George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success

by Alex Ben Block (Editor), Lucy Autrey Wilson, Michael Kogge (Contributor)

By meticulously compiling the details of how movies have been made and financed since the medium′s inception, chronicling their performances at the box office, and offering expert commentary about the most important trends of the last one hundred years, the authors of this book have given readers a singularly unique perspective on the film-making industry and a superlative blueprint for future successful filmmaking ventures. Taking us decade by decade, this book focuses on the revenues, costs, production and distribution of 300 of the most critically and financially successful movies of all time from the business′s origins through 2005. Its numerous essays examine trends in war, noir, bio-drama, biblical, epic, musical, western, disaster, crime, and action adventure films, as well as the advent the summer movie, auteur filmmaking, and the revolutionary advances that have been made in film technology over time. Furthermore, its full complement of charts, graphs and diagrams presenting such things as salary histories, awards and honors, the number of principal photography days required, advertising expenditures, domestic versus overseas profits and more, also include conversions of past movie-making dollars into current dollar values for easy and relevant comparisons. The ideal resource for filmmakers of every kind, this book evidences that blockbusters have not only been made on relatively low budgets before, but that they have been made time and time again through varying economic climates. George Lucas′s Blockbusting is indispensible reading for all who love and contribute to the film business.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Business, Media Tie In, Reference, History

976 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Blog on Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Film students take note. As George Lucas says in his introductory notes, that his new book, “Blockbusting,” (it books) is the kind of book he wishes he had when he was in film school, and with good reason. If there is one book that captures the essence of what the big-league filmmaking business is all about, it’s this one.
Despite appearances to the contrary, “Blockbusting” is not merely a book about the biggest and best movies of all time (although it is that, too). It is about the ins and outs of the film business, from technical breakthroughs (e.g. “talkies,” Dolby, 3-D, etc.), to cost issues (salary charts, budgets…) to distribution angles, to storytelling, to cultural impact, and yes, of course, to box office results. Along the way, editors Alex Ben Block and Lucas Books’ Lucy Autrey Wilson compile an assemblage of facts, charts, lists and data surrounding issues like, thematic trends, the industry’s evolution and, of course, individual project data like production budgets, dates of principal photography and distribution data (all adjusted for current era dollars) giving the reader a carefully detailed window into the processes that conspired to make some of the biggest movies of all time into… well, the biggest movies of all time!
As if that side of the screen weren’t interesting enough, the authors dig deeper, into the background of each of their 300 particularly chosen films; who were the players, how the project got teed-up and just how that movie eventually got made. The book is filled with a variety of surprising stories and insider facts (for example, did you know that Exorcist writer/producer William Peter Blatty was a comedy writer before penning his macabre thriller? Or that despite the success of his “2001,” Stanley Kubrick was only given $2 million to film “A Clockwork Orange,” could only build four sets and used mostly handheld cameras? Or that “American Graffiti” was filmed for under a million bucks before becoming one of the most profitable studio-financed films ever?!)
FIlm buffs and certainly film students will find much to absorb in this serious, 944-page weighty volume – not just about the movies, but about the history of movies and the real stories which nearly always include the filmmaker’s P.O.V. With a tightly focused format, as well as its punchy summaries of the human elements of movie making, “Blockbusting” is, at minimum, an essential reference for today’s filmmakers, and for film students, it may just well be the best place to begin.

[Grayson Zaragoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for all things blockbusters, and I don't mean the store. This book covers a high-level yet exhaustive look at the American film industry since its inception, so whether you're curious about film history, the development of technology, how the political and sociological issues of each decade influenced the films made in that period, or in-depth production details and financial information of some of the most popular films in the world, this book has a bit of everything. Also, did I read it word for word? No. But it's more of a book for research anyway.

[David Natiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a huge book that traces film history from the perspective of blockbusters with significance. I think it's a great resource for any movie buff, showcasing successful and important movies from the dawn of silent films all the way up to 2005. Not just an adjusted box office list, but stories about how the movie affected things like pop culture and the film industry itself.

I'm really impressed with the amount of research and information gathering that went into "Blockbusting." Throughout the book are additional charts and alternative lists in addition to the films discussed in detail. You'll be able to glean even more movies you might be interested in watching some day.

Yes, there might be some grandstanding with the inclusion of Lucas's much maligned Star Wars episodes I, II, III... but with the criteria for box-office success one can argue the case for their inclusion. And it is true that Lucas himself has always pushed the technology and been a player in the movie technology world.

Not a book you'll simply "read through" and discard, this is a long-term guide you'll return to again and again for insights especially into the history of blockbusters. I first checked this book out at the local library but soon realized this was worth having on the permanent bookshelf. It will be fun to "watch" my way through this book eventually.

[Harry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this thinking it would be interesting, but the truth is it's been pretty awful, a poorly designed book, poorly copy-edited, poorly edited! The movies chosen for discussion seem basically random and disconnected, and eventually the whole book falls apart because of this lack of a through thread that would tie it all together. Full of errors big and small, the sense of authority just disappears and finally you feel it's a collection of essays by careless grad students -- who even knows who wrote these things; there's no list of contributors, no indication whatsoever of where these people were turned up. I cannot recommend this.

[Shane Grier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this behemoth. It's full of so much in-depth information about film. From the beginning through 2005 and beyond. The authors and the contributors have done an excellent job giving the reader worthwhile information as well as little nuggets for film geeks and fans alike. I would recommend only to those same film geeks.

[Booth Babcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting...I was expecting something about how Lucas et al changed filmmaking and created the summer blockbuster, but instead a reference tome on the few hundred biggest films in hollywood history, with shore descriptions and some annecdotes, but not much meat. Probably would be of interest as a reference book to a serious film buff.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Blockbusting" works, because it allows you to peek into George Lucas mind. If you've grown up with Star Wars (4-6...) like I did, this is a decent incentive. However, apart from this there are way better books on the subject than this one.

[Druss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for film buffs. Gives the history of film making from the process to the distribution. Summaries of the top films of each decade, many of the early ones I did not know. Good coffee table or on-phone Kindle book to dip into when you have 5 mins.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting; filled with lists and interesting tidbits.

[Ms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable reading for anyone creating films.