in 2009.

If you looked over the coming attractions last year and sighed, you weren't alone: 2010 was Hollywood's worst box office year since 1996, according to Hollywood.com and USA Today.

Attendance dropped 5.36% from 2009, the site reported, with 1.35 billion people buying movie tickets. That tickets sold number is the lowest since 1996.

Inventive as always, producers and theaters made up for (or caused?) the drop by spiking ticket prices nearly 40 cents, from an average of $7.46 in 2009 to $7.85 in 2010. That brought in revenues of $10.556 billion, falling short of last year's $10.6 billion.

Toy Story 3 was the top grossing film of the year -- click here to see what the top ten worldwide grossers were.

Click over to Hollywood.com for more facts and figures.

Comments

[mspink]

03:00 AM on 01/05/2011

More and more, I find myself watching older films, films that were original, with good acting and good actors. Bette Davis was the most amazing actress ever. Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, et al had more sex appeal and had real talent. I was also re-watching films like Paper Moon and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Most movies are so gimmicky and so interested in topping each other if CGI Special Effects that they fall flat on their faces.

[LovingHope]

01:18 AM on 01/05/2011

I'm so tired of "Spy" movies. Everyone is secret agent or a spy. And "Superheroes" are the worse.

[jabreal00]

04:46 PM on 01/04/2011

There is no secret about this, most of the films Hollywood came out with were st00pid. I went to the movie maybe twice last year.

[JJovana]

03:59 PM on 01/04/2011

3D, doubling ticket cost, crappy unoriginal movies....maybe people are FINALLY getting fed up with mainstream cr ap.

[Exene]

03:35 PM on 01/04/2011

The sound at movie theaters is way too loud. I don't know whether it's because the iPod generation is half deaf, or because the theaters are trying (unsuccessfully) to drown out the cell phone conversations. Whatever it is, I haven't been to a movie theater in probably a year because the last time I went it was so unpleasant I couldn't wait to get out of there. There are lots of movies I'd like to see, but I'll wait for Netflix.

[KEATSnSKYESMOM]

01:39 PM on 01/04/2011

I think they should lower the pay of the actors and reduce the ticket prices. I might (depending on my funds) go to more movies.

For right now I reserve the theater for movies that need the ultra large screen and use Netflix for the rest plus I get all of the great indie and foreign films I like oh and the tv episodes (we don't have cable).

The TV and Movie companies need to re-evaluate themselves and realize people don't want to spend 100 to go to the movies. You could order a pizza and rent a red box for how much? Plus my crazy 8 makes way better popcorn at home (organic with delicious coconut oil and sea salt).

[sensimilla]

12:45 PM on 01/04/2011

maybe just maybe Americans are tired of paying more and more every year to see worthless Hollywood movies? This trend will continue as consumers get big flat screen tv's into their homes, and flip the bird to the outrageous prices at movie chains.

[mssreader]

03:33 PM on 01/04/2011

sensimilla, I made that decision many years ago. I can't remember the last American movie I saw! Probably Michael Moore's documentatires the only ones I've seen in at least 10 years. I have nextflix so I can watch British and foreign films and the great tv that the Brits produce along with a select few of the indies. Besides I always manage to sit in front of people who talk all through the movie. The last movie I saw in a theater was Atonement.

fan #90

[LMPE]

12:39 PM on 01/04/2011

this must have something to do with my sticking mainly to indies and foreign films

[JJovana]

03:58 PM on 01/04/2011

DITTO!!!

[UberdanSounds]

12:11 PM on 01/04/2011

The only reason I used to go to movies in LA was because my friend worked there & we got free admissions & 50% off concessions. I always opted for the very last row because I hate people behind me, kicking my seat, talking etc. Now, we have AT&T U-Verse w/On Demand, can't get any easier than that! Point & rent.

[Ergon]

10:50 AM on 01/04/2011

I'll still see a movie if the story interests me, but Hollywood needs to re-evaluate its:
-obvious contempt for middle America
-overhyped, overproduced, product
-lack of originality-same 'stars', same plots, same lame CGI
till then, I'll spend more money on books, and foreign film, than I will on Hollywood crap.

[WoodsideCraig]

10:34 AM on 01/04/2011

I enjoy movies, but going to a theater? My wife and I went to go see a terrific film recently, "The King's Speech." The acting was positively breathtaking.

And the little girl behind me was too young for the movie, bored and occasionally kicked the back of my seat accidentally.

And while I was at the Harry Potter movie two young men were talking behind me.

I prefer watching at home.

[Ergon]

10:53 AM on 01/04/2011

Texting teenagers. Ugh.

[sabelmouse]

12:32 PM on 01/04/2011

cinemas are to loud as well. at least if you go at less busy times. if it's busy you get what you describe or worse.
i'd rather wait for the dvd. and i am looking foreward to '' the king's speech'.

[WoodsideCraig]

02:39 PM on 01/04/2011

You'll love "The King's Speech." I can't say enough good things about it. I've always liked Colin Firth, but he took it to a whole new level.

I envied the woman sitting next to me. She was partially deaf.

[floater]

09:34 AM on 01/04/2011

$10.556 billion for entertainment in a recession is not bad. (And this is just movies that people leave their house to see, this does not include sports, video games, live shows, dvd's etc.)

[Daws]

07:29 AM on 01/04/2011

Well, ticket sales may have not been great but this has been one of the best movie years (in terms of quality) I've experienced in a while. Lots of goodies this year.

[gretchenart]

07:52 PM on 01/04/2011

huh? what are these movies you refer to?

[Daws]

10:00 PM on 01/04/2011

From what I've seen thus far, Black Swan, The Social Network, True Grit, The Kids Are All Right, Inception, The Town, and Toy Story 3 were my favorites of the year. There still some I haven't seen yet like Blue Valentine and 127 Hours that have been getting rave reviews. Black Swan may have been my favorite though. Crazy good.

[Samie]

04:59 AM on 01/04/2011

This is shallow, I guess, but Jolie's hairdo sorta dampened my desire to go see The Tourist. I'll see it sometime on a DVD.

[Ergon]

10:43 AM on 01/04/2011

i saw it and it was great. Lovely eye candy, and Johhny Depp is always a treat. The DVD won't be the same, sorry.

[Samie]

04:19 PM on 01/04/2011

Yes, I keep being told to see it while it is out. I probably will.

[chicagopizzaslice]

07:17 PM on 01/04/2011

You're right. See it on the big screen.

[Ken Freedom]

03:42 AM on 01/04/2011

Making everything 3D and doubling ticket prices has driven me entirely away from theaters. There's no point in seeing anything but big blockbusters on the big screen -- comedies and dramas play just fine on the big screen at home --and it's just too expensive for the headache inducing glasses and lousy, vapid, been-there-done-that stories.