DC dvd movies: Low-budget live action instead of animated?

[Jetfire]

Smallville gets around 3 million. It wouldn't last on a network. More people live in Brooklyn.

Now...it started out with 5+ Million & 6+ million in the second season...was at 4+ million for a few seasons and recently(last 2 seasons have been below 3 million...being on Fri night killed it...being on Tue/Wed Or Thurs it did better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallville

Someone else has pointed out Generation X was a 1996 made for TV movie.

My bad...sorry.

It's NOT BS. It takes MONEY, to make and then MARKET. It's the reality. I'm sorry if you don't think so. But, it's true. ESPECIALLY for high concept films (which super heroes ARE). You want to see Batman swing on a rope, Superman FLY. These things cost money to make it look believable.

Consider you're own math. 200 million gets you say, 600 million, profit 400 million. 100 million (you're half) gets you 300 million, profit 200 million. Which would you choose?

And besides 100 million dollars (you're number) is a LOT of money. You're NOT going to spend that kind of money for a direct to DVD release. That's INSANE. You wouldn't even spend 50 million on a direct to dvd release.

I see what you are saying. I think there could be a market for these type of low-budget live action comic movies.

[edit]

I wanted to add...I am not saying $5 million...more like $20 million.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I see what you are saying. I think there could be a market for these type of low-budget live action comic movies.

And there ARE. BUT, they are cheap, cheap, cheap. They aren't comic book movies. They aren't a live action Under the Red Hood. They COULD do them, but, I don't think anyone would really like the result.

[/quote]

[edit]

I wanted to add...I am not saying $5 million...more like $20 million.[/QUOTE]

And how much would you add for marketing? Distribution? Making the dvds?

I'm trying to think of a modern comic book/sci fi movie that was aiming for a theatrical release that had a budget that LOW. That didn't require that much special effects. 20 million is a lot to you and I, but that would be eaten away very quickly.

What's the profitability of a 20 million dollar direct to DVD release? I'm curious if there has been a direct to dvd movie that has made that much.

Here's a typical Asylum mockbuster.

[yt]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrImaVAWoAs&feature=related[/yt]

They do make money, the must, but I don't think they spend a heck of a lot. It would shock me if it was more than 10 million. Which means they won't get a return on investment of that much.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

A lot of comic book properties need big budgets to have the requisite production values to protect the brand and have a shot at raking in the huge revenue that a blockbuster movie can generate. Costumed superheroes that need a certain level of spectacle are, for the most part, best served by big budget live action movies and/or low budget DTV animated movies.

I do think, however, that there's a potentially lucrative market for low budget art films made from comic book properties that don't need big budgets to be properly realized (mostly non-superhero properties, along with a few non-traditional superheroes). These would be films with budgets in the region of, say, $5-15 million that would have a limited theatrical release and then move to home entertainment where most of their money would be made. If you can attract really talented filmmakers you can get amazing results from very small budgets. Moon, for example, was made for $5 million.

 

[Professor Zoom]

A lot of comic book properties need big budgets to have the requisite production values to protect the brand and have a shot at raking in the huge revenue that a blockbuster movie can generate. Costumed superheroes that need a certain level of spectacle are, for the most part, best served by big budget live action movies and/or low budget DTV animated movies.

I do think, however, that there's a potentially lucrative market for low budget art films made from comic book properties that don't need big budgets to be properly realized (mostly non-superhero properties, along with a few non-traditional superheroes). These would be films with budgets in the region of, say, $5-15 million that would have a limited theatrical release and then move to home entertainment where most of their money would be made. If you can attract really talented filmmakers you can get amazing results from very small budgets. Moon, for example, was made for $5 million.

And was just shy of doubling it's budget. Which is good.

 

[Jetfire]

I wouldn't mind seeing a low budget Superboy(Conner Kent) movie or maybe even Green Arrow...would work.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Fan trailer.

[yt]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95HegVuty3M[/yt]