The document discusses the audience figures and profits of film noir movies. Film noir is now a niche genre that produces films for specialized audiences. In its heyday, film noir was highly popular and profitable due to low production costs and bulk sales to theaters. Modern neo-noir films try to appeal to broader audiences through techniques like big name actors and flashy effects. Warner Brothers is a major distributor of both classic and modern film noir titles.

1. INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH
Jack Waterman

2. What are the audience figures like for Film Noir?
How does this compare with other genres?
As a genre Film Noir or the modern Neo noir are fairly uncommon.
Occasionally films like Sin city and Gangster squad arise that are
popular within a niche market. Sin City for example was a Based on a
well known graphic novel. and used a very specialist approach to its
effects. (i.e. most of the film is in black and white and edits are used to
make much of the combat reminiscent of comic book action) fans of
the graphic novel would likely flock to see the film however this market
is very specialised and narrow. this is probably why not many Noir
titles are made. It seems that film Noir ahas become a somewhat
outdated, certainly overlooked genre. Whilst specialist audiences
would look to Noir for its unique style. The average movie goer is
much more likely to choose a thriller or horror film because with a
more established genre they know what to expect. I expect that this is
why Noir producers like the creators of Sin city and Gangster Squad
must use gimmicks like high profile actors and flashy effects to draw in
a dwindling audience by making there picture stand out from the
crowd.

3. What is the average profit for Film Noir? How can I
use this information to ensure my film is a
success?

4. The table shows the box office takings for early film noir. In
it’s heyday the genre was highly popular and as we can
see from the table showing incredibly high profits in terms
of the time at which these films was produced. The genre
was easy and cheap to produce due to it’s scope for
minimal effects and lighting as well as a basic story
framework that could easily be reworked and jazzed up
with gimmicks. Film noir’s would often be shown as part of
a double feature and where sold in bulk to cinemas by
huge production companies. Obviously these figures are
not entirely relevant to modern film releases. nowadays,
the genre is not quite so popular and film noir titles such as
the “Sin City” franchise and are mistakes for
thrillers/horrors by everyday viewers. The movie going
audience has evolved and the Film noir genre is not nearly
as prominent as in the days of it’s roots. Whilst modern
(Neo-Noir) are still produced, large production companies
rarely release material that is highly reminiscent of the
original genre.

5. Neo-Noir

6. As we see in the table there are fewer big name titles
than in earlier years. occasionally more prominent titles
like “Gangster squad” and “Sin city” are released. the box
office takings for these are fairly high however most titles
aren’t as well received and make a much lower profit.
I can apply this information to the successful creation of
my own film. I can try to mimic the features of films that
do better at the box office. these films tend to be modern
revivals of the classic noir format. “Gangster Squad” for
example puts a modern spin on the classic dark gangster
story by using fairly high profile modern actors giving the
genre a newer feel.
Obviously it wouldn't be possible for me to use high
profile actors in my production however I can note the
way “Gangster squad” takes a modern approach to a
classic film format almost as in tribute to the age old
genre.

7. Who tends to distribute Film Noir? What films have
they released recently and have these been
• Warner Brothers: Tprhoefi tcaobmlep?any produced many
of the classic Film Noir titles such as “The
maltese falcon” and “The big sleep” these titles
where highly profitable for there time as some
of the most popular releases of the era. Even
more modern pictures like “Gangster squad”
are distributed by Warner Brothers. This is a
testament to the fact that warner brothers is a
leader of the Genre.

8. What kind of release does Film Noir
receive? Platform/staggered/wide release.
• Originally Film Noir would receive a platform
release in selected cinemas that paid for them.
nowadays they are generally subjected to a
wide release as the few that are produced are
made quite high profile to draw in the audience.
Gangster squad had a wide release for
example.

9. Summary of how I will use this data in application to my
own production. Who would distribute my product, who my
target market is and what kind of profit I hope to recoup.
• My research has shown me that the most successful Film Noir
are given a wide release and dressed up with A list stars or
use flashy effects as to win back over a fickle audience. Some
successful Films have attempted to pay homage to the classic
genre and have been well received by more specialist viewers
who regard them to be reminiscent of the greats of the past.
To maximise the films success I would take these points into
consideration. Warner Brothers would be a likely distributor for
the kind of classical tribute that I wish to create for a target
market of specialist viewers. without acces to high profile
actors and special effects however and because my film will
be very classically focussed, it is likely that i would lose out of
the everyday audience. limiting my audience to the specialist
viewer means limiting my profits meaning the kind of profits i
would hope to recoup would be fairly low

10. I have explored and analysed the data
for film Noir using these websites:
• http://www.the-numbers.com/
• http://boxofficemojo.com/
• http://launchingfilms.com/research-databank/