Has Lionsgate earned its place among the other big studios?

[terry78]

I think with its most recent slate and upcoming slate, it's become quite a player...its early days were just indie flicks that no one really saw, or movies that were somewhat done on the cheap. But looking at their most recent listings, they're on the ball.

2008

* Rambo (co-produced with The Weinstein Company) - January 25, 2008
* The Eye (co-produced with Paramount Vantage and Cruise/Wagner Productions) - February 1, 2008
* The Bank Job - March 7, 2008
* Meet The Browns (produced by The Tyler Perry Company) - March 21, 2008
* The Forbidden Kingdom (produced by China Film Co-Production Corporation and Relativity Media) - April 18, 2008
* The Midnight Meat Train (co-produced with Lakeshore Entertainment) - August 1, 2008
* Disaster Movie - August 29, 2008
* Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow (co-production by Marvel Studios) - September 2, 2008
* The Family That Preys (produced by The Tyler Perry Company) - September 12, 2008
* My Best Friend's Girl - September 19, 2008
* Religulous (produced by Thousand Words) - October 3, 2008
* W. - October 17, 2008
* Saw V (produced by Twisted Pictures) - October 24, 2008
* Repo! The Genetic Opera (produced by Twisted Pictures) - November 7, 2008
* Punisher: War Zone (co-production with Marvel Studios) - December 5, 2008
* The Spirit - December 25, 2008
* The Marriage Counselor
* The Perfect Game

2009

* A Jazz Man's Blues
* Heart
* Atlas Shrugged
* The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
* Madea Goes to Jail
* The Descent 2
* Saw VI

 

[Zephyr Alexian]

Not quite yet. They're making strides for an independent co., so that's a plus in their favor.

 

[Majik1387]

Not at all, seeing as how they produce those god awful "spoof" movies

 

[odiin]

Eh, not quite. Let's look at their highest grossing flms for the last five years and see how the place domestically overall in that year:

2008: 36. The Forbidden Kingdom - 52 mil
2007: 41. Saw IV - 63 mil
2006: 28. Saw III - 80 mil
2005: 21. Saw II - 87 mil
2004: 17. Fahrenheit 9/11 - 119 mil

In those 5 years they haven't had a single movie in the top 10 and 3 of the 5 were from the same franchise. They're not quite one of the big boys yet, but they are definitely the top independent studio sort of a "big fish in a little pond" type deal. Also, interestingly, each of their top grossing films have made less than the one before for the past five years as well.

And what the **** at Madea goes to jail? Are those like the new Ernest movies or some ****??

 

[Movies205]

The only thing decent they have in their line up is Imaginarium of Dr. Parnasus. However, what makes a big studio? The answer to that is two fold, one its the perception of being able to make any film and two of resources. Lionsgate has none. It is known for being not even a second-tier movie studio but a third. It makes all the movies that no one else wants to make, "Bangkonk Dangerous" "W" "The Spirit" Worst of all, there all cheap flicks with no artistic integrity what so ever. Trust me, Lionsgate will be bought in the next few years if for anything just for its library.

 

[Movies205]

And what the **** at Madea goes to jail? Are those like the new Ernest movies or some ****??

Black audiences eat that **** up

 

[BizarroAids]

Lionsgate is the underdog to me. I like it not being like Sony or Columbia. They usually pick the movies that other studios are afraid to make. Some may not make as much money as others, but they do generate an audience that propells them to cult status.

Thanks to them, we've also got the "Marvel Animated Projects" which is another reason why I like them.

It seems like they are this decades "New Line", back when New Line came out, they went for the more different style projects. Now New Line is at least on the B list of studios.

I feel before long, Lionsgate will be up there.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I think the only thing keeping them afloat is the saw series and all the horrible straight to dvd horror movies they do.

And all of Tyler Perry's movies.

 

[Timstuff]

Lionsgate kind of sucks.

 

[Octoberist]

I really think that Lionsgate was great when they did more dramas/smaller films. NOW they don't have the wide ranger that they used to, despite their success.

 

[Timstuff]

^Agreed. They were originally a haven for small indie films, but now they're mostly just putting out the movies no-one else wants-- and Saw sequels, which I don't want.

 

[Octoberist]

I think now, they're just like any other studio only with that horror niche. and it's not even a diverse group of horror movies - it's just Saw.. (not including the Strangers which I think Lionsgate will MILK)