I Could Have Made Monster Trucks

Okay maybe I couldn't have made Monster Trucks, but there are filmmakers right here on this forum with better film ideas and probably better films than what that looks like. How come sometimes Hollywood makes obviously bad decisions and spends millions on a film that even the most normal person could have told them that it wouldn't work?
 
Because people in Hollywood are no different than people in any
other business. They are human with flaws. Most normal people
in the early 1970's would have said a Sci-Fi "Space Opera"
wouldn't work. Hollywood thought so, too. But a young, Oscar
nominated writer/director pushed forward and "Hollywood" in
the guise of Head of Creative Affairs at 20th Century Fox convinced
his boss to take a chance. I could list dozens of others - so could
you. So the reverse is true. A creative person with a passion
project brings that project to "Hollywood" and convinces non-normal
people to finance and release it. Then the normal people don't go
see it.

Crazy to think that those in Hollywood make poor creative decisions
while normal people have great ideas. To the normal people a
remake of "Ben-Hur" seemed like a bad idea. To "Hollywood" it
looked good due to the interest and financial success of some faith
based films. The normal people were right. Back in 2001 normal
people (and Hollywood) thought a movie about the last twelve hours
of the life of Jesus told in graphic - and "R" rated - detail and entirely
in Aramaic wouldn't work. The normal people were wrong.

I believe the reason that sometimes Hollywood makes obviously bad
decisions is because Hollywood is people. And people can make
obviously bad decisions.
 
They made a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And that is the 2nd movie in a reboot when there were 3 or 4 TMNT movies made in the 80's/90's so....yeah....that about says it all.
 
They made a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And that is the 2nd movie in a reboot when there were 3 or 4 TMNT movies made in the 80's/90's so....yeah....that about says it all.
That's one that failed. But It seems pretty clear why “Hollywood”
chose to make it. The 2014 reboot made $485,000,000 and
another $98,000,000 in domestic video sales.

Hollywood is far more interested in making a profit than in movie
ideas. Another reason why Hollywood sometimes makes decisions
that seem obviously bad to normal people.

I wonder how many normal filmmakers like the ones right here on
this forum would make a higher percentages of good decisions than
Hollywood.
 
That's one that failed. But It seems pretty clear why “Hollywood”
chose to make it. The 2014 reboot made $485,000,000 and
another $98,000,000 in domestic video sales.

Hollywood is far more interested in making a profit than in movie
ideas. Another reason why Hollywood sometimes makes decisions
that seem obviously bad to normal people.

I wonder how many normal filmmakers like the ones right here on
this forum would make a higher percentages of good decisions than
Hollywood.

The figures those made astounds me but it was Michael Bay directing/producing and it followed the Transformers formula that is still milking that robotic cow.
 
I understand the financially motivated decision to green light TMNT 2 with the success of the first and the built in audience for the property. I also understand misfires and bad decisions. I can understand the strength of George Lucas and the clout he had coming off of successes like American Graffiti to go to bat and get his Space Opera financed, based on his creative vision alone.
Also I understand swinging and missing, Ben-Hur seemed like a good idea because of the success of faith based films coupled with Timur Bekmateovbtivakid (i'm sure that's not right) who seems to be a magical bullet dodger.

What I don't get is a concept as bad as Monster Trucks not only getting passed the point of being green lit, but 150 Million dollars? What the hell? I mean Deadpool, which was considered a risky property was only given $40 Million. Hedge your bets a little bit. How could so much money get put into that while there are much better film ideas out there?
 
Well first off it's rated PG. Not even PG-13
This is a kids movie and you're trying to criticize it as an adult.

* You are not the target demographic for this film *

Secondly it looks like this is the sort of film that will be selling toys.
That's huge.

Finally, here''s a trailer. My pet peeve for people to talk about something and not link it :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQGawWqJdfs
 
How could so much money get put into that while there are much better film ideas out there?
I have no answer to that.

I don't see the decision making process in the same way you do.
There are always “better” ideas out there. It's not always the case
of a producer/studio greenlighting the better idea. Many times
movies are passion projects, many times the pitch is really good,
many times the idea looks like easy marketing. Tastes in ideas
can be different from person to person. Maybe this WAS the best
idea at the time. When a person with access to funds likes one idea
they may not want to hold off hoping for a “better” idea.

In this case I can see some very good reasons to greenlight; the
producer has a profitable track record, the writers she hired have
a profitable track record, the director she hired has a profitable track
record, the potential for merchandising is high. On paper I bet this
looked pretty good. I don't see the concept as all that bad.

I saw it. It seemed like the writers were trying for a "Love Bug" feel
jumped up for today's short attention-span/video game playing kids.
It sure missed, no argument there, but as a concept I can understand
the possibilities and what drove the studio to go with it. I kept thinking
while watching the movie that if I were ten I might actually like it.
 
Well first off it's rated PG. Not even PG-13
This is a kids movie and you're trying to criticize it as an adult.

* You are not the target demographic for this film *

Secondly it looks like this is the sort of film that will be selling toys.
That's huge.

Finally, here''s a trailer. My pet peeve for people to talk about something and not link it

Actually all solid points. Well played.
 
LOL, looks like fun to me. (To watch on TV, not in theater, since it is not really my favorite type of movie.)
They blended Transformers (guy gets cool car) and ET ('alien' being hunted) into an action adventure about friendship (with a outcast you have to keep a secret). It is not that stupid to me.
What sfoster says: it is targeting kids/teenagers.
 
How could so much money get put into that while there are much better film ideas out there?

Same reason Bieber is a pop sensation bro. If want to listen to good music or watch good movies, there is some digging involved. Some work on your part to seek it out. But don't expect the mainstream to deliver it to you on a silver platter. That died in the 80s (and into the early 90s) when pop and good were synonymous.
 
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