Tent poles no longer make huge amounts of money because studios think that audiences are stupid and are not interested in the story. This was true about 10 years ago but not people want more. They want the Bourne movies which were great films as well as tent poles, not Mission Impossible 1,2,3 who cares? Spending 250 million didnt reap superman returns anywhere near the amount that was expected. Why? A+ for effort, C- or execution. Also the reason why Lions for Lambs didnt do as well as expected. Maybe people are tired of listening to how the world is going to hell in a hand basket. We have the news for that. Knocked Up was hilarious and made people forget about the real world. That's what films are. A fantasy. And you can create that without spending hundreds of millions of dollars.

Polly, Suffolk, England

Like all big business this decline has more to do with the Product than the cost base. Rendition, Valley of Elah, Lions for Lambs, Stop Loss, Redacted. These are all examples of why the US isn't going to the cinema. Movie stars are in their own little bubble; surrounding themselves with those who think the way they do. They don't know anybody who votes Republican or admires their countries armed forces so why should they be making films aimed at a population they know nothing about.

I'm British and I refuse to watch anything with Sean Penn or George Clooney, so Middle America is definately not going to put bums on seats. I own over 1000 DVD's and I'm not going to the cinema either. The left wing luvvies have the right to say what they want. I have a right not to pay money to listen to them.

To be fair, does Hollywood care? They know that movies like this will go down swell with the Anti-American crowds in the rest of the world.

Chris, London , UK

The level of box office takings suggests that movies remain highly popular. Perhaps those American readers who despire an industry that made America popular should listen to those actors who resent US foreign policy, US environmental policy and particulalry Bush because the rest of the world does to. Open you eyes.

Ben, London,

I have to agree with all the US commenters on this topic, Hollywood actors are pompous, selfimportant know it all socialists. How dare they preach to everyone else about what and how they should live their lives when they live in palaces and earn multimillions of dollars.

Tom, London, England

could it be that the films and or the stars are just not that good? i can't think of the last time i HAD to see a film.

paul turner, toronto, canada

I think i would hang around for a couple of years making a film for a pay day of 95million dollars! in fact take a decade - i'm not woried.....

Nick B, Leicester,

Writing is absolutely essential for a movie to take off. Nowadays Hollywood is so caught up in preaching about the war and turning out war movies that they forget that audiences go to movies to forget about what's going on in the real world. The writing was so good when Hollywood started because all of the great play writes and novelists were paid by the studios to write witty, intelligent stories. Casablanca is probably the most witty film I have seen. I find myself drifting towards movies written and filmed in Britain more and more because I find there is still some creativity in this world, it's just not in LA anymore

Lesley, Boston, MA, USA

Wow! . If I understand these contributors above correctly it goes like this:
American movie stars voice democratic opinions against the "New Vietnam in progress", therefore Hollywood actors are all commie pinko terrorists.
What a country!
And these contributors have votes!

American movies are tanking because audiences have become jaded with explosions etc. The Golden Age of Hollywood was the 1950s when you could expect a rich, well-written story that entertained on a deeper level. Until Hollywood recognises that, its decline will continue.

Greg Palmer, Düsseldorf, Germany

It's interesting that this article is putting most the blame on star power cost. What about the story? The art of good story telling is all but gone. The language is so offensive, one has to take a shower in their brain once they get home. Family values? Down the drain. Hollywood (TV and movies) doesn't seem to mind making rude and socially unacceptable people out of the kids that watch their garbage. How many generations of watching stuff from Hollywood has it taken to dumb down our society?! And the kicker? Actors, producers, directors, writers gone politically loud and over the edge. Don't they realize that by spewing hatred about our President, the war, and our country that they have offended at least 50% of those who used to watch their movies? Our family doesn't go anymore. We no longer indiscriminately spend money for our entertainment to watch bad movies and support such people.

Julie Anne, Naperville, IL, USA

A couple of things: while movies are always great fun for an evening out, the blathering leftist opinions of under-educated, ignorant "stars" agitate American families. To pile on insult to injury the movies themselves are anti-family values and abusive toward American traditions. Countless numbers are no longer going to movies which are now nothing more than a mouthpiece for socialist/marxist political thought.

Rita, OKC, Oklahoma

I can only speak for myself but the reason I don't go to movies anymore is because actors have turned into political activists. I don't know how they think that they have a right to use their status to speak about their opinions. I for one am not interested. I'm tired of the hate they show for our leaders, our country and especially our servicemen. I hope they all keep loosing alot of money until they get the message. SHUT UP AND ACT!

Mickie Postier, Belfair, Wa

The real reason Hollywood is having a problem is that 50% of Americans, and I surmise the rest of the world, do not agree with the politics of Hollywood and are staying away from the movies in droves. I must admit I and all of the people I know are doing just that. If they would just entertain without political shots at the President, the Republicans, the religious (at least in this country) I can attest that most of us would return to the movies. In droves. The 'hottest' stars are also the most vocal politically and they will never regain our viewership. Just have one pro-war movie without Clooney and see what happens.

Mary Sunshine, Las Vegas, NV

Get your facts right. Your numbers oare for US Domestic markets only. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest grossed $1.06 billion on the World market - not $423.3 m.

Source:WorldwideBoxOffice

Richard, Bucharest, Romania

dig a hole, jump in it, bury yourself and then complain you can't breath..............nuff said

common sense , san antonio ,

With all these high tech films, nobody is asking how much the computers get paid? Seems like it is ok for them to get mega millions, yet the actors get hauled over the coals for making 10 or 20. Nobody ever mentions that it takes literally YEARS to make a film and so it is not surprising that actors get paid the big bucks. How would you like hanging around for that length of time? Tom Cruise only makes a film every few years, and in my book, he deserves every penny he gets!

paul, waterloo,