ART-HOUSE BLOCKBUSTER

Good Movies Make Money

Oscar bait has gone mainstream.

Good movies aren’t just for film nerds anymore. Historically the movies that take home golden statues and accumulate festival accolades rake in relatively little at the box office, but this year’s crop of Oscar bait is slated to be more blockbuster than indie house. Chalk it up to baby boomers spreading the word among moviegoing adults about films like Lincoln and Life of Pi, or the fact that film studios are taking the drama down a notch, so as to attract a wider audience. Or perhaps box-office successes are just getting better. Movies like End of Watch, Argo, and even Magic Mike have garnered both critical acclaim and high ticket sales. Regardless, this awards season, even mainstream moviegoers will be able to recognize the nominees.