Judge Dredd

I know that Passion of the Christ has just become the highest grossing independent film, but here's a good question

Wouldn't the correct title be STAR WARS?

Didn't Lucas pay for these films himself, so in turn making them independent films?

RyoHazuki

He didn't pay for them himself.

devilshalo

How much did Blair Witch Project make? Are we talking gross or budget to gross?

Wannabe

I was going to say Blair Witch was a much more impressive endeavor considering it cost under half a million to make; however, its distributor spent millions marketing it. So budget should probably include the marketing costs too.

Anyway, I believe Star Wars was originally a 20th Century Fox film which was given back to Lucas under the condition of making Empire and Jedi. I could be wrong.

RyoHazuki

But people actually liked the Passion as opposed to Blair Witch Project which not too many like. Most people walked out of the theatre feeling scammed.

jaeufraser

He DID pay for the new films, Episode I and II. While the original trilogy are not independant films, techincally the new films are. Fox only acts as distributor, holding a position really no different than NewMarket in relation to Passion of the Christ. So, TECHNICALLY Star Wars Episode I is the highest grossing independant film. But I think due to the nature of the film, and what it is, and its obvious success and studio roots, nobody really considers it as such. I think Lucasfilm is too big a company for anyone to start triumphing them as a independant company, I guess.

Pants

Episode I is the highest grossing independent film of all time. PERIOD

The film meets and exceeds every criterion for independence. It was financed entirely outside of Hollywood. People just discredit it because it doesn't fit their perception of what an independent film should be. It's like one of those "what is truely punk?" arguements. There's a lot of fools that stretch and fool with the definition of "independent" as it suits their agenda.

Groucho

The Phantom Menace and The Passion of the Christ are both independent films to the point that they were pretty much financed by one person. The fact that the individuals in question are fabulously rich makes some skeptical to think of them as "independant" films...but they really are.

In terms of biggest profit, however, I think Christ is going to be the winner. In terms of Budget:Profit ratio, I believe Blair Witch Project is still the one to beat.

talemyn

I guess I just wonder if it is independant because Lucasfilm has gotten to be so large . . . they've got 42 projects under their belt . . . are they still not considered "part of Hollywood"?

Plus, 20th Century Fox is one of the producers . . . doesn't that disqualify it from being an independant movie?

scott shelton

Fox was just a distributor. And I think their profit was capped at 50 million.

Rypro 525

also why are movies like bend it like beckham and boys don't cry consitered indies because they are distributed by fox searchlght.

Inverse

Is Dreamworks an independent studio?

'Cause if Dreamworks isn't an independent, then Lucasfilm isn't either. Both firms are privately held. Lucasfilm is older than Dreamworks and has more employees. And both companies have similar revenues.

http://www.hoovers.com/lucasfilm-ltd...actsheet.xhtml

http://www.hoovers.com/dreamworks-sk...actsheet.xhtml

Let's fact it--the fact that Spielberg and Lucas both own their own studios doesn't set them apart from the Hollywood establishment: it means they ARE the Hollywood establishment. (And no, the fact that Lucas lives a few hundred miles to the north doesn't matter.)

William Fuld

Because they were financed independently from the major studios.

Pants

Lucasfilm is NOT part of Hollywood. I would define a Hollywood Studio as being a public or privately held company actively engaged in financing, production, marketing, and distribution of films. If you're of a mind to declare companies like Revolution Stuidos, Regency, Morgan Creek, and Spyglass as being Hollywood Studios then I guess Lucasfilm is a Hollywood Studio, but I just don't see it that way. They're a producer only. No they are not. They are only distributors of the film. Not only that but they recieve no percentage of proceeds (which is common in most distribution deals) but rather they are only payed a flat fee buy Lucasfilm. Because they were financed independently and then "picked up" for distribution after they were completed.

Dreamworks operates like a studio traditionally operates. Lucasfilm is very different. In the case of the prequals George Lucas litterally pays for them with his own money. There is sophisticated financing based around ancilliary profits from merchandising, but the investment is entirely that of one man. Over at Dreamworks Spielberg, Katzenberg, and Geffen don't open their wallets and finance Old School