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Nick Redfern

Nick Redfern. An empirical approach to film audiences. BFI Media Studies Conference. 7-9 July 2010. http://nickredfern.wordpress.com. Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions. Introduction. Key Aim: to understand the behaviour of film audiences from box office data.

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Nick Redfern

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  1. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences BFI Media Studies Conference 7-9 July 2010 http://nickredfern.wordpress.com

  2. Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Introduction Key Aim: to understand the behaviour of film audiences from box office data Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  3. Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Introduction Key Aim: to understand the behaviour of film audiences from box office data • Four areas of investigation: • The relationship between the gender of a film’s main characters and the mean 3-day gross ratio • The impact of constraints on audiences – the ‘holiday effect’ • Understanding the popularity of films at the UK box office • Comparing the behaviour of British and American audiences Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  4. Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Introduction Key Aim: to understand the behaviour of film audiences from box office data • Four areas of investigation: • The relationship between the gender of a film’s main characters and the mean 3-day gross ratio • The impact of constraints on audiences – the ‘holiday effect’ • Understanding the popularity of films at the UK box office • Comparing the behaviour of British and American audiences some sources of box office data some methods of analysis some results and conclusions Outline: Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  5. The UK Film Council Box Office Mojo Internet Movie Database Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The UK Film Council Access: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/weekendboxoffice Scope: UK box office from July 2001 to present day Quality of data: very high Data breakdown: none Analysis: none Advantages: free to access excellent coverage of British films Excel format available Disadvantages: little information outside top 15 films no historical data prior to July 2001 UK data conflated with Ireland Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  6. The UK Film Council Box Office Mojo Internet Movie Database Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Box Office Mojo Access: www.boxofficemojo.com Scope: US box office, international box office, historical data Quality of data: very high for US box office, high for rest of world Data breakdown: people, genres, franchises, showdowns Analysis: news service, historical comparisons Advantages: free to access wide variety of data for each film Disadvantages: UK data conflated with Ireland and Malta dollar orientated definition of weekly gross is Friday to Thursday Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  7. The UK Film Council Box Office Mojo Internet Movie Database Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Internet Movie Database Access: www.imdb.com Scope: domestic/international box office available on a film-by-film basis Quality of data: very high to very poor depending on film Data breakdown: none Analysis: none Advantages: free to access Disadvantages: data may not be available for a particular film reproduces data available elsewhere box office presented in local currency Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  8. Sample Methods Statistical analyses Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Sample Source: UK Film Council box office archive, Box Office Mojo Sample size: 50 films, including Hollywood films produced in the UK (e.g. TheBourne Ultimatum) mid-level UK films (e.g. The Duchess, Son of Rambow) small-budget independent UK productions (e.g. The Flying Scotsman) UK films only released at UK box office in 2007 and 2008 minimum of 7 consecutive weeks of data (from opening week) feature films only, excluding documentaries Sampling criteria: Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  9. Sample Methods Statistical analyses Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Methods Mean 3-day gross ratio: where n = number of weeks (n ≥ 7), wi = weekend gross (Friday to Sunday), Wi= total weekly gross (Monday to Sunday) Outliers: an observation that deviates markedly from the other members of its class definition: Q₁ - (IQR × 1.5), Q₃ + (IQR × 1.5) for each class outliers class are removed from their class and discussed separately Variables: genre gender as defined by narrative, main characters, presence of stars week of release country of release Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  10. Sample Methods Statistical analyses Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Statistical analyses Descriptive statistics: median, 95% confidence interval (Bonett & Price 2002), interquartile range Reference: Bonett DG and Price RM 2002 Statistical inference for a linear function of medians: confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and sample size requirements, Psychological Methods 7 (3): 370-383. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  11. Sample Methods Statistical analyses Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Statistical analyses Descriptive statistics: median, 95% confidence interval (Bonett & Price 2002), interquartile range Kruskal-Wallis: non-parametric analysis of variance for k groups: Significance:α = 0.05, two-tailed p value, corrected for ties Post-hoc: Dunn multiple comparisons test, α = 0.0167 Reference: Bonett DG and Price RM 2002 Statistical inference for a linear function of medians: confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and sample size requirements, Psychological Methods 7 (3): 370-383. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  12. Sample Methods Statistical analyses Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Statistical analyses Descriptive statistics: median, 95% confidence interval (Bonett & Price 2002), interquartile range Correlation: linear relationship between week of release and mean 3-day gross ratio Kruskal-Wallis: non-parametric analysis of variance for k groups: Significance:α = 0.05, two-tailed p value, 95% confidence interval Significance:α = 0.05, two-tailed p value, corrected for ties Post-hoc: Dunn multiple comparisons test, α = 0.0167 Reference: Bonett DG and Price RM 2002 Statistical inference for a linear function of medians: confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and sample size requirements, Psychological Methods 7 (3): 370-383. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  13. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Sample: mr: N = 50 median = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38, 0.44], IQR = 0.12 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  14. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Conclusion Sample: mr: N = 50 median = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38, 0.44], IQR = 0.12 UK films typically gross less than half their box office over the opening 7 to 8 weeks of their release at the weekend ⇒ UK audiences largely attend the cinema during the week. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  15. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Sample: mr: N = 50 median = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38, 0.44], IQR = 0.12 Table 1 Genre and gender of main character(s) for UK films, 2007-2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  16. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Result 1 2 3 Sample: mr: N = 50 median = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38, 0.44], IQR = 0.12 The number of films in which the main character(s) are male exceeds those for females and females/males, indicating an overall gender bias in British films. Table 1 Genre and gender of main character(s) for UK films, 2007-2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  17. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Result 1 2 3 Sample: mr: N = 50 median = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38, 0.44], IQR = 0.12 The concept of the ‘woman’s film’ persists in the form of heritage romances (The Edge of Love, Becoming Jane) and the ‘chick flick’ (Mamma Mia!). Table 1 Genre and gender of main character(s) for UK films, 2007-2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  18. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Result 12 3 Sample: mr: N = 50 median = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38, 0.44], IQR = 0.12 Comedy/musical and fantasy/horror/science fiction have no overall gender bias for the main characters. Table 1 Genre and gender of main character(s) for UK films, 2007-2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  19. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio FIGURE 1 The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by gender (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • Median = 0.38 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.41] • IQR = 0.05 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • Median = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.43] • IQR = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • Median = 0.46 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.51] • IQR = 0.13 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  20. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Result 1 2 3 FIGURE 1 The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by gender (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • Median = 0.38 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.41] • IQR = 0.05 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • Median = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.43] • IQR = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • Median = 0.46 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.51] • IQR = 0.13 There is a statistically significant difference in the mean 3-day gross ratios of UK films sorted by the gender of the main character(s), once outliers have been excluded (Kruskal-Wallis: Hc = 6.1663, p = 0.0458). Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  21. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Result 1 2 3 FIGURE 1 The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by gender (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • Median = 0.38 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.41] • IQR = 0.05 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • Median = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.43] • IQR = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • Median = 0.46 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.51] • IQR = 0.13 There is a statistically significant difference between films in which the main character(s) are female and films in which the main character(s) are male (Dunn: p = 0.0072). Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  22. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Result 12 3 FIGURE 1 The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by gender (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • Median = 0.38 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.41] • IQR = 0.05 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • Median = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.43] • IQR = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • Median = 0.46 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.51] • IQR = 0.13 There is no statistically significant difference between films in which the main character(s) are female/male and those in which the main character(s) are female (Dunn: p = 0.1383) or male (Dunn: p = 0.1205). Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  23. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio Conclusion FIGURE 1 The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by gender (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • Median = 0.38 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.41] • IQR = 0.05 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • Median = 0.39 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.43] • IQR = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • Median = 0.46 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.51] • IQR = 0.13 UK films, in which the main character(s) is female, accumulate a lower proportion of their gross at the weekend than UK films in which the main character(s) is male. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  24. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ FIGURE 2The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by week of release (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.12 [95% CI: -0.52, 0.67] • p = 0.72 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.59 [95% CI: -0.02, 0.88] • p = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • r (22) = -0.04 [95% CI: -0.43, 0.37] • p = 0.87 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  25. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Conclusion FIGURE 2The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by week of release (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.12 [95% CI: -0.52, 0.67] • p = 0.72 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.59 [95% CI: -0.02, 0.88] • p = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • r (22) = -0.04 [95% CI: -0.43, 0.37] • p = 0.87 There is no linear relationship between when a film is released and the mean 3-day gross ratio. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  26. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Result FIGURE 2The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by week of release (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.12 [95% CI: -0.52, 0.67] • p = 0.72 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.59 [95% CI: -0.02, 0.88] • p = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • r (22) = -0.04 [95% CI: -0.43, 0.37] • p = 0.87 Four films were identified as outliers: The Golden Compass (F/M), St. Trinian’s (F), Penelope (F), Wild Child (F) . No ‘male’ films were classed as outliers. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  27. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Remark FIGURE 2The distribution of mean 3-day gross ratios by week of release (outliers excluded) • Female: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.12 [95% CI: -0.52, 0.67] • p = 0.72 • Female/Male: • N = 11 • r (9) = 0.59 [95% CI: -0.02, 0.88] • p = 0.06 • Male: • N = 24 • r (22) = -0.04 [95% CI: -0.43, 0.37] • p = 0.87 The timing of release does appear to be a factor in the value of mr for the four outliers, and this appears to be related to the impact of school holidays. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  28. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Figure 3 The holiday effect on The Golden Compass, St. Trinian’s, and Penelope • The Golden Compass: • mr= 0.5922 • release date: 7 December 2007 • St. Trinian’s: • mr= 0.6204 • release date: 21 December 2007 • Penelope: • mr=0.6332 • release date: 1 February 2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  29. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Conclusion Figure 3 The holiday effect on The Golden Compass, St. Trinian’s, and Penelope • The Golden Compass: • mr= 0.5922 • release date: 7 December 2007 • St. Trinian’s: • mr= 0.6204 • release date: 21 December 2007 • Penelope: • mr=0.6332 • release date: 1 February 2008 The ability of an audience to attend is restricted by external factors, including school holidays and the closure of theatres on Christmas Day. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  30. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Figure 4 3-day gross ratios for Wild Child and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day(both released 15 August 2008) • Wild Child: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.6441 • Narrative: teenage girls at an English boarding school • Stars: Emma Roberts • Audience: female, 12 to 17 • Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.2905 • Narrative: a middle-aged woman in the city • Stars: Frances McDormand/Amy Adams • Audience: female, 25+ Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  31. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The ‘holiday effect’ Conclusion Figure 4 3-day gross ratios for Wild Child and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day(both released 15 August 2008) • Wild Child: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.6441 • Narrative: teenage girls at an English boarding school • Stars: Emma Roberts • Audience: female, 12 to 17 • Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.2905 • Narrative: a middle-aged woman in the city • Stars: Frances McDormand/Amy Adams • Audience: female, 25+ The timing of a film’s release impacts some audiences more than others, and appears to disproportionately affect teenage girls. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  32. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Adaptive contracting: release patterns are dynamically adapted over time to meet emerging demand References: De Vany A and Walls WD 1996 Bose-Einstein dynamics and adaptive contracting in the motion picture industry, The Economic Journal 106 (439): 1493-1516. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  33. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Adaptive contracting: release patterns are dynamically adapted over time to meet emerging demand Willingness-to-pay principle: box office gross is a measure of audience preference the audience ‘votes with its wallet’ References: De Vany A and Walls WD 1996 Bose-Einstein dynamics and adaptive contracting in the motion picture industry, The Economic Journal 106 (439): 1493-1516. Sedgwick J 2009 Measuring film popularity: principles and applications, in M Ross, M Grasser, and B Freisleden (eds.) Digital Tools in Media Studies: Analysis and Research – An Overview. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag: 43-54. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  34. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Adaptive contracting: release patterns are dynamically adapted over time to meet emerging demand Willingness-to-pay principle: box office gross is a measure of audience preference the audience ‘votes with its wallet’ Ranking: rankings play a key role in the marketing and mythology of a film Chuck Viane (Walt Disney) – “If you’re the number one film in a given weekend, you get the most free hits publicity-wise.” weekend gross ranking – highest gross for 3-day weekend is most popular References: De Vany A and Walls WD 1996 Bose-Einstein dynamics and adaptive contracting in the motion picture industry, The Economic Journal 106 (439): 1493-1516. Sedgwick J 2009 Measuring film popularity: principles and applications, in M Ross, M Grasser, and B Freisleden (eds.) Digital Tools in Media Studies: Analysis and Research – An Overview. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag: 43-54. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  35. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Table 2 UK box office gross for week ending 26 October 2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  36. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Table 2 UK box office gross for week ending 26 October 2008 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  37. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Table 2 UK box office gross for week ending 26 October 2008 For the same period, the gross of Mamma Mia! is 1.4 times greater than that of Igor Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  38. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Table 2 UK box office gross for week ending 26 October 2008 For the same period, the gross of Mamma Mia! is 1.4 times greater than that of Igor Only 29% of the gross of Mamma Mia! was accumulated at the weekend Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  39. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Result Table 2 UK box office gross for week ending 26 October 2008 Mamma Mia! was more popular with filmgoers than Igor for the week ending 26 October 2008, and that audience largely attended during the period Monday to Thursday. For the same period, the gross of Mamma Mia! is 1.4 times greater than that of Igor Only 29% of the gross of Mamma Mia! was accumulated at the weekend Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  40. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions The popularity of films Conclusion Table 2 UK box office gross for week ending 26 October 2008 Ranking films by their weekend gross does not accurately reflect the decisions of audiences in the UK about which films they wish to see. For the same period, the gross of Mamma Mia! is 1.4 times greater than that of Igor Only 29% of the gross of Mamma Mia! was accumulated at the weekend Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  41. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions At the US box office Table 3 Mean 3-day gross ratio for films at the UK and US box office (n = 8) Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  42. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions At the US box office Result 1 2 3 Table 3 Mean 3-day gross ratio for films at the UK and US box office (n = 8) The mean 3-day gross ratio for a film at the US box office is typically greater than 0.5. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  43. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions At the US box office Result 1 2 3 Table 3 Mean 3-day gross ratio for films at the UK and US box office (n = 8) The mean 3-day gross ratios for films at the US box office are typically greater than at the UK box office. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  44. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions At the US box office Result 12 3 Table 3 Mean 3-day gross ratio for films at the UK and US box office (n = 8) The mean 3-day gross ratios for films at the UK box office typically have a greater range than films at the US box office. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  45. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions At the US box office • Figure 5 3-day gross ratios for Mamma Mia! at the US and UK box office • US box office: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.5580 • n = 15 • Opening weekend: $27,751,240 • Total gross: $144,130,063 • Ratio: 0.1925 • UK box office: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.4445 • n = 15 • Opening weekend: £6,594,058 • Total gross: £69,170,000 • Ratio: 0.0953 Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  46. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions At the US box office Conclusion • Figure 5 3-day gross ratios for Mamma Mia! at the US and UK box office • US box office: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.5580 • n = 15 • Opening weekend: $27,751,240 • Total gross: $144,130,063 • Ratio: 0.1925 • UK box office: • Mean 3-day gross ratio = 0.4445 • n = 15 • Opening weekend: £6,594,058 • Total gross: £69,170,000 • Ratio: 0.0953 Audiences in the UK and the US behave differently, with the former attending during the week and the latter attending at the weekend. Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

  47. Gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio The ‘holiday effect’ The popularity of films At the US box office Introduction Data sources The study Results and conclusions Summary • Inferring audience behaviour from box office data: • There is a statistically significant relationship between gender and the mean 3-day gross ratio of UK films at the UK box office • There is a ‘holiday effect’ that can affect the size of mr for some audiences • The weekend box office gross is not an accurate measure of a movie’s popularity • British audiences attend films during the week, while American audiences go to the cinema at the weekend Nick Redfern An empirical approach to film audiences

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