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Home » Blogs » Karman Kregloe's blog » Women and the box office in 2008

Women and the box office in 2008

by
Karman Kregloe

If you haven't already checked out Melissa Silverstein's excellent Women in Hollywood blog (which just won a TotalFilm.com 2009 Blog Award for Best Hollywood Blog!), this news will give you one more reason to do so.

Silverstein compiled the numbers for the top-grossing films of 2008 (stats are domestic grosses from Variety), and found that four of the top 20 were women-driven films.

The four big-hitters were:

#8 Twilight ($172,274 mil.)

#11 Sex and the City ($152,647 mil.)

# 12 Mamma Mia! ($144,051 mil.)

# 18 Juno ( $112,025 mil.)

Twilight, which featured a female director (Catherine Hardwicke), female writer (Melissa Rosenberg), and female star (Kristen Stewart), broke through the top 10 and is likely to be a franchise that will continue to bring in the big bucks over the next few years. This is good news for female viewers and, hopefully, for actresses and women in production. (Although, sadly, Hardwicke will not be among them.)

Rounding out the top 100 were:

# 37 27 Dresses ($76,808 mil.)

#45 Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana ($65,281 mil.)

#51 Baby Mama ($60,494 mil.)

#59 The House Bunny ( $48,237 mil.)

#60 Nim’s Island ($48,006 mil.)

#65 Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 ( $44,089 mil.)

#81 The Secret Life of Bees ( $37,463 mil.)

#85 Changeling ($35,627 mil.)

The good news I see in the rest of these stats is that girls and young women are proving to be viable film consumers (even though studios still push to have male leads in films for young people). Now all we have to do is get Hollywood to treat their older counterparts in kind.

In terms of box office, it was a great year for established stars like Meryl Streep (Mama Mia!), Tina Fey and Angelina Jolie (Changeling and Wanted), as well as for younger up-and-comers like Stewart, Anna Faris, Ellen Page, and America Ferrera.

The bad news, most of the movies in the top slots are about girls/women trying to get boys/men to like them. Only in the case of Baby Mama do we see any inkling of women pursuing one another and, despite what lesbians everywhere may wish about Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, they were "hooking up" in order for Fey to become a mom.

And it is a very racially un-diverse list, which means the movies that make the most money are still about straight white women chasing after straight white guys.

From looking at these statistics, I gathered one more bit of information: I'm a bad feminist film-goer! Of the top-grossing films, I only saw Baby Mama at the theatre on opening weekend, which is perhaps the most important time to go out and support a film. Clearly, I am part of the problem and have a lot of "work" to do, as going to movies is such a trial. (I give myself a pass on Sex and the City, though. A lesbian can only take so much!)

How about you? How many of the top-grossing, women-led films of 2008 did you see on opening weekend and/or in the theatre?

  • Karman Kregloe's blog
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    • Submitted by
    Karman Kregloe
    on January 27, 2009 - 3:01pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Sarah's picture

    Juno <3

    Submitted by
    Sarah (105 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:15pm.
    Aw, I love Juno. It's one of my favorite movies. Diablo Cody is a genius. And does anyone else think that Oliva Thirlby (she played Juno's friend :P) is like the hottest thing ever???
    sparkleandtwinkle's picture

    I saw Sex and the City

    Submitted by
    sparkleandtwinkle (62 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:22pm.

    I saw Sex and the City shortly after it came out. It was alright, funny, bit ott but not bad.

    I saw 27 Dresses on dvd... okay but a bit lame, and saw Mamma Mia on dvd, didn't take to it all. Far too happy clappy "aren't we all making SO much effort, look, look, notice us!"

    I just don't take very well to either projects that assume they're so cool, or stories that are so by the number there's not much more to them. Hard to please maybe, but I'm not going to support something regardless.

    I just don't understand why studio bosses are quite so scared of female leads and more than that, lesbian love stories. There's clearly an audience for it, and it's not the stone age, times are moving on.

    Altho I am reminded of the storyline in Queer as Folk when Justin's comic book with a gay superhero was shelved by the studio for a religious film (i.e. Passion of the Christ).

     

     

    Melissa Hsu's picture

    I <3 Diablo.

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:47pm.

    I've seen two of the top four films -- didn't see Sex and the City because I find the whole moping over Mr. Big thing to be tedious, Twilight because I haven't read the books, and vampires aren't really my thing.  

    I know it's cliche, but I'm pretty much convinced that Diablo Cody can do no wrong, though. She's great at writing strong female leads. It's too bad there aren't more of her. Looking forward to Jennifer's Body. 

    Inkblots

    A Muse's picture

    wow I have only seen Sex in

    Submitted by
    A Muse (512 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:29pm.

    wow I have only seen Sex in the City in the theatre and that was only cos a bunch of straight girls made me go :P

    I have seen Juno, 27 Dresses, Baby Mama, Nim's Island, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 and the Changeling on DVD, while I totally regret ever having watched the movie disaster that is Mama Mia!

    I still don't understand why Doubt wasn't more successful. It is one of the best movies of the year imo.

    ------------------------------------------------------
    Films, tv, games, travel, sport, books - everything you want to chat about on The Trial Run. Make new friends or meet old ones

    Melissa Hsu's picture

    baby mama

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:41pm.

    I love Baby Mama, saw it on opening wekend and bought the DVD as soon as it came out, Amy Poehler is my Santa Claus.

    "I like all of those words" Angie

     

    Dying to say this to you

    Natazzz's picture

    None

    Submitted by
    Natazzz (1113 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:48pm.

    I didn't see any of these movies, simply because I don't care to watch women chasing men or having babies.

    Give me an interesting women led movie and I'll go...

    ---------------------------------------

    Who doesn't blog these days?

    eurOut for all your European queer needs
    Vaya's picture

    I saw these films in the

    Submitted by
    Vaya (257 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 4:48pm.

    I saw these films in the theatre:

    Twilight, which was pretty much crap, Sex and the City, which was exactly what I expected it to be; superficial, yet entertaining. Mamma Mia! was a movie that suffered greatly from lack of direction and was a disappointment since I love both Meryl and ABBA. I saw 27 dresses because I wanted to be nice to my mother and let her choose the film. Not doing that again. :S

    The only two films on this list really worth seeing was Juno and Changeling, IMO. Both were wonderfully acted and very well directed and written.

    Lunakiss's picture

    Womyn in the Center Of Film Money Making Biz

    Submitted by
    Lunakiss (2079 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 5:10pm.

    www.myspace.com/lunakiss7.com

    I only saw two ,Twilight and Sex in the City,of the top grossing driven films for womyn. I would like to see darker/noir  films about life  and womyn in them then I might  see a few more  films during opening weekend.  

    My two cents.

    Nice observation  though, Karman.

    A line taken from my poem "She" It is SHE who awakens my soul..."

    thefemininedivine.blogspot.com

    Zahra's picture

    The interesting thing

    Submitted by
    Zahra (123 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 5:36pm.

    The interesting thing about this list is how few of the big money-makers were original films; most were based on other, pre-existing media. Twilight, Sex & the City, and Mamma Mia were already raking in big bucks as a book, TV show, & musical theatre piece long before they were filmed.

    I'll bet this is true for a lot of the male-driven films as well (comic books, anyone?), because Hollywood is not about originality, but I wonder if women-focused films need more of a money-making pedigree in another format for the studios to take a "chance" on them.

    Which means that those of us who want to see more women--and more women of color, and more lesbian and bi women of all colors--on screen, need to make, promote, and give our hard-earned cash to media that show our experiences in other formats--books, TV shows, plays, etc.

    Obviously culture builds across different formats, but I also suspect that it's easier for women-driven projects to get a hearing in format like book publishing and TV, where women are "traditionally" considered a large share of the market.

    awesome_possum's picture

    I could only bear to see one movie in theatres

    Submitted by
    awesome_possum (75 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 5:39pm.

    and that was Changeling.
    And that was definitely worth the $4.50 I paid - and then some. (cheaper because it's a local, indie-like theatre)

    Juno was great, but I didn't know of its brilliance until it came out on DVD.

    eme's picture

    I've seen many of the

    Submitted by
    eme (77 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 5:46pm.

    I've seen many of the listed films in the theater but not opening weekend. 

    I think many of the films had relatable characters and that gets people in the seats. Twilight brought the kids who want to be vampires in and Sex in the City brought the adults who wish they could afford Prada in. or something like that. 

    But House Bunny was bad. 

     

     

     

     

    Viva's picture

    Ain't that the truth

    Submitted by
    Viva (2376 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 5:59pm.

    'Twilight brought the kids who want to be vampires in and Sex in the City brought the adults who wish they could afford Prada in. or something like that.' lol

    ha Idk if I should say, but I thoroughly lol enjoyed Mama Mia on the opening weekend, wasn't my pick of course, but I love musicals and it wasn't overly deppressing as Rent. Other than that, the only other movie up there I saw on the opening weekend was House Bunny, cause a House Bunny wannabe decided on the movie that night, obviously it wasn't Oscar material, but the movie deserves a LMAO award. Also, behind all the craziness, there was a lesson in there somewhere for girls to learn from.

     

    jennifer from pittsburgh's picture

    Mama deux

    Submitted by
    jennifer from p... (1434 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 11:07pm.
    Of these movies the only two I've seen are Mama Mia and Baby Mama. See the theme? I don't remember if I saw them on opening weekend, but it would've been close (like the first Monday or something). Even though my economic situation hasn't changed in the recession, I'm really picky about how I spend my entertainment dollars now. I'm not going to the movies unless I really can't wait for Netflix to throw it through the slot. Instead I've been buying books and mini Kit Kats. That with the whiskey seems to be staving off the depression.
    Rainey 's picture

    i may have a problem...

    Submitted by
    Rainey (33 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 11:24pm.

    so i'm thinking that maybe i need to get a life cause i have seen 8 out of the 12 movies you listed...but i only saw 3 in the theatre however i did watch twilight twice lol...do i have a problem? lol

    qrhe's picture

    Twilight is not good news.

    Submitted by
    qrhe (5 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 11:30pm.

    Twilight breaking the top 10 top grossing films of 2008 doesn't mean much since it must be the number 1 most misogynistic uninformed piece of drivel that would set back young women's maturation by years.  That so many people involved in it are female only makes it that much worse. 

    I want to shake every Twilight fan by the shoulders while screaming "If you want vampire-human forbidden high school romance, there's Buffy!  If you want classically cheesy vampirism as sexual tension, Anne Rice is better than this!"

    the_Rad_Seed's picture

    re: diversity age and race

    Submitted by
    the_Rad_Seed (531 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 11:42pm.
    I usually detest tyler perrys movies but I challenge any of you complaining (and rightfully so) about lack of strong female leads, mature women in films etc to go rent The family that Preys, between kathy bates, alfre woodard, and robin givens and almost every woman in that cast there were great characters and a good story told. Unfortunately even when there's a 'mixed' cast, marketing says its a 'black' movie, its pretty much only advertised as a 'black' movie and much of the 'mainstream' market doesn't even consider going to watch it, beacause its not as the studios would call it 'relateable'. Their logic is that audiences can't relate to stories about people. Because those people are black. Insane right? Yet, the numbers get to prove them right most of the time. Because no one but black people went to see those 'black' movies, or this is what they'd have you to believe. In fact most of these 'black movies' are only able to break some bank through dvd sales( which are certainly cut into via bootlegging). I'm not trying to overthrow the system lol(not til I get to hollywood) I'm just recommending that we support all women centered films at the box office and thru dvd sales and rentals, its the only way for them to continue getting made.

    http://radisthenewblack.blogspot.com/

    stoogle?:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0QxB3z2qgU   

    the_Rad_Seed's picture

    whew

    Submitted by
    the_Rad_Seed (531 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 11:52pm.
    Don't anyone trip on my soapbox, ill just push it over here, lol

    http://radisthenewblack.blogspot.com/

    stoogle?:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0QxB3z2qgU   

    ChaosSerene's picture

    Got 5

    Submitted by
    ChaosSerene (33 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 8:25am.

    I, as I assume was the case with many, was dragged to the theater for Twilight, and it wasn't half as nauseating as I was expecting. I think Meyer had something going with happy-go-round vamps in highschool (a non Whedon perspective is welcome sometimes =P), but damn did she threw it down the drain of no return with glowy vamps and boy drooling.

     

    The rest I saw on DVD, Mamma Mia, Baby Mama, 27 Dresses and Juno.

    I think I could've lived without any, though. Maybe it was all the hype, but Juno didn't deliver for me.

    Definitely a lacking year, surprise surprise. 

     

     

    singoutplease's picture

    I saw: Mamma mia ( didnt

    Submitted by
    singoutplease (11 posts)
    on January 28, 2009 - 3:06pm.

    I saw:

    Mamma mia ( didnt like it even though o love meryl streep)

    changeling ( love it)

    Juno ( totally worth it)

    Twilight I went to the opening but that was because my little sister made me read the books and go with her to the movie ( what a waste).

     

    Lindsay 's picture

    Sex and the City was the

    Submitted by
    Lindsay (68 posts)
    on January 29, 2009 - 2:05am.

    Sex and the City was the most anti-feminist piece of crap I've ever seen in my entire life.

    I liked the tv show but I hated the movie with a PASSION.

    He leaves her at the fucking altar, she spends the rest of the movie being depressed, and then she takes him back because he sends her OTHER PEOPLE'S POETRY.

    That right there is NOT a good movie^. UUUUURRRGGGGHH!

    Mmkay I'm done with my rant now.


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