Hollywood’s hit parade is becoming a sideshow

California was expected to push for Paramount to keep the Warner Bros studio independent as part of a settlement. The Golden State's lawsuit, and others, focuses on potential deleterious effects from the supply of movies. Viewers attention, however, is already wandering.

Some applause is warranted. U.S. and Canadian cinemas sold $4.4 billion of tickets between May and August 23, according to data outfit Rentrak, about 6% ahead of 2019. Sustaining this year’s pace would push sales past $10 billion for the first time since Covid-19 shuttered theaters.

Yet just five films brought in roughly half this summer’s money, while the actual number of tickets sold is down by a third through the first 30 weeks of the year compared with seven years ago. Higher prices have helped make up the difference.