Hollywood and the Environmentalist Movement:
Eco-Fanatic Movies Have a Mixed History at the Box Office
By Dr. Ted Baehr, Publisher, and Dr. Tom Snyder, Editor
Like other misguided ideologues, some in Hollywood have adopted the environmentalist or ecology movement to support their efforts to support big government.
Their efforts paid off in 2006 and 2007 when Al Gore’s factually challenged, hysterical rallying cry for global warming, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, earned a fair amount of money, at least for a documentary, and won a couple Oscars.
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH came out the same year as the pro-environmentalist cartoon HAPPY FEET, which raked in $384.3 million worldwide at the box office.
Movieguide® reviews all the big and important theatrical movies released by the major studios in Hollywood and all the movies that make more than $1 million at the box office in the U.S. and Canada.
Our annual box office analysis of the theological, political, philosophical, and moral content in movies shows that, unlike other leftist-oriented movies, movies with radical pro-environmentalist content, like AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH and HAPPY FEET, sometimes do fairly well. Thus, some years they do really well, but other years they don’t do that well at all.
For example, in 2006, movies with extreme environmentalist content like HAPPY FEET and AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, averaged $76.76 million per movie at the box office in the U.S. and Canada. However, the very next year, Movieguide® counted four such movies, which averaged only $1.15 million at the box office.
In fact, some years there are no major movies with an extreme environmentalist agenda like AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, HAPPY FEET or Leonardo DiCaprio’s biased documentary on global warming and “climate change,” THE 11TH HOUR.
Thus, Movieguide® finds that the box office success of such environmentalist movies, or “eco-fanatic movies,” is mixed. Some years it’s high, like 2006’s $76.76 million and 2008’s $64.51. Some years it’s low, like 2007’s $1.15 million, 2010’s $19.42 million, 2012’s $3.77 million, and 2013’s $1.55 million.
However, the trend since AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH was released is clearly a downward one.
For example, movies with extreme environmentalist content averaged $60.30 million each calendar year from 2007 thru 2009, with the help of AVATAR. In comparison, movies with extreme environmentalist content averaged only $3.22 million each calendar year from 2012 thru 2014, but that’s because there really weren’t that many major movies with radical environmentalist agendas being released.
That said, Movieguide® has found that movies with just a little bit or some overt, leftist oriented environmentalist content, such as NOAH, MALEFICENT or DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX, can do really well on average.
Ultimately, therefore, a box office analysis indicates the average moviegoer in America and Canada is usually skeptical of movies promoting a strong Anti-American, anti-capitalist, socialist, or leftist political agenda, but not so much if it’s coupled with emotional appeals about the welfare of plants and animals. Moviegoers seem to be more skeptical about climate change hysteria and socialist schemes promoting anti-capitalist policies, but they love animals, like gardens and want their air and water to be clean.
There’s something to be said for such love and such desires, but not when it’s accompanied by made-up facts and leftist hysteria.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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