Why do the Savoy and UGC show the same films?

TheFoot · 25-02-2003 12:18pm #1

Hi,
I'm a Canadian who's lived in Dublin for a couple of years, and I've always wondered about this. I've got a UGC card, which is brilliant, and so rarely go to the Savoy. It blows me away that two cinemas in such proximity to each other would run the same films. Surely it'd be preferable to run different films instead of splitting the revenue? Are these two cinemas owned by the same parent company? What gives? DB.

http://www.darrenbarefoot.com

DiscoStu · 25-02-2003 12:19pm

different companies.

TheFoot · 25-02-2003 2:54pm

Thanks, but that doesn't really answer my question. There are plenty of major Hollywood releases that Dublin never sees because of this phenomenon. I imagine you'd achieve a higher return for a diversity of product.

ObeyGiant · 25-02-2003 4:24pm

Originally posted by TheFoot
Thanks, but that doesn't really answer my question. There are plenty of major Hollywood releases that Dublin never sees because of this phenomenon. I imagine you'd achieve a higher return for a diversity of product.

"major hollywood releases"?
Can you give some examples of some of these (remember - "major"), not counting those with noted, unrelated distribution issues?

Mr E · 25-02-2003 4:34pm

I know there are alot of movies in the cinemas in the States that won't be shown here because they're ... ummm... below average.

Cinemas here have to show movies that are some way lucrative for them.

Victor · 25-02-2003 4:40pm

UGC have a slight interest in showing the fewest number of different films to keep the cinema fullish as they don't get the full boxoffice price from most customers.

Originally posted by TheFoot
HAre these two cinemas owned by the same parent company?

No, the Savoy is local, UGC is a pan-European group. To a degree they probably see an us -v- them scenario (them being the suburban multiplexes).

Originally posted by TheFoot
There are plenty of major Hollywood releases that Dublin never sees because of this phenomenon.

Examples?

DiscoStu · 25-02-2003 4:51pm

Originally posted by Victor
UGC have a slight interest in showing the fewest number of different films to keep the cinema fullish as they don't get the full boxoffice price from most customers.

actually they had a manager from england around this time last year who wanted to show less mainstream stuff on at least one screen each week. but he was only there for a few months to replace the old manager who left after some "money issues". dont forget they were pimping amile for ages and had bowling for columbine on for quite a while.

again it really comes down to the distribution system. if a film does not do that well in the states it most likely goes straight to video here(unless the hype is massive). i honestly cant think of a single "major" release that was not shown in cinemas in ireland though.

Mr E · 25-02-2003 4:57pm

Not HUGE releases, but the following (for example) went straight to video/DVD....

feardotcom
Wendigo
Brotherhood of the Wolf
Jason X
Liberty Stands Still
Vampires: Los Muertos (no great loss here! :rolleyes:)
Dogtown and Z-Boys

I can probably dig up a few more if you want. I'd hardly call them "Major Hollywood releases" though.... looking forward to some examples from TheFoot..

- Dave.

ObeyGiant · 25-02-2003 5:00pm

Originally posted by DiscoStu
actually they had a manager from england around this time last year who wanted to show less mainstream stuff on at least one screen each week. but he was only there for a few months to replace the old manager who left after some "money issues". dont forget they were pimping amile for ages and had bowling for columbine on for quite a while.

Are you sure this was just as a result of this manager that has 'left', and not just as a result of some kind of policy change? Right now, they're the only cinema in Dublin showing "The Kid Stays in the Picture" - the Robert Evans biography.

Have UGC any affiliations with a distribution company? I seem to remember them having quite a few non-mainstream 'exclusives'.

ObeyGiant · 25-02-2003 5:02pm

Originally posted by TmB
Not HUGE releases, but the following (for example) went straight to video/DVD....

feardotcom

feardotcom got a week on the big screen here.

Originally posted by TmB
Dogtown and Z-Boys

This was shown in the IFC. I think Brotherhood of the Wolf was too.

Mr E · 25-02-2003 5:05pm

Fair enough, Obeygiant. But they weren't widespread releases as they (probably!) were in the States. Donnie Darko is another example of limited release over here.

- Dave.

TheFoot · 25-02-2003 5:27pm

Originally posted by ObeyGiant
"major hollywood releases"?
Can you give some examples of some of these (remember - "major"), not counting those with noted, unrelated distribution issues?

Off the top of my head, here are a few:

Changing Lanes
Mr. Deeds
Collateral Damage
John Q
Showtime
Death to Smoochy
High Crimes
Hart's War
Bad Company

They're not good movies, but I don't think these came to Dublin. If they did, they were here very briefly. This is another symptom of the lack of downtown screens--you get very little time to see a film. If a movie isn't a serious money-maker, then it's in and out of the cinemas in a couple of weeks.

Mr E · 25-02-2003 5:32pm

Changing Lanes - General Release
Mr. Deeds - General Release
Collateral Damage - General Release
John Q - General Release
Showtime - General Release
Death to Smoochy - (Haven't seen it)
High Crimes - General Release
Hart's War - General Release
Bad Company - General Release.

Saw all (except Death To Smoochy) in the cinema.

Next!

- Dave.

[Edit: Jesus, I go to the cinema alot, don't I?

]

TheFoot · 25-02-2003 5:45pm

Originally posted by TmB
Changing Lanes - General Release
Mr. Deeds - General Release
Collateral Damage - General Release
John Q - General Release
Showtime - General Release
Death to Smoochy - (Haven't seen it)
High Crimes - General Release
Hart's War - General Release
Bad Company - General Release.

Saw all (except Death To Smoochy) in the cinema.

Next!

- Dave.

[Edit: Jesus, I go to the cinema alot, don't I? ]

Well, we've got a difference of opinion there. Is there a site that gives this historical data? I only go to the UGC, and don't remember any of those movies coming to that cinema.

Regardless, the rate they change films enables only the vigorous movie goer to see all of these major releases, particularly if they're restricted to downtown. If somebody sees two movies a month (well above the national average), they've only got 8 or 10 films to choose from, all of which change quickly. To return to my original point, because the UGC and the Savoy run the same films, their choice of movies is cut in half.

Practical · 25-02-2003 5:47pm

Originally posted by TheFoot
Off the top of my head, here are a few:

Changing Lanes
Mr. Deeds
Collateral Damage
John Q
Showtime
High Crimes
Hart's War
Bad Company

LIES
All of those films have made it to the cinema

Mr E · 25-02-2003 6:06pm

Originally posted by TheFoot
... because the UGC and the Savoy run the same films, their choice of movies is cut in half.

Different companies. All cinemas are going to show their "Lord Of The Rings" and "Harry Potter" etc. because they are they movies that bring in the money! Its at the cinemas discretion whether they show "Rabbit Proof Fence", "The Pianist" etc. etc.

Remember that UGC had Bowling For Columbine weeks before anyone else did....

Its up to the cinema manager (or chain manager) what movies will make the most money for them.

- Dave.

Makaveli · 27-02-2003 3:18pm

Change to quickly, not really.
Shrek was in the Ormonde for about 6 months. (Well maybe it was closer to 3, but it was there for ages.)

Why do the Savoy and UGC show the same films?

Comments