MPAA Enjoys Record Box Office Year in 2007

With all the claims of piracy in the movie industry, you would think the MPAA would be able to back up its accusations with some evidence. A quick look at the MPAA's home page shows that a majority of the space is spent on addressing movie piracy. However, the MPAA's recently released "Theatrical Market Statistics 2007" tells a different story.

It turns out that despite all of the tales of Internet piracy destroying the movie industry, the MPAA had the highest box office sales ever in 2007. Movie ticket sales reached just over $9.6 billion--a 5.4 percent increase over 2006 and a 3.9 percent increase over the previously largest selling box office year of 2002.

Not long ago I wrote about how the MPAA had fudged research data to say that 44 percent of industry losses were due to college students, when in fact the number was closer to 15 percent.

The MPAA's message just doesn't add up. I realize that movie piracy is a real issue; however, I can't help but feel that the MPAA is putting much more stock in movie piracy than it deserves. Record high profits don't suggest to me that movie piracy will be destroying the industry any time soon.

Comments

More proof that these anti-piracy guys are liars. Every time I read an article like this it makes me even more angry. I've been saying it for years... but once again... if piracy is an issue... lets see the proof? Not some bullshit number that was made up.

noahjwhite

March 06, 2008

3:32 PM PT