Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara said the studio is doubling down on its major franchises in a Tuesday Q&A session at an investor conference, undoubtedly good news for fans of DC Comics, Harry Potter and the Lego movies. And some of that content may be delivered direct to consumer.
In remarks at the Credit Suisse Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., Tsujihara said given the challenges of today’s film market, marquee intellectual property is more critical than ever.
“What is becoming more and more important is really these big franchises,” Tsujihara said.
The studio chief pointed out that three years ago, the top 10 films made up about 25 percent of the box office. This year, the top 10 will comprise about 30 percent, which makes nailing tentpoles that much more important. Tsujihara also said that the proliferation of prestige TV has favored big spectacle movies.
“If you look at what’s happening with the quality of the television product, the movies that are breaking through are the big franchises,” he said, adding that only Disney has a comparable selection of big franchises as Warner Bros.
Tsujihara also underscored Warner Bros.’ stepped-up direct-to-consumer efforts, mentioning its recent acquisition of gaming-focused Machinima. He said the studio’s been working on that line of business, hinting at a potential dedicated DC Comics product to capitalize on its “rabid” fan base.
“We’ve been working on that quite feverishly over the last 12 months,” he said of Warner Bros.’ direct-to-consumer pipeline.
Like many other studio chiefs — who have been watching, and in some cases, reaping the benefits of Chinese money flowing into Hollywood — Tsujihara said the potential opportunities to tap into the fast-growing movie market of the world’s most populous country is massive.
“The size of that opportunity for a movie studio is bigger than anything we’ve seen internationally in a long time,” Tsujihara said.
Tsujihara downplayed the impact of the proposed AT&T acquisition of studio owner Time Warner, saying that his division would continue to focus on producing hits for Time Warner’s cable channels, such as TNT and HBO.
“The biggest way for Warner Bros. to move the needle was if we created a hit show for Turner or HBO,” he said. “I’m really excited about the opportunity we potentially have with [HBO series] ‘Westworld.'”
Tsujihara pointed out that early viewing for “Westworld” is ahead of the first season of “Game of Thrones,” which has grown into HBO’s biggest current hit.
He also addressed potential changes to viewing windows, which he said have been the subject of productive talks with distributors “for the first time in a long time.”
“We’re working with them to create a new window,” he said. “We have to offer consumers more choices earlier.”
And regardless of when they get to see it, Warner Bros. plans to produce plenty of new content from familiar — and reliable — intellectual property.
“Do we have an opportunity to rejuvenate ‘Looney Tunes?'” he asked.
14 Christmas Movies That Definitely Aren't for Kids (Photos)
Sure, Christmas is a time of joy for children of all ages, but that doesn't mean that grown-ups can't have the cinematic equivalent of a spiked egg nog. After you've packed the little ones off to bed, enjoy these movies, from the hilarious to the horrifying, that are aimed at adult audiences.
"Black Christmas" (1974)
A decade before making the classic "A Christmas Story," director Bob Clark invented the holiday slasher with this still-chilling cult fave about sorority sisters fending off an obscene phone caller. (A new remake slays in theaters in December 2019.)
Warner Bros.
"The Silent Partner" (1978)
Bank teller Elliott Gould and robber Christopher Plummer play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse; this twisty thriller was an early success for the late Curtis Hanson, who scripted.
Pan-Canadian Film Distributors
"Christmas Evil" (1980)
John Waters' favorite Christmas movie involves a man obsessed with Santa (Brandon Maggart) who takes his naughty list to homicidal extremes.
Pan American Pictures
"Some Girls" (1988)
Long before he was McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey played a horny college student bewitched by three sisters (played by Jennifer Connelly, Sheila Kelley and Ashley Greenfield) in an early Sundance hit that's still underappreciated (and still sexy).
MGM
"Metropolitan" (1990)
Writer-director Whit Stillman scored a dynamite debut -- and made a low-budget indie look great by shooting in holiday-decorated Manhattan -- with this smart and sprightly tale of young debutantes in love.
New Line Cinema
"The Ref" (1994) Cat burglar Denis Leary is forced to play marriage counselor to bickering spouses Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis in this pungently hilarious farce.
Buena Vista
"Go" (1999)
Writer John August and director Doug Liman keep the twists and the wisecracks coming in this ensemble piece about young L.A. types chasing down ecstasy. The cast is full of before-they-were-famous folks.
Sony Pictures
"Eyes Wide Shut" (1999)
If you don't think of this as a Christmas movie, you haven't seen it lately; director Stanley Kubrick inserts twinkle lights and trees all over his sexual thriller starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Warner Bros.
"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (2005)
One of Robert Downey's best pre-Marvel roles was as a struggling actor caught up in a Christmastime conspiracy, trading quips with scene-stealers Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"A Christmas Tale" (2008) Catherine Deneuve isn't the usual mom-with-cancer; this matriarch demands her kids give her a bone marrow transplant in this biting, brilliant family story.
Bac Films
"Better Watch Out" (2017)
This clever holiday horror-comedy takes the youthful sadism of "Home Alone" and ratchets it up a few notches, with teenage Luke (Levi Miller, "Pan") hiding some real darkness behind that sweet face.
Well Go USA
"A Bad Moms Christmas" (2017)
The bad moms just want to have fun, even when their own bad moms come rolling into town to celebrate the season. Santas will strip, and the egg nog will be spiked.
STX
"Anna and the Apocalypse" (2018)
It's Christmastime! But thanks to a zombie outbreak, it's also the end times, and our high school heroes dispatch the undead with bloody fervor. And did we mention this is also a musical?
Vertigo Releasing
"Violent Night" (2022)
David Harbour stars as a rough-around-the-edges Santa Claus in this action-comedy that finds Santa going toe-to-toe with a group of mercenaries led by a man who goes by the code name "Mr. Scrooge" (played by John Leguizamo). As the title suggests, violence abounds.
Universal Pictures
1 of 15
”Black Christmas“ isn’t the only film that brings an R-rated sensibility to the holiday season
Sure, Christmas is a time of joy for children of all ages, but that doesn't mean that grown-ups can't have the cinematic equivalent of a spiked egg nog. After you've packed the little ones off to bed, enjoy these movies, from the hilarious to the horrifying, that are aimed at adult audiences.