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Economy Tanking, Americans Race to Movies
Hollywood provides much-needed escape in bleak times
By Wesley Oliver
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Posted Mar 1, 09 10:17 AM CST
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(Newser)
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Americans are dealing with the recession by hiding in dark rooms with a band of brothers, a gun-toting grandma, and a bumbling mall cop, the New York Times says. Hollywood’s ticket sales have jumped 17.5% this year. Ticket prices rose, but so did attendance, by nearly 16%. “It’s not rocket science,” says one expert. “People want to forget their troubles.”
Moviegoers are rewarding Hollywood for lighter fare. “Spending hundreds of dollars to take them to Disneyland is ridiculous,” says a mom of four Jonas Brothers fans. “For $60 and some candy I can still be a good mom and give them a little fun.” But don’t mistake fun for quality. Recent flicks “don’t make you think too much,” conceded a producer.