'Jedi's' first weekend not news in 1983

Interesting article from Richard Roeper

Now openings are do-or-die for film to get love from fans, studio

May 14, 2008

This months marks the 25th anniversary of "Return of the Jedi," which debuted on more than 1,000 screens and pulled in $23 million in its opening days.

Only a thousand screens? Today, we'd call that a semi-limited release.

"Jedi" was the biggest hit of 1983. When we adust the figures for inflation, it's the No. 14 box office performer of all time.

Yet other than a blurb from the AP, there wasn't much hype about the film's record-breaking performance. It was more than a week before the New York Times ran a feature; Time and Newsweek had articles in their June 13 issues.

A generation ago, we weren't obsessed with a film's opening weekend. As "Cheers" and "Seinfeld" were able to do on TV, films were given the opportunity to grow from a slow start. If the reviews and word of mouth were strong, a movie still had a chance of growing legs.

Now, if you don't put rear ends in theater seats immediately, you're doomed.