Hollywood likes to act tough, but it’s fragile enough to be left shaking after a series of underperforming releases and low theater attendance. You have some box office failures, or sometimes just a single but huge one, and your empire is on the brink of bankruptcy. History is well stocked with examples of once-dominant studios that failed.Or, almost failed.In the case of some studios, they were lucky enough to make all the right decisions that went into making one movie that helped them live to fight another day. We examine nine of those saving graces in this article. We will explore the conditions that forced studios into a corner and compelled them to risk everything to make these “lifeline” movies, and these movies returned the favor with astounding box office performances that changed the course of Hollywood history.The 9 Studio-SaversThese are the 9 movies that, apart from leaving behind cinematic and cultural landmarks, remind us that a single, outstanding tale can occasionally save an empire.1. Jaws (1975)Written by: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb | Directed by: Steven SpielbergStudio: Universal Pictures Universal had been facing quite a slump since the beginning of the ‘70s and was in desperate need of a serious hit. The makers chose Jaws based on the success of its novel, chose a young, up-and-coming Spielberg to direct, and hoped for a smooth-sailing production. Even though the production was chaotic, over budget, and constantly falling behind schedule, a few factors worked like a charm: Spielberg’s directorial acumen, John Williams’...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today