Software can predict movie success.

[Uptightgirl]

Software has been developed by a professor which can predict if a film will be successful or not.

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/47852.html

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2005/12/15/software-uncovers-secret-of-movie-success

You can use this to see if Trek 11 will sink or swim.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

And here's where it all falls down:

"Would his model have predicted that 'The Blair Witch Project' was going to be successful because the producers tried something different in terms of its marketing and distribution?" Peterson asks. "To predict whether 'King Kong' is going to be successful, I don't know how important that is. But to predict something that is a little bit more esoteric is a more difficult task."

There's really nothing novel here. He predicts success to "within one category." Depending upon the budget and distribution/promotion costs of a film, being one category off can be the difference between accurately predicting success or failure. "Serenity" would have been a success at less than 100 million dollars, "Superman Returns" barely squeaks into the successful category at somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 million.