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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
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Stars Losing Gravitational Pull, Hollywood Finds

Franchises, concepts drive movie receipts more than A-list personalities

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(Newser) – The lure of A-list movie stars is on the wane, the Hollywood Reporter notes after an examination of recent box-office receipts and extensive polling of Tinseltown insiders. Due in part to ubiquity on the internet and magazine racks, big names like Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts have seen their films gross far less than those driven by franchises—think Pirates of the Caribbean or Bourne.

"As audiences get younger, they don't care about movie stars in the same way," one exec says. "The idea of seeing a beautiful movie star on the big screen just isn't the same to them." The development seems certain to translate into a different salary structure for stars, with less coin on the front end and more results-based paydays.

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts %u2014 Oscar winners both %u2014 have seen recent films struggle to break the $100 million mark at the box office, once a near-certainty for star-driven movies.
Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts %u2014 Oscar winners both %u2014 have seen recent films struggle to break the $100 million mark at the box office, once a near-certainty for star-driven movies.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
American actors Brad Pitt, left, and George Clooney arrive for the screening of the film
American actors Brad Pitt, left, and George Clooney arrive for the screening of the film "Ocean's Thirteen," at the 60th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Thursday, May 24, 2007....   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and George Clooney had box-office success with the
Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and George Clooney had box-office success with the "Ocean's" franchise, but each has struggled to bring viewers to more star-driven vehicles like Clooney's recent "Leatherheads."   (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Will Smith seemed to buck the trend of star-powered flops with 2007's
Will Smith seemed to buck the trend of star-powered flops with 2007's "I Am Legend," but he'll be tested with this summer's "Hancock."   (KRT Photos)
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