Business Insider has posted an interesting article explaining how Hasbro decides which toys it will turn into movies and the profit they get in return.
With several more brands set to get the movie treatment in the next few years, we spoke with Hasbro Chief Marketing Officer John Frascotti to find out exactly how the company selects which of its toy lines get adapted to the big screen and how you can possibly turn a board game into a movie.“We look for those brands that have story and character at their foundation because inevitably for any type of storytelling format, whether it’s a movie, a television show, a digital comic … it has to have great story and great characters at it’s foundation,” says Frascotti.
All together, the “Transformers” franchise has brought in more than $2.5 billion worldwide. The two “G.I. Joe” movies combined have generated more than $600 million at the box office.
According to Reuters, it’s low risk strategy for Hasbro. The toy company pays around $1 million to develop script ideas and if a studio wants to go through with a film, Hasbro gets paid back the developing fee. After the film is in theaters, Hasbro reportedly receives 5% of the money a studio makes from theaters.
The article also states that following the success of the Transformers and other Hasbro brand movies, movies based on Jem And The Holograms, Magic the Gathering and Ouija are on their way to the Big Screen. You can read more at the Business Insider.
SilverOptimus says
News Post: How Hasbro Decides Which Toys They Will Turn Into Movies
iambob13 says
Wow. Only 5%? What a rip. I'm sure out of 3 billion dollars that's a lot, but you'd expect a bit more for the IP owners.
Trigue says
Python_Puckman says
Fingers crossed for Easy Bake Oven: The Movie
Dunedain says
backhawkdown says
Even the $1 million they invest in the story ideas gets paid back to them if the movie is made.
The movie studio takes the entire financial risk in making the movie, 5% is obviously a fair deal for the level of investment each party has if Hasbro has agreed to such a deal.
The bigger issue fans should be picking up on is the fact that Hasbro, the brand owner and manager, develops that horrid story ideas.
I'm curious how you would justify that, and justify how that free $150 million and advertising that drives toy sales to annual sales of over $300 million plus (at least for Transformers) equates to not caring about money.
Rainbow Viper says
This is kinda how I figured it worked. The studios are more less paying Hasbro to use their property. Hasbro probably makes 5% profit everytime the dvds/blu-rays are sold/rented, profits from Netflix, and tv airings. They would have to especially since they own the copyright. If you think about it Hasbro really has nothing to lose. It's all free advertisement.
Financially though, GI Joe may not be doing TF numbers but it still is making profit.
samantha says
Awesometific says
I am trying to remember which great characters and compelling story were in Oujia? Probably the same that were in Battleship. How did Oujia edge out Mousetrap?
USAgent says
ouijia should work like Jumanji and whatever the space version was... except with pre-teen friendly ghosts/monsters/zombies....
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