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Unoriginal?

I can tell you what conclusion the Hollywood studios are drawing from the disappointing showings on successive weekends of The Island and Stealth: 'Movies not based on books, comic books, tv shows or previous movies are commercial suicide.' That's a stupid and short-sighted conclusion, but one Hollywood has been making for a long time.

Already original scripts and pitches are down to about 5% of the projects in development at major studios. And it's true that having a built-in audience or proven story lowers your commercial exposure. That doesn't mean it eliminates it. My rebuttal to Hollywood's thinking: The Human Stain, Catwoman, Bewitched and Swept Away.

Another rebuttal, the current reigning b.o. champion several weeks running -- an original idea developed directly for the screen: Wedding Crashers.

Rarely does a hit film ascend to the head of the chart in its third weekend of release but that is exactly what Wedding Crashers did grossing $20M, according to final studio figures, to lead a sluggish frame. Off a slender 22%, the New Line sleeper hit has grossed an astonishing $115.6M in only 17 days. The word-of-mouth smash dropped just 24% last weekend and should smash through the $175M mark at this pace. The double century mark is not out of the question either.

--Box Office Guru

Thinking outside the big-box theaters, there's another movie that's performing even better pound-for-pound: March of the Penguins...

...a documentary that has already grossed $12 million and shows no signs of slowing. "Talk about a niche," says producer Fisher. "But it has humanity and emotion, and it's finding its way despite the obstacles. I love the optimism of that."

--Sean Smith with Devon Gordon (in a new, interesting Newsweek article about the future of movies)

The Newsweek article at least moves beyond the perennial death of Hollywood arguments by acknowledging that Hollywood is always evolving:

"If movies try to appeal to everybody, they can't improve," says Columbia Pictures chairman Amy Pascal. "The best movies are really specific and authentic."

Here's hoping Ms. Pascal is not a dissenting voice.

UPDATE: Murph has a rant on the subject (Warner Crocker too). Can't agree with Murph's Bridge on the River Kwai comment though. I've seen it more than eight times and it's still good.

UPDATE DEUX: Alex Wescott at Media Sheep has a yet-more-detailed rant.

About J. Ott

John Ott is a writer, filmmaker and futurist. Follow him on Twitter or Like him on Facebook.