Many new movies were released this weekend. Michael Clayton starring George Clooney didn't have the expected turn out. Neither did Cate Blanchett's "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." We have informed businesses for years about the power of the African American market. The have not listened. This weekend Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married" with an ensemble cast that includes Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Jill Scott and writer-director Perry, debuted as the No. 1 weekend movie with $21.5 million, according to studio estimates.
Sadly, rather than recognize the buying power of the African American dollar, they decided to attribute this tremendous success by saying: “Tyler Perry is a mogul,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Media By Numbers. “There is a built-in audience base for Tyler Perry’s movies, no matter what time of year, no matter what the subject matter.”
Michael Clayton the movie came in 3rd with only $11 million and Elizibeth: The Golden Years came in 6th with only $6 Million a far cry from what the critics expected.
Imagine that! Was it only last week that Halle Berry told an interviewer how difficult is for Black actresses to get scripts and good movie parts? Wake up Hollywood, check out the numbers and start courting ths intapped market.