We here at Screen Rant recently took notice of a post over at Shock Til You Drop referring to a Twitter-based message from Rhett Reese, writer of the recent horror/comedy Zombieland, in which Reese claimed that a Zombieland sequel is now a questionable endeavor, largely due to the film’s current status as “the most pirated movie on bit torrent.”
Here are the numbers behind that statement: Zombieland‘s current worldwide earnings – according to Box Office Mojo – approximate to about $85 million, more than tripling the movie’s $23.6 million production budget. Looking at figures like that, a sequel should be a no-brainer, right?
If only it was that simple…
Here’s the message that Reese posted on his Twitter page:
“Zombieland currently the most pirated movie on bit torrent. Over one million downloads and counting.”
That tweet was quickly followed by this ominous statement:
“Beyond depressing. This greatly affects the likelihood of a Zombieland 2.”
The bottom line: it only matters to certain degree that Zombieland earned triple its production budget; when you factor in marketing in promotion, that margin gets a lot slimmer and really, in the end, studios watch the much-lauded bottom line to measure how well their films have done. To guarantee a Zombieland 2, Sony was no doubt looking for Zombieland 1 to crack the triple-digit millions – a feat the film should’ve easily accomplished, if those one million people sitting at their computers had decided to drop 7-12 bucks to see the film in theaters, instead of 7-12 minutes downloading it illegally.
And now the fate of Zombieland 2 hangs in the balance, and that just SUCKS.
INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING
The movie piracy debate isn’t new. Since someone first came up with the bright idea of hooking up two VCRs to record their rented videotapes, movie piracy has been a rampant crime. With the Internet and digital filming/editing came the chance to get a movie in one’s hands before said movie ever even made it into theaters. I highly doubt that many (if any) of us can claim 100% angelic behavior if pressed about our history with illegal downloads (or streaming services), but I think this Zombieland case is one where we are now seeing clear, indisputable evidence of the damage that piracy can cause.
And yes, we’ve already heard all the “reasonable” arguments for piracy – in fact, we here at Screen Rant hosted an epic debate about the subject just this past spring, when a early, rough-cut of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was rampantly pirated by the online community. Our stance was and is this: “We at Screen Rant will never support this kind of behavior…” Stealing is stealing (or so WE think), no matter how hard you want to argue the point.
To be fair, here are the most comment arguments for piracy: Movies are too expensive these days; lack of etiquette amongst movie audiences can ruin the theatrical experience; movie marketing is often so misleading that it could be considered stealing; or (my personal fav) the time-tested “I’m just one person, I’m not hurtin’ anybody,” defense. We’ve heard it all…
IMHO, the bottom line is that most often, people pirate movies they want to see – or, at the very least, movies they “kinda want to see” (read: see, but not pay to see). But no matter how they try to quantify it, some degree of desire or interest must exist for people to even bother downloading a film. Of the percentage of people who do choose to illegally download a flick, a certain percentage (sometimes over 50% I’d say) actually enjoy the film – they reap the pleasure of a good movie without ever rewarding those who worked so hard to entertain them. Doesn’t sound fair, does it?
Worse yet: if you do enjoy a film like Zombieland, don’t you want to see Zombieland 2 get made? Of course you do. But how will that happen if the movie doesn’t make enough money to convince the studio suits that a sequel is worth making??? Your movie ticket money isn’t just throwaway capital – often it is the measuring stick for how the ever-shifting landscape of cinema will shape itself next. If studios don’t think films like Zombieland are what audiences want (And we do! Really, we do!) then what we’re going to get instead is something we DON’T want. And if I have to watch eight more Saw movies because of some misinterpreted low profits caused by piracy, needless to say, I’m going to be PO’d!
Of course, the piracy issue isn’t going to just vanish, so what can we do to make both movie goers and movie makers equally happy in the future?
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The bottom line is that nothing, and I mean nothing including the supposed freebies our government suposedly gives ups like medicare and the upcoming HealthCare which will probably be a reality soon, none of it is free! You may not pay directly for it but in the end someone will pay for it one way or another.
When you commit piracy no matter what the justification you are at minimum helping make the case for stronger content protection which means we all get shafted in the end by tougher regulations & rules. Lte me be clear about Piracy which in my mind means getting access, for free to some protected content that you would normally have to pay for. I do not consider it piracy when someone who has bought for example a DVD, finds a way to duplicate it. I firmly believe it is the right of all users who have bought something to be able tyo make as many copies or duplicates as tehy want so long as they are for that persons use only. Disc technology is to fragile (a design flaw I belieev the industry intentionally put in place to llimit a products life) to not be allowed to make a backup and more the one since a backup disc could also go bad.
You may think you are justified in pirating something because the owner (Studio, record lable) has made gazillions off of it already like TITANIC or THE DARK KNIGHT or the LORD OF THR RINGS Triology but even in that scenario you are only providing them with ammo to make the case for tougher restrictions/access which then screws us all and is therefore not really free.
“Problem is everyone thinks they’re entitled to everything today. Maybe soon we’ll have legislation for “movie viewer rights” and force companies to let folks under a certain income level into theaters for free or be given new releases on DVD without having to pay for them.”
I know you’re joking, but this doesn’t sound like a bad idea–as far as justice is concerned. It would never work in this world for so many reasons, but it is one of life’s greatest ironies that those who decry the unfairness of withholding compensation for artists uphold a system that is inherently unfair.
Admittedly, the ethics are complicated. But I wouldn’t balk at someone who participates in a non-zero sum game where the companies impose artificial scarcity on an infinitely reproducible (above the initial investment), the production companies make record profits AND millions get to see the movie for free. Is it fair? Well only as fair as it is for the people who are most likely to download movies to be put in that situation in the first place. Oh you don’t have the money to see the movie? Too bad, you should have chosen better parents that would have put you in a good college so you wouldn’t have to steal movies. And you (the author) speak of fairness?
Granted it is the marginal cases that are the most controversial–those that can pay but won’t–well this is where the industry will have to adapt and prices will have to come down and the ethics will need to be evaluated by each individual–as you would expect with an infinitely reproducible good. These issues all bring very complicated questions, but don’t kid yourself into thinking that it’s somehow universally unfair to download–that’s just a tad myopic.
Unfair?
Oh right, we should just keep rewarding people for not wanting to better themselves. What would be the incentive to get an education and get a better paying job if you know if you’re lazy and don’t work you get to see movies for free, get free living, get free food… Why work??? Screw that, I would love to do that… Sit at home on my would-be fat ass and just get things given to me by the government, sweet deal…
ah….. Ken J
Does anyone even care what he has to say. He just loves to start arguements. I bet christmas at his house is just wonderful.
LOL, ah, ad hominem, thanks for basically saying “I don’t have anything to actually disprove what you’re saying, so I’m just going to throw personal insults instead.” I love that one!
I’m sure your insults are completely objective and are in no way motivated by the fact that you disagree with my opinion or anything… 
The only reason I’m replying to your comment is to just say I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the way you were raised by your parents, in raising you to be such an arguementative man. I’m sorry for the way people treated you as you grew up (I’m sure you got in a few arguements there, eh?). And finally I’m sorry for leaving comments on this site that you disagree with.
Feel better now Ken J.
HAHA, you’re hilarious dude. I love my parents and have had a great life! But thanks for caring.
(Well, don’t love my job, but that’s a different story, lol)
OK, I know we disagree on a few things. ie I think movie piracy is ok given the fact that the cinema is too expensive for me.
And you think differently. Even so, your alright. So I apologise for taking the mickey.
All the best and have a great Christmas.
It’s ok man, no need to apologize. I’m opinionated, I like to state my opinion. Some people disagree with me, I know that.
But anyway, glad I didn’t just make another enemy.
Merry Christmas dude.
I’m confused… You say that movie piracy is bad. But you say yourself that these people pirated because they deemed it unworthy of purchase for whatever reason. So, if piracy did not occur, there would simply be 2 million less views. Not 2 million views worth of more revenue.
And how do we know that these 2 million did not already watch it at the movies? How do we know they’re NOT going to buy a dvd later? Seems like you’re confusing maximum potential with statistical norm.
Lastly, you end with saying that the industry should adapt. That’s what the pro-pirates have been saying the whole time!!!