About the Rifftrax movie choices, and related stuff.

[Bairman]

Yeah, Crossroads was by far the funniest Mike solo RiffTrax to date.

But seeing that Glitter didn't do well either, tells me that some men just can't bring themselves to buying/renting a chick movie. Shame.

I realize you said "some" men, but having prchased and watched both Glitter and Crossroads, I simply didn't like either one.  The riffing was amusing as always, but I just couldn't wait for them to be over.  Not becuase I didn't like the RiffTrax or because I can't watch a chick flick, but because I didn't like the movies.  Simple as that.  I feel the same about Troll 2, Dr. Moreau, and Wicker Man as well.

In my opinion, 5th Element is the funniest Mike solo riff.

[gammer]

In my opinion, 5th Element is the funniest Mike solo riff.

It really does show how tastes differ...'cause I thought 5th Element was the worst Mike solo...ah well, c'est la vie!

Lets go for a beer 

[skenderberg]

If I may step aside from the sales figures for a moment, here's an interesting question for the people who buy riffs. And note I don't ask this with any kind of malice, but

Are you willing to be this forgiving when Hollywood releases a movie solely to cash in on something?

It just seems hypocritical to say "Oh, Rifftrax is cashing in on newer releases so they can make money, I totally understand" and then go "Oh, Hollywood is cashing in on the superhero crazy, those Hollywood dirtbags!"

Assuming that we're defining Hollywood as the major studios, do they ever release anything for any other reason?  As a consumer, I don't care why something was released.  I care whether or not it was good.

The Rifftrax analogy doesn't work for me here.  True, sometimes (rarely) they release something that does not cater to my specific tastes.  But they have never, ever released anything that wasn't lovingly and expertly crafted.

As for the shorts, I love them.  My work/travel/family situation is such that I only ever have free time in fifteen minute to one-hour chunks, so I have to split the full-length releases into multiple viewing sessions.  (The Rifftrax Player helps a lot for this).  The shorts fit my time constraints perfectly, and they're marvelous viewing to boot.

[skenderberg]

Yeah, Crossroads was by far the funniest Mike solo RiffTrax to date.

But seeing that Glitter didn't do well either, tells me that some men just can't bring themselves to buying/renting a chick movie. Shame.

I realize you said "some" men, but having prchased and watched both Glitter and Crossroads, I simply didn't like either one.  The riffing was amusing as always, but I just couldn't wait for them to be over.  Not becuase I didn't like the RiffTrax or because I can't watch a chick flick, but because I didn't like the movies.  Simple as that.  I feel the same about Troll 2, Dr. Moreau, and Wicker Man as well.

In my opinion, 5th Element is the funniest Mike solo riff.

I'm with you, man.

I know I'm in the minority, but I thought Disembaudio's car thief rant was one of the funniest things about it.

[Jason Martian]

A couple of lists provided for no real reason... certainly not suggesting these would all make good riffs, but one of them did...

Top Grossing Films of the 70s

Go here: http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/#YearIndex

and click on the various years from say 1968-1979 to see the details. For that matter you can check out the 80s here too...

Top Grossing Films of the 80s:

1980
The Empire Strikes Back, $141 million
9 to 5, $59 million
Stir Crazy, $58 million
Airplane!, $40 million
Any Which Way You Can, $40 million

1981
Raiders of the Lost Ark, $115 million
Superman II, $65 million
On Golden Pond, $61 million
Arthur, $42 million
Stripes, $40 million

1982
E.T. - The Extraterrestrial, $228 million
Tootsie, $96 million
Rocky III, $66 million
An Officer and a Gentleman, $55 million
Porky's, $54 million

1983
Return of the Jedi, $168 million
Terms of Endearment, $50 million
Wargames, $38 million
Superman III, $37 million

1984
Ghostbusters, $130 million
Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom, $109 million
Beverly Hills Cop, $108 million
Gremlins, $79 million
The Karate Kid, $43 million

1985
Back to the Future, $104 million
Rambo: First Blood Part II, $78 million
Rocky IV, $76 million
The Color Purple, $47 million
Out Of Africa, $43 million

1986
Top Gun, $79 million
"Crocodile" Dundee, $70 million
Platoon, $69 million
The Karate Kid Part II, $58 million
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, $56 million

1987
Three Men and A Baby, $81 million
Beverly Hill Cop II, $80 million
Fatal Attraction, $70 million
Good Morning, Vietnam, $58 million
The Untouchables, $36 million

1988
Rain Man, $86 million
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, $81 million
Coming to America, $65 million
"Crocodile" Dundee II, $57 million
Twins, $57 million

1989
Batman, $150 million
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, $115 million
Lethal Weapon 2, $79 million
Back to the Future, II, $72 million
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, $72 million

I can see a bunch of well known & readily available titles here that would make great Riffs (in my opinion)...

'81&'83 - The Superman flicks
'82  - E.T.  & Rocky 3
'84 - The Karate Kid
'85 - Back to the Future, Rambo
'86 Karate Kid 2

Who know... perhaps one will pop up.

[Isaac S.]

I'm chiming in a little late, but after reading the whole thread up to this post, here are some random thoughts:

Also,side question: I note most of the major studios in Hollywood have had Riffed films... except for one fairly litigious biggie. Is it just coincidence that they haven't had one of their films riffed yet, or have the lawyers recommended that riffing them may not be a good idea?

Is this a reference to Disney?  If so, they've had films and TV shows riffed.  Lost and Grey's Anatomy are Disney's, as is Cocktail, just off the top of my head.  Remember, Disney owns ABC Studios (formerly Touchstone Television), Touchstone Films, Miramax, Hollywood Pictures, and much more.  I am, however, mystified as to why the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have still not been riffed.  Surely there's a market for that!  And High School Musical?  Yeah, there are one or two copies of those DVDs floating around somewhere...

And re: charging more to compensate for the lack of demand, basic economics tells us this is a bad idea.  Higher prices lower demand, and some of those who would have purchased it would end up not purchasing it.  Remember, not everyone is on the forum.  We'd probably pay just about anything for this stuff, but the average Joe who buys these things wouldn't.  Since it would sell even less than usual, the company would probably break even with what they might have made before the price increase, or make less money.  The way to increase demand would be to lower the price, and then make more money on volume.  But how far can you lower it from where it is, you know?  Would it be enough to compensate, at least somewhat?  Maybe, maybe not.  Probably not.

Re: sponsoring a RiffTrax of something we'd all love to see -- that is a brilliant idea!  Count me in.  (But is it one the RiffMasters will go for?)  I'll help you guys get your Dunes and your Red Dawns if you'll help me get Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.

And re: a subscription plan that might help subsidize some of the more obscure fare, also brilliant.  Everyone wins.  Sign me up for that, too!

[MrTorso]

Seems like this proves that Bill, Mike, and Kevin riffs are the money makers, not that it is the old movies that are the problem.

Which I suggested in my "Cheese Fests Vs. Modern Flicks" poll/thread.  That a three-man Riff of say Red Dawn might sell better than the solo Cocktail, Road House etc. riffs.

[Nick]

I would just like to say that I enjoy what Mike and the guys are doing here at Rifftrax. When MST went down, I thought that would be it forever for riffing. Than my dream came true when Mike started up Rifftrax.

Anyway, to the topic at hand, the only three I have bought so far are: Star Wars Episode 1, Lord of the Rings, and Transformers. The reason I have so few is that I don't have my own credit card yet (still relyon my parents). Plus our main purchasing computer has gone wonky on us. But I think that puts me in a good position, because Rifftrax has a very large backlog and I feel like I can pick and choose whatever riff I want.

To the topic of older vs. newer movies, I don't mind the current trend at all really, though a little classic from the 80's/90's wouldn't hurt every now and then, if the right movie was chosen. Anyway good job so far rifftrax guys and keep on rockin! 

[RVR II]

Re: sponsoring a RiffTrax of something we'd all love to see -- that is a brilliant idea!  Count me in.  (But is it one the RiffMasters will go for?)  I'll help you guys get your Dunes and your Red Dawns if you'll help me get Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.

DONE! Us 'minority folks' here will show just how much stroke we really have!

[Conor]

I'm chiming in a little late, but after reading the whole thread up to this post, here are some random thoughts:

Also,side question: I note most of the major studios in Hollywood have had Riffed films... except for one fairly litigious biggie. Is it just coincidence that they haven't had one of their films riffed yet, or have the lawyers recommended that riffing them may not be a good idea?

Is this a reference to Disney?  If so, they've had films and TV shows riffed.  Lost and Grey's Anatomy are Disney's, as is Cocktail, just off the top of my head.  Remember, Disney owns ABC Studios (formerly Touchstone Television), Touchstone Films, Miramax, Hollywood Pictures, and much more.  I am, however, mystified as to why the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have still not been riffed.  Surely there's a market for that!  And High School Musical?  Yeah, there are one or two copies of those DVDs floating around somewhere...

Yeah, I saw that earlier but couldn't find it.  Whoever he was referring to, it was a coincidence.

Regarding HSM.  Did you see the list of titles that very few people wanted to see?  HSM would fall right in line with Glitter, Crossroads or Grey's.  Pirates on the other hand, seems promising.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

that would be awesome

[MontyServo]

Regarding HSM.  Did you see the list of titles that very few people wanted to see?  HSM would fall right in line with Glitter, Crossroads or Grey's.  Pirates on the other hand, seems promising.

High School Musical is in a class well above Crossroads or Glitter.   Glitter and Crossroads were box office flops, HSM was a huge hit.   I think there are a lot of people that would pay good money to see it riffed to shreds.

[Conor]

Regarding HSM.  Did you see the list of titles that very few people wanted to see?  HSM would fall right in line with Glitter, Crossroads or Grey's.  Pirates on the other hand, seems promising.

High School Musical is in a class well above Crossroads or Glitter.   Glitter and Crossroads were box office flops, HSM was a huge hit.   I think there are a lot of people that would pay good money to see it riffed to shreds.

It was a big hit, but not with the same people who listen to RiffTrax.  See "Grey's Anatmoy"

[Bairman]

In my opinion, 5th Element is the funniest Mike solo riff.

It really does show how tastes differ...'cause I thought 5th Element was the worst Mike solo...ah well, c'est la vie!

Lets go for a beer 

I'm there!  Even if it's Canadian beer.  

[Bairman]

I'm with you, man.

I know I'm in the minority, but I thought Disembaudio's car thief rant was one of the funniest things about it.

Actually, Disembaudio's car-thief rant is the one part I don't like from 5E.