Movies

Picks of 2010


Terry Gale’s favorite music video of 2010: Mash-Up from Glee

Terry’s favorite movie of 2010: This movie received mixed reviews when released in 2010. I found the movie to be a touching, heartfelt adventure story with incredible animation visuals.

Terry’s favorite weekly television series of 2010: An adult version of Twilight. Fun, campy vampire tale with great social commentary from creator Alan Ball.

2010: A Year at the Box Office


To Grossing Movies at the Box Office 2010:

Figures are from the North American Box Office Receipts:    
Toy Story 3 Disney/Pixar $415,004,880
Alice in Wonderland Disney $334,191,110
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Warner Bros. $293,420,257
Inception Warner Bros. $292,576,195
Shrek Forever After DreamWorks $238,736,787
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Summit $300,531,751
Iron Man 2 Paramount/Marvel $312,128,345
Despicable Me Universal $251,513,985
Tangled Disney $193,291,000
How to Train Your Dragon DreamWorks $217,581,231

Biggest Losses at the Box Office 2010:

  1. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
  2. Tangled
  3. How Do You Know
  4. Wolfman, The
  5. Robin Hood
  6. Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The
  7. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
  8. Green Zone
  9. Tourist, The
  10. Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

American Film Institute’s Top 50 American Film Legends


MEN
WOMEN
1 Humphrey Bogart 1 Katharine Hepburn
2 Cary Grant 2 Bette Davis
3 James Stewart 3 Audrey Hepburn
4 Marlon Brando 4 Ingrid Bergman
5 Fred Astaire 5 Greta Garbo
6 Henry Fonda 6 Marilyn Monroe
7 Clark Gable 7 Elizabeth Taylor
8 James Cagney 8 Judy Garland
9 Spencer Tracy 9 Marlene Dietrich
10 Charlie Chaplin 10 Joan Crawford
11 Gary Cooper 11 Barbara Stanwyck
12 Gregory Peck 12 Claudette Colbert
13 John Wayne 13 Grace Kelly
14 Laurence Olivier 14 Ginger Rogers
15 Gene Kelly 15 Mae West
16 Orson Welles 16 Vivien Leigh
17 Kirk Douglas 17 Lillian Gish
18 James Dean 18 Shirley Temple
19 Burt Lancaster 19 Rita Hayworth
20 The Marx Brothers 20 Lauren Bacall
21 Buster Keaton 21 Sophia Loren
22 Sidney Poitier 22 Jean Harlow
23 Robert Mitchum 23 Carole Lombard
24 Edward G. Robinson 24 Mary Pickford
25 William Holden 25 Ava Gardner

AFI’s 100 Years…100 Stars
Facts about some of the 25 greatest men and 25 greatest women screen legends

  • Lillian Gish has the longest screen career of any legend, male or female – 75 years.
  • Laurence Olivier has the longest career span of any male legend – 59 years.
  • There are four female living legends: Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, Lauren Bacall and Sophia Loren.
  • There are two male living legends: Kirk Douglas and Sidney Poitier.
  • Legends Marlon Brando, Sidney Poitier and Sophia Loren all had screen debuts in the cut-off year of 1950. Stars whose screen debuts occurred just after 1950, and therefore did not qualify as legends, include Jack Lemmon, Paul Newman, Shirley MacLaine and Clint Eastwood.
  • Ten of the screen legends also comprised five legendary duos: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. The Marx Brothers are the sole legendary team.
  • There are 13 legends that made the transition from silent pictures to the “talkies.” They are: Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Barbara Stanwyck, Lillian Gish, Carole Lombard, Mary Pickford, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton and Edward G. Robinson.
  • Thirteen screen legends were born outside the United States: Audrey Hepburn, Belgium; Elizabeth Taylor, England; Ingrid Bergman, Sweden; Greta Garbo, Sweden; Marlene Dietrich, Germany; Claudette Colbert, France; Vivian Leigh, India; Sophia Loren, Italy; Mary Pickford, Canada; Cary Grant, England; Charlie Chaplin, England; Laurence Olivier, England; and, Edward G. Robinson, Romania.
  • Eight screen legends were born in New York City: Barbara Stanwyck, Mae West, Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Burt Lancaster and the Marx Brothers.
  • TALES OF MANHATTAN (1942) is the feature film that boasts the largest collection of screen legends: Henry Fonda, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth and Edward G. Robinson. A 20-minute short film to benefit a Tuberculosis sanitarium entitled SLIPPERY PEARLS (or STOLEN JOOLS) from 1931 contains five AFI screen legends: Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, Buster Keaton and Edward G. Robinson.

Top 100 Highest Grossing Movies of All-time (Domestic, Adjusted for Inflation)


  1. Gone With the Wind (1939)
  2. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
  3. The Sound of Music (1965)
  4. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  5. The Ten Commandments (1956)
  6. Titanic (1997)
  7. Jaws (1975)
  8. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
  9. The Exorcist (1973)
  10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
  11. 101 Dalmatians (1961)
  12. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  13. Ben-Hur (1959)
  14. Avatar (2009)
  15. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
  16. The Sting (1973)
  17. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
  18. Jurassic Park (1993)
  19. The Graduate (1967)
  20. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
  21. Fantasia (1940)
  22. The Godfather (1972)
  23. Forrest Gump (1994)
  24. Mary Poppins (1964)
  25. The Lion King (1994)
  26. Grease (1978)
  27. Thunderball (1965)
  28. The Dark Knight (2008)
  29. The Jungle Book (1967)
  30. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
  31. Shrek 2 (2004)
  32. Ghostbusters (1984)
  33. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
  34. Love Story (1970)
  35. Spider-Man (2002)
  36. Independence Day (1996)
  37. Home Alone (1990)
  38. Pinocchio (1940)
  39. Cleopatra (1963)
  40. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
  41. Goldfinger (1964)
  42. Airport (1970)
  43. American Graffiti (1973)
  44. The Robe (1953)
  45. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
  46. Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
  47. Bambi (1942)
  48. Blazing Saddles (1974)
  49. Batman (1989)
  50. The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
  51. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  52. The Towering Inferno (1974)
  53. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  54. My Fair Lady (1964)
  55. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
  56. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)
  57. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  58. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  59. Back to the Future (1985)
  60. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  61. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  62. Superman (1978)
  63. Tootsie (1982)
  64. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
  65. Finding Nemo (2003)
  66. West Side Story (1961)
  67. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
  68. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
  69. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977/1980)
  70. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
  71. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
  72. Rocky (1976)
  73. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
  74. The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
  75. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  76. Twister (1996)
  77. Men in Black (1997)
  78. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
  79. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
  80. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
  81. Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
  82. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
  83. M*A*S*H (1970)
  84. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
  85. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
  86. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
  87. Aladdin (1992)
  88. Toy Story 3 (2010)
  89. Ghost (1990)
  90. Duel in the Sun (1946)
  91. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  92. House of Wax (1953)
  93. Rear Window (1954)
  94. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
  95. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  96. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  97. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  98. Sergeant York (1941)
  99. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
  100. Toy Story 2 (1999)

The Top 100 Money Making Movies of All-Time


  1. Avatar (2009)
  2. Titanic (1997)
  3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
  4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
  5. Toy Story 3 (2010)
  6. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
  7. The Dark Knight (2008)
  8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
  9. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
  10. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
  11. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
  12. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
  13. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
  14. Shrek 2 (2004)
  15. Jurassic Park (1993)
  16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
  17. Spider-Man 3 (2007)
  18. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
  19. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
  20. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
  21. Finding Nemo (2003)
  22. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  23. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
  24. Inception (2010)
  25. Spider-Man (2002)
  26. Independence Day (1996)
  27. Shrek the Third (2007)
  28. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
  29. E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
  30. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
  31. The Lion King (1994)
  32. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  33. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010)
  34. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
  35. 2012 (2009)
  36. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
  37. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
  38. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
  39. Shrek Forever After (2010)
  40. Up (2009)
  41. The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
  42. Transformers (2007)
  43. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
  44. Forrest Gump (1994)
  45. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  46. Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
  47. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  48. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
  49. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
  50. The Incredibles (2004)
  51. Hancock (2008)
  52. Ratatouille (2007)
  53. Iron Man 2 (2010)
  54. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
  55. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
  56. Mamma Mia! (2008)
  57. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
  58. Casino Royale (2006)
  59. War of the Worlds (2005)
  60. Men in Black (1997)
  61. Quantum of Solace (2008)
  62. I Am Legend (2007)
  63. Iron Man (2008)
  64. Night at the Museum (2006)
  65. Armageddon (1998)
  66. King Kong (2005)
  67. Mission: Impossible II (2000)
  68. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  69. Despicable Me (2010)
  70. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  71. Madagascar (2005)
  72. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
  73. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
  74. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
  75. WALL·E (2008)
  76. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
  77. Meet the Fockers (2004)
  78. Ghost (1990)
  79. Aladdin (1992)
  80. Troy (2004)
  81. Twister (1996)
  82. Clash of the Titans (2010)
  83. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
  84. Angels & Demons (2009)
  85. Toy Story 2 (1999)
  86. Bruce Almighty (2003)
  87. Shrek (2001)
  88. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  89. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
  90. Home Alone (1990)
  91. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
  92. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
  93. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  94. Jaws (1975)
  95. The Hangover (2009)
  96. The Matrix (1999)
  97. Pretty Woman (1990)
  98. Cars (2006)
  99. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
  100. Mission: Impossible (1996)

Biggest Losses at the Movie Box Office of All-Time


  1. Cutthroat Island (1995): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $146,947,958
  2. The Alamo (2004): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $134,784,016
  3. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $134,396,524
  4. Sahara (2005): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $133,141,605
  5. The 13th Warrior (1999): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $125,887,312
  6. Town & Country (2001): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $115,352,672
  7. Speed Racer (2008): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $106,054,234
  8. Heaven’s Gate (1980): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $104,542,449
  9. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $99,798,592
  10. Inchon (1982): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $89,870,942
  11. Treasure Planet (2002): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $83,833,389
  12. The Postman (1997): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $83,346,947
  13. Red Planet (2000): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $82,406,208
  14. Soldier (1998): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $78,912,404
  15. Gigli (2003): Net losses adjusted for inflation: $77,961,644

43 Notable Movies of 2010


  1. Black Swan, The – Director: Darren Aronofsky
  2. Fighter, The – Director: David O. Russell
  3. Tree of Life – Director: Terrence Malick
  4. Tempest, The – Director: Julie Taymor
  5. True Grit –Director: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
  6. Way Back, The – Director: Peter Weir
  7. Toy Story 3 – Director: Lee Unkrich
  8. Hereafter – Director: Clint Eastwood
  9. Social Network, The – Director: David Fincher
  10. Inception – Director: Christopher Nolan
  11. King’s Speech, The – Director: Tom Hooper
  12. Kids Are Alright, The – Director: Lisa Cholodenko
  13. 127 Hours – Director: Danny Boyle
  14. Town, The – Director: Ben Affleck
  15. Winter’s Bone – Director: Debra Granik
  16. Blue Valentine –Director: Derek Cianfrance
  17. Get Low – Director: Aaron Schneider
  18. Company Men, The – Director: John Wells
  19. And Everything Is Going Fine – Director: Steven Soderbergh
  20. I Love You Phillip Morris – Director: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa
  21. Another Year – Director: Mike Leigh
  22. Barney’s Version – Director: Richard J. Lewis
  23. Somewhere – Director: Sophia Coppola
  24. Biutiful – Director: Alejandro Gonzalez
  25. Rabbit Hole – Director: John Cameron Mitchell
  26. Animal Kingdom – Director: David Michôd
  27. I Am Love – Director: Luca Guadagnino
  28. The Illusionist – Director: Sylvain Chomet
  29. Conviction– Director: Tony Goldwyn
  30. Buried – Director: Rodrigo Cortes
  31. Fish Tank – Director: Andrea Arnold
  32. Ghost Writer, The  – Director: Roman Polanski
  33. Greenberg – Director: Noah Baumbach
  34. Let Me In – Director: Matt Reeves
  35. Monsters – Director: Gareth Edwards
  36. Please Give – Director: Nicole Holofcener
  37. Youth in Revolt – Director: Miguel Arteta
  38. Easy A – Director: Will Gluck
  39. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World – Director: Edgar Wright
  40. Howl – Director: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
  41. La Mission – Director: Peter Bratt
  42. Patrik, Age 1.5 – Director: Ella Lemhagen
  43. Undertow – Director: Javier Fuentes-León

Disturb’n Dreams


Disturb’n Dreams Bloopers and out takes from the Short Feature written and directed by Terrence Gale, featuring MBG Explorer Christie Mawer & MBG Creative Director Bryce Winter.  This also shows how much fun we had in making the film. 

Disturb’n Dreams Short Feature written and directed by Terrence Gale, featuring MBG Explorer Christie Mawer & MBG Creative Director Bryce Winter.  

Movie Lines: Our Cultural Lexicon


AFI’s List Of 100 Greatest Movie Quotes of All Time

1. Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. GONE WITH THE WIND, 1939

2. I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse. GODFATHER, THE, 1972

3. You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am. ON THE WATERFRONT, 1954

4. Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. WIZARD OF OZ, THE, 1939

5. Here’s looking at you, kid. CASABLANCA, 1942

6. Go ahead, make my day. SUDDEN IMPACT, 1983

7. All right Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.SUNSET BLVD, 1950

8. May the Force be with you. STAR WARS, 1977

9. Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.ALL ABOUT EVE, 1950

10. You talking to me? TAXI DRIVER, 1976

11. What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.COOL HAND LUKE 1967

12. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. APOCALYPSE NOW 1979

13. Love means never having to say you’re sorry. LOVE STORY 1970

14. The stuff that dreams are made of. MALTESE FALCON, THE 1941

15. E.T. phone home. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 1982

16. They call me Mister Tibbs! IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967

17. Rosebud. CITIZEN KANE 1941

18. Made it, Ma! Top of the world! WHITE HEAT 1949

19. I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore! NETWORK 1976

20. Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. CASABLANCA 1942

21. A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS,THE 1991

22. Bond. James Bond. DR. NO 1962

23. There’s no place like home. WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939

24. I am big! It’s the pictures that got small. SUNSET BLVD. 1950

25. Show me the money! JERRY MAGUIRE 1996

26. Why don’t you come up sometime and see me? SHE DONE HIM WRONG 1933

27. I’m walking here! I’m walking here! MIDNIGHT COWBOY 1969

28. Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By.’ CASABLANCA 1942

29. You can’t handle the truth! FEW GOOD MEN, A 1992

30. I want to be alone. GRAND HOTEL 1932

31. After all, tomorrow is another day! GONE WITH THE WIND 1939

32. Round up the usual suspects. CASABLANCA 1942

33. I’ll have what she’s having. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY 1989

34. You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow. TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT 1944

35. You’re gonna need a bigger boat. JAWS 1975

36. Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges! TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, THE 1948

37. I’ll be back. TERMINATOR, THE 1984

38. Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, THE 1942

39. If you build it, he will come. FIELD OF DREAMS 1989

40. Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. FORREST GUMP 1994

41 We rob banks. BONNIE AND CLYDE 1967

42 Plastics. GRADUATE, THE 1967

43 We’ll always have Paris. CASABLANCA 1942

44 I see dead people. SIXTH SENSE, THE 1999

45 Stella! Hey, Stella! STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A 1951

46 Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars. NOW, VOYAGER 1942

47 Shane. Shane. Come back! SHANE 1953

48 Well, nobody’s perfect. SOME LIKE IT HOT 1959

49 It’s alive! It’s alive! FRANKENSTEIN 1931

50 Houston, we have a problem. APOLLO 13 1995

51 You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk? DIRTY HARRY 1971

52 You had me at “hello.” JERRY MAGUIRE 1996

53 One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know. ANIMAL CRACKERS 1930

54 There’s no crying in baseball! LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, A 1992

55 La-dee-da, la-dee-da. ANNIE HALL 1977

56 A boy’s best friend is his mother. PSYCHO 1960

57 Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. WALL STREET 1987

58 Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. GODFATHER II, THE 1974

59 As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again. GONE WITH THE WIND 1939

60 Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into! SONS OF THE DESERT 1933

61 Say “hello” to my little friend! SCARFACE 1983

62 What a dump. BEYOND THE FOREST 1949

63 Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you? GRADUATE, THE 1967

64 Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room! DR. STRANGELOVE 1964

65 Elementary, my dear Watson. ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE 1939

66 Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape. PLANET OF THE APES 1968

67 Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. CASABLANCA 1942

68 Here’s Johnny! SHINING, THE 1980

69 They’re here! POLTERGEIST 1982

70 Is it safe? MARATHON MAN 1976

71 Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet! JAZZ SINGER, THE 1927

72 No wire hangers, ever! MOMMIE DEAREST 1981

73 Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico? LITTLE CAESAR 1930

74 Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown. CHINATOWN 1974

75 I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A 1951

76 Hasta la vista, baby. TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY 1991

77 Soylent Green is people! SOYLENT GREEN 1973

78 Open the pod bay doors, HAL. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY 1968

79 Striker: Surely you can’t be serious. Rumack: I am serious…and don’t call me Shirley. AIRPLANE! 1980

80 Yo, Adrian! ROCKY 1976

81 Hello, gorgeous. FUNNY GIRL 1968

82 Toga! Toga! NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE 1978

83 Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make. DRACULA 1931

84 Oh, no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast. KING KONG 1933

85 My precious. LORD OF THE RINGS: TWO TOWERS, THE 2002

86 Attica! Attica! DOG DAY AFTERNOON 1975

87 Sawyer, you’re going out a youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star! 42ND STREET 1933

88 Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t you forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse, and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we’re gonna go, go, go! ON GOLDEN POND 1981

89 Tell ’em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper. KNUTE ROCKNE ALL AMERICAN 1940

90 A martini. Shaken, not stirred. GOLDFINGER 1964

91 Who’s on first. NAUGHTY NINETIES, THE 1945

92 Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac…It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! CADDYSHACK 1980

93 Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death! AUNTIE MAME 1958

94 I feel the need — the need for speed! TOP GUN 1986

95 Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary. DEAD POETS SOCIETY 1989

96 Snap out of it! MOONSTRUCK 1987

97 My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY 1942

98 Nobody puts Baby in a corner. DIRTY DANCING 1987

99 I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too! WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939

100 I’m king of the world! TITANIC 1997

The Disaster Movie Rage of the 1970’s


Disaster movies were a huge spectacle at the box office in the 1970’s, generating millions of dollars for Hollywood. What made these movies so popular and a recognizable commodity? What created the buzz, excitement, and conversations? What can we learn from all this from a business branding perspective?

This trend at the box office began in 1970 with the classic film Airport. Airport was based on a best selling novel and featured an all-star cast and multiple plot lines, including the story of a suicidal man set on exploding a bomb on the airplane. The movie earned more than $45 million and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including best picture. Helen Hayes won for Best Supporting Actress.

The craze really took off though in 1972 with the release of The Poseidon Adventure. Also based on a best selling novel and featuring an all-star cast, The Poseidon Adventure tells the story of a group of desperate passengers trying to escape a luxury ocean liner capsized by a giant tidal wave. Generating 42 million at the box office, the movie received 8 Academy Award nominations.

The craze peaked in 1974. That year marked the release of The Towering Inferno, Earthquake and Airport 1975.

The Towering Inferno was based on two novels and featured an all-star cast trapped on the top floor of the word’s tallest building as a huge fire rages below them.  The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, winning for Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Music, and Original Song.  The movie made over $48 million.

Featuring an all-star cast, Earthquake generated over $35 million and was nominated for four Academy Award for its special effects of a powerful earthquake leveling the city of Los Angels, winning for Best Sound and receiving a Special Achievement Award for visual effects. This was the first movie to be released in Sensurround. To recreate the feel of an earthquake for audiences, heavy base speakers were installed in theaters.

The Airport craze continued with Airport 75 earning $25 million at the box. The movie centered around an all-star cast trapped on a Boeing 747 when it is crippled in flight when a small plane crashes into the cockpit, disabling the flight crew.

What made these movies so popular and what can we learn from this trend?

In the studio’s advertising, all these movies offered the consumer a laundry list of features that promoted more value for your money.  These movies enticed viewers with promises of more stories, more stars, more special effects, more excitement, and more thrills—all in the attempt to put more bodies in the seats. With each new release, there was the promise of more than you got before.

The viewers were promised and received emotional gratification from the viewing experience–one similar to the thrill of a ride on a roller coaster.  The audience was taken on an exciting journey, offering them breath taking excitement and the rush of adrenaline—all in the safety of a movie theatre seat. Who could ask for anything more?

These movies also cashed in on the public’s fascination with the tragedy of others—just watch the news.  Huge conversations are generated by a tragedy. The feelings created here was similar to watching a car accident. You know something terrible has happened to someone, but you can’t take your eyes off of it. These feelings were made even more powerful when these films capitalized on their star power. When familiar faces are put in danger—ones the audience can relate to—it created a sense of emotional investment for the audience in wanting to desperately find out the fate of their favorite stars.

Finally, the adverting executives played on people’s feelings of wanting to belong and not to be left out. The promotional material worked by convincing the people that they needed to see these movies so they could be part of the “know.” You don’t want to be left out of the conversation. Your friends are talking about it. Why aren’t you?

Near the end of the 1970’s, the trend began to wane. The products did not live up to their promises with each movie trying to outdo each other to limited reception. Other movies like Jaws and Stars Wars caught the attention of the public and they moved on. Disaster movies though are still hot at the box office, for example 2012. However, there is not the same buzz or excitement as there was in the 1970’s.

~ Terry Gale is Story Development Director and Vice President of The MarkBrand Group.
He may be reached at terrencegale@markbrandgroup.com

Note: Movie trailers can be accessed by clicking on the title of the film.