sandwichjohnfilms

The studio reports a crushing fourth quarter loss. Story by Matt Cummings Apparently, not everyone loved DreamWorks Animation's Penguins of Madagascar and Mr. Peabody and Sherman as much as we at SJF did. Although both films made nearly $300 million each, it apparently wasn't enough to offset costs related to their production and distribution, prompting the company to take fairly drastic action to stay afloat. On Tuesday, DWA announced not only a fourth quarter loss of $247 million, but also plans to sell/lease their Glendale, CA office, lay off 500 employees, and make changes to their film release strategy. The writing seemed to be on the wall early in 2014, when Mr. Peabody and Sherman opened to lackluster numbers and reviews, something that surprised us but ultimately made some sense. With zero connection to younger audiences, Peabody seemed like a gamble that parents weren't willing to take, even though CinemaScore gave it a very favorable A. When

How Bad Are The Financial Troubles? Story by David Clark Ever since movies like Toy Story invaded theaters around the nation animation films have been a staple of the entertainment industry. They are the type of films that an entire family can sit down and enjoy together. They are often funny, clever, well written, and offer a little something for everybody. Names like Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, and Illumination Entertainment have been at the forefront of the animated style. This past week it has become apparent that one of the staple studios named Dreamworks Animation has fallen on difficult financial times. Do not tell the children, but the studio that brought the world Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon might be a distant memory in the next few years. Due to a series of box office disappointments DreamWorks Animation announced a downsizing operation that will see at least 500 employees laid off from all levels of the company. It was also announced that the c

As 2014 comes to a close, we look back at several movie questions we've posed throughout the year. Story by Matt Cummings The fourth quarter of the movie season is much like the holiday season: theaters crowded with customers and Hollywood licking its chops in hopes for strong returns. As 2014 has unfolded, it's clear that Hollywood's business plan was not as strong as one would have hoped, showing off a great Q1, a good Q2, and a frankly awful Q3. And while the year has delivered the great ( Captain America: The Winter Solider and The LEGO Movie ), the very good ( The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 ), and the surprising ( Guardians of the Galaxy ), several of our Big Movie Questions were yet to be answered. With the holidays wrapping up, we can close out 2014 by unwrapping the rest of our gifts. We've collected all the questions we've asked this year into one article so you don't have to look back to see them all. Welcome to our 2014 Big Movie Q

Penguins of Madagascar makes a strong case for cute and cuddliness. If you've been reading SJF for any time period, you know my affection for the inoffensive animated comedy. Easy on the eyes for the young-ins and usually filled with pop trash zaniness for the adults, the genre has hit its stride over the past year, delivering hits like The LEGO Movie and Mr. Peabody and Sherman with cool efficiency. The Penguins of Madagascar has all the pieces for similar success, delivering the fun of the television show and emphatically placing them above their New York Zoo brethren. Part origin story, Penguins begins with our favorite flightless birds Skipper (Tom McGrath), Kowalski (Chris Miller), Rico (Conrad Vernon) and the newly-hatched Private (Christopher Knights), whom the other dub as their 'brother.' Impulsive and frankly militant, the Penguins escape their frozen Arctic confines to become the darlings of the New York Zoo, turning one of their habitation ma

A fun-filled October leads us right into Oscar season, with several satisfying submissions. October 2014 offered a full plate of candy to those who knocked on its door, mixing bonified Oscar candidates with a few downright enjoyable releases. But it also kicked Hollywood out of its complacent August/September disasters with a collection of entertaining films like Gone Girl , Fury , and the very surprising John Wick . November arrives ready to erase the mistakes of months past, but it has a lot of weight to carry. Receipts for the year are down only 3.7% (according to our friends at BoxOfficeMojo.com), and with a few solid blockbusters this month, we think the year's mostly red-inked is about to turn decidedly favorable. Some of these appeared on our MOST ANTICIPATED LIST OF 2014 back in January, and we're certainly excited for their arrival. The month features militant penguins, an interstellar space traveler, two dumbasses, and three boss haters, all ready to gob