African American Film Industry

The African American film market has been on a steady rise for the past ten years or more. With the growing number of Black celebrities and the African American audience representing 25-30% of the movie-going public, this market is quickly becoming the fastest growing demographic in the film industry. According to 2005 edition of the Black Film Report, the domestic box office total revenue for films released between 2000 and 2004, with significant involvement by African Americans, is a whopping $7.68 billion. Black films accounted for $1.75 billion, black star-driven films accounted for $2.27 billion, buddy films - $926.1 million, and $2.74 billion for ensemble films with at least one black lead.

Even though Black films make up a small percentage of the domestic films, on average, they represent 3-5% of the annual domestic box office take from all films released. Today, Black films are receiving larger budgets than in years past, an average of $15.7 million. However, their production costs are still significantly lower than mainstream theatricals, which average a negative cost of $45.1 million.

Trailing 20th Century Fox’s $356.2 million tally in Black film box office, Universal studio earned the number two spot based on domestic box office revenues with a 14.8% market share ($259.6 million). Universal’s second place finish was spurred in large part by the $70.3 million box office tally of Shaft. Sony was in third with 14% market share ($244.8 million). Sony’s nine releases included White Chicks, You Got Served, Ali, Baby Boy, Two Can Play That Game, The Brothers, Half Past Dead, Breakin’ All the Rules, and Lightning in a Bottle.

Black films have made a profit for film makers consistently for more than a decade. Because of the lower production budget, less expensive P&A budget and high audience attendance, they usually offer a 75 – 80% chance of returning a profit. Past and current box office tickets sales prove this to be true.

Comparable Box Office Performances:

• Genre: Urban/Action/Gangs Previous Performance:

Boy’z N the Hood, 1991
(55 Million box office)

New Jack City, 1991
(44 Million box office)

Set it Off, 1996
(36 Million box office)

Menace II Society, 1993
(27.7 Million box office)

Training Day, 2001
(76.2 Million box office)

• Genre: Urban/Action Recent Performance:

Baby Boy, 2001
(28.7 Million box office)

Hustle Flow 2005
(22.2 Million box office)

Get Rich or Die Tryin', 2005
(30.9 Million box office)

ATL, 2006
(21.1 Million box office)

• Genre: Urban/Sports:

Love & Basketball, 2000
(27.4 Million box office)

Ali, 2001
(58.1 Million box office)

Undisputed, 2002
(12.3 Million box office)

Coach Carter, 2005
(67.2 Million box office)

(average box office figure is 14 days, following weeks or DVD sales are not included)