Image Credit: Beyonce: Jeff Kravitz/MTV1415/FilmMagic; Vergara: Michael Tran/FilmMagic; Spider-Woman: Marvel; VH1Ah, the summer of 2014: It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times. Though mostly, let’s face it, it was the worst. Yet even as horrific violence and heartbreakingly premature deaths and hemorrhagic fevers have marred the past few months, there have also been a few spots of levity. And most are thanks to butts.
True, the humble hiney is no stranger to celebration, especially when it’s warm outside. (You may, however, be shocked to learn that Sisquo’s “Thong Song” was actually released in January.) But this summer went above and beyond, prominently featuring ladies’ posteriors in movies, TV shows, and, more than anywhere else, music. As the season unofficially comes to a close over Labor Day Weekend, let’s take a look back at the Butts of Summer.
May 2
Consider this tasty little news story an appetizer: Word breaks that Japanese Godzilla fans are incensed about the monster’s appearance in Gareth Edwards’ upcoming reboot. Why? Because it’s just so… round, and out there: “It’s fat from the neck downwards and massive at the bottom,” one says. Clearly, nobody appreciates a big ol’ booty like Americans do—as the next three months will prove.
May 21
You know how summer movie season begins over Memorial Day weekend, even though summer doesn’t technically start until mid-June? Well, the Summer of Butts officially launched when Jason Derulo first crooned “You know what to do with that big fat butt” in the music video for “Wiggle.”
June 11
Meghan Trainor releases the video for her soon-to-be viral hit “All About That Bass.” “Bass” — “B” = Ass. That’s simple math—and all the right junk in all the right place…s.
June 13
Not to be outdone, derriere pioneer Jennifer Lopez releases a teaser for her next album, A.K.A. The snippet comes from a new song called “Booty.” Sample lyrics: “Big, big booty/What you got a big booty/Big, big booty/What you got a big booty.”
June 17
Queen of Bounce Big Freedia releases her fourth studio album, full of twerk-inspiring tracks like “Lift Dat Leg Up.”
June 20
Lopez performs “Booty” live on Good Morning America. Guess what the dancing is like.
June 25
New to iOS phones and Google Play: Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, an addictive game branded around one of pop culture’s most famous butts.
July 17
VH1 premieres Dating Naked, a dating show that’s exactly what it sounds like. Boobs and crotches are blurred out; butts are not.
July 18
Not all butts are created equal: Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel’s raunchy comedy Sex Tape debuts and immediately fizzles with critics and audiences. The film earns just $15 million its opening weekend, well below projections. Could it be because the movie’s leads don’t have enough back?
July 28
Girls of summer Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, and Jessie J team up for the electric single “Bang Bang.” The first lines? “She got a body like an hourglass/But I can give it to you all the time/She got a booty like a Cadillac/But I can send you into overdrive.”
July 31
Big Freedia hosts Bounce 4 Year Anniversary in New Orleans. Tagline: “This is the big one: the bounciest of bounces, the twerkiest of twerks, the shakiest of shakes…”
Aug. 1
Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” leaks, days before its planned Aug. 5 release. The cover art looks like this:
Then there’s the universally adored Guardians of the Galaxy, a movie anchored by the Legend of Kevin Bacon. One of its most memorable exchanges:
Starlord: “On my planet, there’s a legend about people like you. It’s called Footloose. And in it, a great hero named Kevin Bacon teaches an entire city full of people with sticks up their butts that dancing, well, it’s the greatest thing there is.”
Gamora: “Who put the sticks up their butts? That is cruel.”
Aug. 8
Cinemax—a premium cable channel that, until recently, was primarily known for showing softcore pornography—goes prestige by premiering The Knick, a highly pedigreed period drama. Literally seconds into its first episode, a naked prostitute appears onscreen. We can’t see her butt, but we know it’s there—marking a rare instance in which a butt could have been shown, but wasn’t.
Aug. 9
There’s a ton of sex in the first episode of Starz’s moody time-travel drama Outlander, but barely any nudity. One notable exception: A torrid love scene where the only naughty bit shown onscreen is heroine Claire’s shapely behind.
Aug. 11
Miley Cyrus is so enamored with Nicki Minaj’s tush that she Instagrams several doctored “Anaconda” covers in which her face and, once, Hannah Montana’s have been photoshopped onto a white version of Minaj’s body. One of these photos briefly becomes her Twitter avatar. Minaj is not pleased.
Aug. 12
EW reveals the winner of our Best Character on TV Right Now poll: Tina Belcher, smart, strong, sensual woman and unapologetic lover of butts.
Aug. 16
This dude shaves a butt into his hair.
Aug. 18
Hey, you know who else loves to shake her booty? Taylor Swift, that’s who. Even if you’re going to make fun of her for it. Actually, especially if you’re going to make fun of her.
Also, the new season of America’s Next Top Model premieres, featuring both male and female posers—sorry, that’s “boochers” and “toochers.” For those not fluent in Tyranian: to “tooch” is “to pop your out booty while taking a photo in order to accentuate your ass.” To “booch” is to be a boy toocher.
Aug. 20
The rump-centric video for “Anaconda” drops, featuring “Look At Her Butt” t-shirts, a bemused Drake, and tons of undulating cheeks (like dun duh dun dun dun dun dun).
The very same day, comics fans go ballistic about this variant Spider-Woman #1 cover, which presents the superheroine… presenting.
Aug. 22
“Kathy Griffin Challenges Nicki Minaj to Butt Contest.” Everybody wins.
Aug. 24
MTV airs the most butt-forward VMAs in recent memory, featuring performances of “Anaconda” and “Bang Bang,” complete with innumerable wiggling asses. Presenter Chelsea Handler observes that all the “big, fat asses” on the show made her feel insecure, which is why she asked to come onstage after someone super white (i.e. Taylor Swift.) But the classiest butts of the evening naturally belong to the shiny-skinned backup dancers doing splits in the air as Beyoncé slays “Drunk in Love.”
Aug. 25
“Bang Bang” gets an appropriately booty-shaking music video.
That evening, Sofia Vergara climbs onto a rotating dais at the Emmys, posing like Awards Show Barbie as the president of the TV Academy gives a speech. There’s no question about which body part we should be lavishing with attention; at one point, she pats the junk in her trunk.
Aug. 26
Remember Jennifer Lopez? Now there’s a “Booty” remix. And it features Iggy Azalea. And EVEN MORE BUTTS.
#jlobooty #aintseenabootylikethissincejennyfromtheblock #jloiggybooty Click here: bit.ly/1pcK5Nw http://t.co/jQQb0Yz7sY—
Jennifer Lopez (@JLo) August 26, 2014
You know what? Maybe the Summer of Butts will never be over. Maybe it’ll live inside us always… or at least directly behind us.
EDITION: INTERNATIONALU.S.MÉXICOARABICTV: CNNiCNN en EspañolSet edition preferenceSign upLog in//Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//$('hdr-search-box').focus();//});#hdr-editions a { text-decoration:none; }#cnn_hdr-editionS { text-align:left;clear:both; }#cnn_hdr-editionS a { text-decoration:none;font-size:10px;top:7px;line-height:12px;font-weight:bold; }#hdr-prompt-text b { display:inline-block;margin:0 0 0 20px; }#hdr-editions li { padding:0 10px; }#hdr-editions ul li.no-pad-left span { font-size:12px; }.hdr-arrow-intl, .hdr-arrow-us, .hdr-arrow-us2 { left:148px; }.hdr-arrow-us2 { left:180px; }HomeVideoWorldU.S.AfricaAsiaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastBusinessWorld SportEntertainmentTechTraveliReportSHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar1","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/29/showbiz/movies/summer-movies-winners-losers/index.html","title" : "Summer movies 2014: 5 things we learned"});Summer movies 2014: 5 things we learnedBy Todd Leopold, CNNAugust 29, 2014 -- Updated 2238 GMT (0638 HKT)window.CNN = window.CNN || {};(function setupContentMeta(ns) {ns.ContentMetadata = ns.ContentMetadata || {};ns.ContentMetadata.pageTopGallery = {};}(CNN));if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(13);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Summer box office winners and losers", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}
the summer's top hit (which will likely be the year's top grosser by Labor Day). It has made $257 million and been beloved by critics as well, with a RottenTomatoes.com approval rating of 92%. With winter's "Lego Movie" also to his credit, star Chris Pratt, pictured, has emerged as 2014's top new star. (Box office as of 8/27.)" border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto001" style="margin:0 auto;" width="640"/>It wasn't the greatest summer for Hollywood -- box office was down 25% from last year's record -- but it could have been worse if it weren't for "Guardians of the Galaxy," the summer's top hit (which will likely be the year's top grosser by Labor Day). It has made $257 million and been beloved by critics as well, with a RottenTomatoes.com approval rating of 92%. With winter's "Lego Movie" also to his credit, star Chris Pratt, pictured, has emerged as 2014's top new star. (Box office as of 8/27.)cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
was scorched by critics -- 18% on the Tomatometer -- and had the poorest domestic showing ($244 million) of any "Transformers" film. But director Michael Bay is still laughing all the way to the bank: The film has made $821 million overseas and 
despite middling reviews, emerged as a solid hit, with $238 million domestically." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto003" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Star vehicles were a tough sell this summer, but Angelina Jolie's "Maleficent," despite middling reviews, emerged as a solid hit, with $238 million domestically.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
proved that sequels didn't have to be the same old-same old -- mainly by making fun of the fact that it was, indeed, the same old-same old. The Jonah Hill-Channing Tatum vehicle earned $190 million (on a $50 million budget) and scored 84% on the Tomatometer." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto004" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>"22 Jump Street" proved that sequels didn't have to be the same old-same old -- mainly by making fun of the fact that it was, indeed, the same old-same old. The Jonah Hill-Channing Tatum vehicle earned $190 million (on a $50 million budget) and scored 84% on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
based on the popular novel, making $124 million. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort were praised for their performances; the film rates 80% on the Tomatometer." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto005" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Young adult adaptations continued their hot streak, with "The Fault in Our Stars," based on the popular novel, making $124 million. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort were praised for their performances; the film rates 80% on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
Richard Linklater's story of a boy (Ellar Coltrane, right, with Lorelai Linklater and Ethan Hawke) growing up. It was filmed over the course of 12 years, so Coltrane really did grow up during production. The film has 99% critical approval and has made $16 million at the box office on a tiny budget. It has been touted as an Oscar hopeful." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto006" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Perhaps the year's most talked-about film is "Boyhood," Richard Linklater's story of a boy (Ellar Coltrane, right, with Lorelai Linklater and Ethan Hawke) growing up. It was filmed over the course of 12 years, so Coltrane really did grow up during production. The film has 99% critical approval and has made $16 million at the box office on a tiny budget. It has been touted as an Oscar hopeful.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
flopped domestically, with barely a $100 million gross on a $178 million budget. Overseas, Cruise fared better; the film has made $264 million outside the United States." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto007" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Despite solid reviews -- 90% approval at Rotten Tomatoes -- Tom Cruise's "Edge of Tomorrow" flopped domestically, with barely a $100 million gross on a $178 million budget. Overseas, Cruise fared better; the film has made $264 million outside the United States.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
a sword-and-sandals film based on the Greek myth (and a Steve Moore comic). It made $70 million, despite the presence of star Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and director Brett Ratner. " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto008" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Moviegoers gave thumbs down to "Hercules," a sword-and-sandals film based on the Greek myth (and a Steve Moore comic). It made $70 million, despite the presence of star Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and director Brett Ratner. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
must have seemed like a sure-fire project, with its roots in both a hit Broadway musical and the songs of the Four Seasons. But the film, starring, from left, Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, John Lloyd Young and Michael Lomenda, got mediocre reviews and made just $47 million." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto009" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Director Clint Eastwood's "Jersey Boys" must have seemed like a sure-fire project, with its roots in both a hit Broadway musical and the songs of the Four Seasons. But the film, starring, from left, Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, John Lloyd Young and Michael Lomenda, got mediocre reviews and made just $47 million.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
"A Million Ways to Die in the West," directed, written by and starring MacFarlane, right, flopped, making just $43 million and scoring a dismal 33% on the Tomatometer." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0010" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>Two years ago, Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" was a huge hit, making $218 million domestically and more than double that overall. But "A Million Ways to Die in the West," directed, written by and starring MacFarlane, right, flopped, making just $43 million and scoring a dismal 33% on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
into a hit. It's grossed $29 million on a $30 million budget. " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0011" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>The sizzling performance of Chadwick Boseman, center, as James Brown wasn't enough to make "Get on Up" into a hit. It's grossed $29 million on a $30 million budget. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":11,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
which rounded up its all-star action cast and grossed less than $30 million. (It has done even worse overseas.) " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0012" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>The third time wasn't even close to the charm for "The Expendables 3," which rounded up its all-star action cast and grossed less than $30 million. (It has done even worse overseas.) cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":12,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}
which made $46 million on a $40 million budget. However, overseas it has made $77 million, so if there's a "Blended 2," you'll know who it's for." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0013" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>The critics usually hate Adam Sandler movies. Audiences, however, love them. Not so with "Blended," which made $46 million on a $40 million budget. However, overseas it has made $77 million, so if there's a "Blended 2," you'll know who it's for.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":13,"title":"Summer box office winners and losers"}HIDE CAPTIONSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losersSummer box office winners and losers<<<
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13>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"Summer movies 2014: 5 things we learned");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSSummer 2014 box office down 25% from last yearNo movie topped $300 million, but there were no "Lone Ranger"-level flops, eitherStars weren't big drivers to films; concepts wereChinese market made "Transformers" a blockbuster
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The summer movie season was full of extremes. Topping the box office list was "Iron Man 3," starring Robert Downey Jr., which made $409 million domestically and another $805 million overseas. Critics also liked it, giving it 78% on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. (All box office numbers are through August 25.)cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"Despicable Me 2," featuring the voice of Steve Carell, had an outstanding summer, making $351 million domestically and $455 million overseas. It had a Rotten Tomatoes score of 76%.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Despite mixed reviews -- 56% on the Tomatometer -- "Man of Steel" finished No. 3 for the summer, with $290 million domestically and $360 million overseas. Henry Cavill stars as Superman.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
In the Pixar pantheon, "Monsters University" wasn't ranked as an all-timer, but it still made $262 million domestically, $425 million internationally and earned 78% approval from Rotten Tomatoes.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"Fast and Furious 6," starring Vin Diesel, was one of the biggest sleeper hits of the summer, making $230 million domestically and a staggering $548 million overseas. Even critics liked it -- it received 69% approval on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Other films suffered huge losses. "R.I.P.D." cost at least $130 million, according to boxofficemojo.com, but only returned $33 million domestically -- which is better than it did overseas. The film stars Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"The Lone Ranger" was, perhaps, the year's biggest bomb, costing at least $215 million but making just $88 million domestically. International audiences liked it a little better, with a $142 million box office. Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer star.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"White House Down" had two big stars in Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum, not to mention a $150 million budget, but only made $72 million domestically and $62 million overseas.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Ryan Reynolds had a rotten summer. He also voiced the lead character in the animated "Turbo," which made $79 million domestically despite a $135 million budget. Overseas grosses added another $70 million.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
So much for Will Smith's summer magic touch. "After Earth," with his son Jaden, cost $130 million but made only $61 million domestically. Overseas, Smith is still a big draw: The film earned $183 million in other countries.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
The best-reviewed films of the summer included "Before Midnight," with Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, which received 98% approval from critics, according to the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":11,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"Fruitvale Station," starring Michael B. Jordan, received 94% approval. It also grossed more than $15 million.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":12,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Cate Blanchett stars in "Blue Jasmine," another low-budget hit from Woody Allen. The film earned a 90 on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":13,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Nick Frost, Eddie Marsan, Simon Pegg, Paddy Considine and Martin Freeman star in '"The World's End," which concludes director Edgar Wright's "Cornetto Trilogy." The film earned 90% approval from critics.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":14,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"Star Trek Into Darkness" was generally loved by audiences and critics, earning an 87 on the Tomatometer and coming in as the sixth-highest-grossing filim of the summer, with $227 million domestically and $231 million overseas. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":15,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Adam Sandler (far right, with Salma Hayek, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph and David Spade) can do no right with critics. "Grown Ups 2" received just 7% approval, according to Rotten Tomatoes. It still made $129 million domestically.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":16,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"The Smurfs 2" barely cracked double-digits with critics, with a 12 on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":17,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
Jamie Campbell Bower and Lily Collins star in "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones," which got a thumbs-down to the tune of 13% on the Tomatometer.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":18,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"The Hangover Part III," starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms, brought the trilogy to a clanking finish. The film earned just 19% approval and $112 million domestically. The latter figure may seem good until you realize the first two films topped $250 million each.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":19,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}
"Jobs," starring Ashton Kutcher as Apple founder Steve Jobs, had a dismal 26% approval from critics.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":20,"title":"The extremes of the summer"}HIDE CAPTIONThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summerThe extremes of the summer<<<
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20>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"Summer movies 2013: Fantastic or fatiguing?");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSThe summer movie season was a success financially, but uneven otherwiseMany films filled with crash-alike destruction of cities, worldsThe "tentpoles" -- big-budget films that led studio slates -- were a mixed bagLessons to be drawn? Whatever you want -- and you're probably wrong
The knives were out for "World War Z," with Mireille Enos and Brad Pitt, but the film did well.Take "After Earth," a Will Smith movie that grossed just $60 million domestically. "It sold Will Smith but it was really his son, and his son doesn't have a following," says Obst.Will Smith: By the numbersOr take "White House Down," which -- despite an allegedly surefire cast led by Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx -- had the misfortune of coming out just three months after "Olympus Has Fallen," another story about an attack on the White House. "Olympus" made almost $100 million; "White House Down," with a much bigger budget, made just $70 million."We've just seen the White House blow up too many times," says Obst. "It just felt incredibly familiar."Photos: Most persistent movie clichésIndeed, that explosive repetition may be playing a role in the fatigue audiences felt as the summer wore on. CGI is an amazing technology, but there's only so much destruction audiences can watch before it all starts to blend together. "Man of Steel" destroyed New York -- OK, Metropolis -- yet again, right down to the fancy filigree on the sides of its skyscrapers. "Star Trek" ripped up San Francisco. "World War Z," "Pacific Rim," "After Earth," "Elysium" -- all featured massive, dystopian chaos."I think that this is a big problem with the whole summer and with the tentpoles that were made for this summer," says Obst. "There was a sense that we've seen it all before. How many times can you see the same cities being blown up? They all seem to mirror the same sensibility."It's not a sensibility that's going away anytime soon, however.For one thing, points out IMDb's Simanton, audiences like seeing things blow up: in a video-game society, it's a way to attract the loyal teenage boy demographic. For another, it's expected. Screenwriter and producer Damon Lindelof ("Prometheus," "World War Z") gave an interview to New York magazine in which he confessed being "slightly turned off" by what he called "destruction porn."At the same time, he cautioned, "Once you spend more than $100 million on a movie, you have to save the world."Mixed messagesAnd then there's the overseas market, which has become a huge player in the box office game.It's not just action movies, which are supposed to travel well. Simanton points out that "Despicable Me 2" has done better overseas than in the United States. So has "Now You See Me" and "The Great Gatsby." The international box office, he says, "will continue to grow as a multiplier."In the overseas success of those unlikely films may be a sign that Hollywood's current blow-'em-up summer strategy may change. Right now international audiences still love the action films -- as Obst notes in her book, China and Russia built all these movie theaters, and they like to fill them with the latest 3-D bells and whistles -- but even non-U.S. audiences may be growing weary of so much destruction, she says."If you look at the Chinese market since the time I wrote the book, they've made three blockbusters of their own, none of which rely on these special effects. They're romantic comedies (and) movies with nuance," she says. "The market in China wants of their own filmmakers the same kind of movies we love from our best filmmakers."Maltin agrees. "It's always story and character that wins out," says the critic. "Even in an action movie. Witness 'The Avengers.' "And it wasn't as if character was completely ignored this summer, he adds. Maltin enjoyed "World War Z," which faced down gossipy vultures and emerged a success with both critics and audiences. He liked "The Heat," another demonstration of Melissa McCarthy's comedic skills. Obst credits "Fast & Furious 6's" success to the camaraderie between the film's crew.Photos: 20 great buddy moviesSo will summer 2013 have any impact on future summer seasons, which (hello, Ben Affleck!) already have their own tentpoles in development? Much was made of Steven Spielberg's pronouncement that the failure of a few tentpoles could change the American movie business, but it's still a long way down. Besides, the August releases that have succeeded, including "The Butler" and "We're the Millers," indicate that playing small(-budget) ball can still pay off handsomely.Simanton suspects that, in fact, late August and Labor Day -- traditionally the dregs of the movie season -- might start proving viable for certain kinds of films. The One Direction concert film, which opens August 30, will test his theory about redefining the bounds of the summer season, he says.And if not? Well, there's always revisionist history. Already the French are praising "Lone Ranger" and the Chinese are boosting "Pacific Rim." Meanwhile, "Star Trek" fans named "Into Darkness" the worst of the "Trek" films at a Las Vegas convention -- despite its standing as one of a handful of summer films to top $200 million at the box office.As screenwriter William Goldman put it in the truest words ever written about Hollywood, "Nobody knows anything."So, when you think about summer 2013 -- for all the CGI destruction, for all the sequels, for all the superheroes and space visitors and foolproof studio strategies -- the past may be no guide to what will work in the future."The lessons are," says Maltin, "there are no lessons."0Comments »SHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar2","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/30/showbiz/movies/summer-movies-mixed-season/index.html","title" : "Summer movies 2013: Fantastic or fatiguing?"});var OB_permalink='http://edition.cnn.com'+location.pathname;var OB_langJS='http://widgets.outbrain.com/lang_en.js';var OB_widgetId='AR_1';var OB_Template="cnnedition";var OB_MarkUP = '';document.write(OB_MarkUP);if (typeof(OB_Script)!='undefined'){OutbrainStart();}else{var OB_Script=true;var str="cnnad_createAd("632805","http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_international&cnn_intl_pagetype=mmst&cnn_intl_position=607x95_adlinks&cnn_intl_rollup=entertainment&page.allowcompete=no¶ms.styles=fs","95","607");cnnad_registerSpace(632805,607,95);