The Success of Black Movies at the Box Office
posted by Dominque Elliott | May 4, 2017 | In Arts and Culture, OpinionStraight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures, and Get Out are recent Hollywood movies released. All were box office hits. Straight Outta Compton had a box office revenue of 201.6 million, Hidden Figures had a still-rising box office revenue at 224.2 million, and Get Out also has a still-rising revenue of 176.6 million.
What do these films have in common? They are all movies with a Black-majority cast, and all made to perhaps target black audiences.
Yet, obviously because of their success you can tell that these movies didn’t just make money from one type of audience. Their box office success is due to diverse domestic and international audiences.
These recent movies exemplify that Black movies, those with majority-Black cast that cater to the Black population- can be appealing to a mass audience. Their success destroys the myth that only a White narrative can appeal to mass audiences. Movies with minorities in them and their experiences can appeal and intrigue all audiences. These box office hits also show that when it comes to entertainment, there is no one color or culture.
Perhaps these movies will pave the way for more Black-oriented movies to get produced in Hollywood. Upcoming movies like Sleight, a movie about a Black teen seeking to save his kidnapped mother through sleight of hand and his wits, may fine easier success, as audience become more exposed to Black people and culture in theatres.
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