Updates to Box Office on IMDb Title Pages & IMDbPro

We are pleased to announce the release of expanded boxoffice performance available on IMDb title pages including:

USA gross
Worldwide gross
USA opening weekend gross
Country where the Movie opened (if the first opening was not USA)
Opening weekend theater Information (Limited or Wide)
Budget

Additional box office performance of a title including copyright holder and theatrical rentals is now available to IMDbPro members.

With this change, we will deprecate the title box office page from IMDb, with the goal of focusing on other features that we have heard our customers are more interested in when using IMDb. This change is one of the projects under the umbrella of software upgrades IMDb’s CEO &Founder, Col Needham, wrote about here: https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/upcoming-changes-to-several-imdb-features-du6man1opd5q0

IMDb is passionately committed to providing innovative ways for our users to engage with our content and we appreciate your continued support of IMDb.

Responses

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

7 years ago

This might be the first annoucement that looks promising at last... ;o)

Anyway, I wanted to give it a try, so I tested one of the major recent French releases "Au revoir là haut", but http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5258850/business just reload the main page.
And same thing for "Gravity" (2013) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/business

Anything wrong?

V.

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

Ah, I got it: the links, obtained from the */combined pages, are deprecated.
From a "standard" page display, the Business section is now at the minimum minimorum, and the rest seems to have been moved to IMDbPro.

Disappointment, disappoitment again. Daud Lighman, I am afraid we do not share passion the same way...

7 years ago

javier_martell_8l498gs72jmb5

32 Messages

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746 Points

7 years ago

If business section now is only for premium users (IMDbPro), I want money for every info that I added or corrected in a movie or TV Series in the business section.

javier_martell_8l498gs72jmb5

32 Messages

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746 Points

7 years ago

"with the goal of focusing on other features that we have heard our customers are more interested in when using IMDb" Really you think that IMDb users aren't interested in things like the budget, the box office or the filming dates of a movie? Maybe you live in another planet, or think that IMDb users are children of six years old.
I'm go to bed. Lot of kisses.

phil_leguichard

25 Messages

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1.1K Points

7 years ago

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled How can I see the filming dates of a movie, now that the "Box Office / Business" ....

I notice that the "Box Office/Business" link is now gone from IMDb pages of films. I'm wondering how I can view the filming dates of a given film, now that this is the case. That information used to be listed under the box office totals, which could be accessed through that link. Thank you very much!

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

Sorry this should have been covered above; the information on filming dates will return in an update to one of the other title sub-pages. The timing should be early in 2018.

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

Filming dates are back and the locations sub-page has been re-titled to "Filming & Production" and now includes the data information. For example, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052357/locations

7 years ago

neuroguy2

7 Messages

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278 Points

7 years ago

Very disappointed that the "Box Office/Business" section is gone from regular IMDb pages. I used to contribute a lot of information there, especially for classic films, from the AFI Catalog entry on the film - such as production dates and full copyright information - and budget and box office results from contemporary sources that are often missing for these older films. I guess you don't value that kind of input anymore.

Peter_pbn

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

7 years ago

I see the box office section on many title pages, but not yet on others, such as Paddington 2 or Murder on the Orient Express.

daud_lightman

7 Messages

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280 Points

Hi Peter,

Thank you for your feedback, we're looking into this right now.

Cheers,
Daud

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

We have located the display bug behind this and it should be fixed within the next day or so. Thanks for the problem report.

7 years ago

tue_sorensen

6 Messages

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1.3K Points

I still don't understand what's going on with the box office/business thing. Has it entirely been moved to IMDbPro (in which case: booooh!), or will it return? The original post seems to say that the info should be on a movie's title page, but I certainly can't find it.

7 years ago

Peter_pbn

Champion

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

Yes, it is there on title pages, below the Details section, see my screen grab below. There are also versions of it in mobile view and apps.

7 years ago

tue_sorensen

6 Messages

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1.3K Points

??? I'm not seeing it. (I'm on a PC, not a phone.) The "Details" section on a title page is at the top of the right-side menu, with the following sections beneath:

Details

I can't find any Box Office info.

7 years ago

tue_sorensen

6 Messages

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1.3K Points

Okay, I see it now - after disabling the reference view. But damn, I want to use the reference view! Can't you put that info on there as well?????

7 years ago

cartman_1337

248 Messages

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17.6K Points

7 years ago

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled Box office/business links not working.

The box office/business links in the reference view seems to have stopped working the last couple of days; clicking it simply takes me to the main movie page (/combined in my case) instead. I've tried for several movies and in different browsers, with the same happening every time. I hope these pages haven't been permanently and/or intentionally removed, as information about filming dates, budget and box office for movies has always been interesting to read.

cartman_1337

248 Messages

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17.6K Points

7 years ago

When I logged out I could find the information you mention in the horrible mess that is the default view (but only using the browser search function to even find the right place on the page), but the information is nowhere to be found in the reference view, which still has a lot of fans. The information needs to be available for us too.

IMO shooting dates isn't something that should be limited to IMDb Pro users, though.

crusader_of_melnibone

7 Messages

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278 Points

Indeed, I use the reference and combined views as well, way more helpful than the standard view, and yet there is no box office section at all there now. Can't keep logging out every time I want to see a couple of numbers.

At least fix this, which is kinda urgent; and then we'll rant about why other box office details were removed.

7 years ago

ACT_1

8.5K Messages

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176.3K Points

Indeed, I use the reference and combined views as well, way more helpful than the standard view, and yet there is no box office section at all there now. Can't keep logging out every time I want to see a couple of numbers

by Crusader_of_Melnibone
Joined on February 9, 2017
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/people/crusader_of_melnibone

- - -

Pulp Fiction (1994)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/reference

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/combined

Quicklinks
Other Info
box office/business
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/business ?? No !!

- - -

https://www.imdb.com/preferences/general
General
[X] Show reference view (old title/name page layout)

7 years ago

crusader_of_melnibone

7 Messages

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278 Points

That would be the same thing as logging out, since I'd change it back to reference view afterwards.

7 years ago

ACT_1

8.5K Messages

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176.3K Points

Indeed, I use the reference and combined views as well, way more helpful than the standard view, and yet there is no box office section at all there now...

That would be the same thing as logging out,
since I'd change it back to reference view afterwards.
Posted Dec 7 2:11
by Crusader_of_Melnibone
- - -

https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/announcement-updates-to-box-office-on-imdb-title-pages-imdbp...

I see the box office section on many title pages, but not yet on others,
such as Paddington 2 or Murder on the Orient Express.
Posted Dec 6
by Peter, Champion
- - -

https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/announcement-updates-to-box-office-on-imdb-title-pages-imdbp...

We have located the display bug behind this
and it should be fixed within the next day or so.
Thanks for the problem report
Posted Dec 7 4:55
by Col Needham, Official Rep

7 years ago

Peter_pbn

Champion

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

My report was about the default title page, which is now meant to have a box office section as described in the top post.

It shouldn't be surprising that reference/combined pages don't have the same new features as the default title pages.

7 years ago

cartman_1337

248 Messages

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17.6K Points

@Peter

The reference/combined pages has always had the same, or more, relevant information about movies before. When essential features are removed from separate sections and are supposed to be moved into the regular movie information page, one should expect, no in fact demand, that that information is made available on the reference view as well.

If nothing else, replace the "box office/business" link in the reference view with a link to "default view" (or whatever you want to call it) that we can access without having to log out.

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

The reference/combined pages are simply the old version of IMDb from 7+ years ago and are effectively frozen in time. They are full of bugs and are unsupported. We have not added any of the new features launched on IMDb since 2010.

7 years ago

cartman_1337

248 Messages

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17.6K Points

@Col Needham;

I'm not familiar with the bugs in the old view, but I'm sure it would take an experienced programmer no more than 5-10 minutes to replace the box office/business link with a link to the default view which wouldn't require logging or reconfiguring site settings ever time you want to check business information for a movie. It would be a simple workaround, and that link really should have been there all along since you implemented the changes in 2010 anyway.

Besides, shouldn't the fact that so many are still opting for the old version clue you in to that you should perhaps make new, compatible view options more akin to the old version? It really can't be that hard.

7 years ago

jeorj_euler

10.7K Messages

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225.4K Points

The IMDb staff don't want to touch the pages of the old platform at all, and they won't change their minds about it.

— Jeorj Euler, an IMDb regular registrant

7 years ago

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

Fair enough, but nothing prevents from developping an equivalent page: I have not found a display that offers as many information as the /combined pages do.

7 years ago

jeorj_euler

10.7K Messages

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225.4K Points

Did IMDb staff member Nic Bachhuber contact you, Vincent Fournols? I guess, we're supposed to send our feedback to him.

— Jeorj Euler, an IMDb regular registrant

7 years ago

Vincent_Fournols

2.4K Messages

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81.2K Points

@Jeorj, thanks. Until I saw you post, I have never come across that name. And I was not aware that was such a possibility. May I ask you for a source for your guess and supposition?

7 years ago

jeorj_euler

10.7K Messages

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225.4K Points

O, he sent me an e-mail message. I'm not the only one to receive it either, but the only other subscriber known by me to have received it is ACT_1, as revealed in a GS topic that was recently posted and recently erased.

— Jeorj Euler, an IMDb regular registrant

7 years ago

ACT_1

8.5K Messages

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176.3K Points

O, he sent me an e-mail message.
I'm not the only one to receive it either,
but the only other subscriber known by me to have received it is ACT_1,
as revealed in a GS topic that was recently posted and recently erased.
Jeorj Euler

- - -

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2017
Hi ACT_1,
Yes, please don’t post on GetSatisfaction regarding Reference View.
From: Bachhuber, Nic

7 years ago

jeorj_euler

10.7K Messages

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225.4K Points

Wow. What the hell is going on? Anyway, please visit the Help Desk, if you're interested in providing feedback about the upcoming Combined View.

— Jeorj Euler, an IMDb regular registrant

7 years ago

Peter_pbn

Champion

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

This gives a clue about what will happen to reference view:
https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topi...

7 years ago

cartman_1337

248 Messages

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17.6K Points

@Peter

Thanks for that link. It will be interesting to see how the reference view is going to be implemented in the new system. Hopefully all our current concerns will be addressed when everything is in place for the new system. :)

7 years ago

daud_lightman

7 Messages

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280 Points

7 years ago

Thank you all for your feedback. We’re alwayslistening to our users and will continue to take this feedback into considerationas we evolve our site.

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

7 years ago

I really don't understand this. Can someone please explain this? I don't see why this gets removed and doesn't come back.
I understood the message boards being removed, although I still miss 'em and feel they worked better than GetSat (where you can't even reply to every post and still can't login with your IMDb user name and password!).
I can understand removing the character pages and literature section in order to bring them back with newer software and more options. (I sure hope I'm not being very naive here)
I am very unhappy with the removal of all the options in one's Vote History, but at least, most of it is still accessible via the Advanced Search.
I have to say that I *am* happy to see that former wikid areas FAQ's, Parental Guides and Plot Synopses will become (or already are) checked by staffers.
But I really don't see why the box office information is deleted and doesn't seem to be coming back. Why remove valid information from a DATAbase? You should want more data concerning films, not less.

gromit82

Champion

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7.5K Messages

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276.1K Points

7 years ago

Hi, I would like to get a clarification from the staff. Has box office gross information been removed from the free IMDb site altogether, and is now only available on IMDbPro? I can't find where, if anywhere, the box office data is now kept on the free site. (On the Pro site, I do see it.)

The reason I ask is that the original post says:

We are pleased to announce the release of expanded boxoffice performance available on IMDb title pages including:
USA gross
Worldwide gross
USA opening weekend gross
Country where the Movie opened (if the first opening was not USA)
Opening weekend theater Information (Limited or Wide)
Budget
Additional box office performance of a title includingshooting dates, copyright holder and theatrical rentals is now available toIMDbPro members.

To me, that implied that users of the free site can view the USA gross, worldwide gross, etc., but only Pro users can see the shooting dates, copyright holder, and theatrical rentals. But it doesn't appear to be working that way for users of the free site, unless I am missing something.

Peter_pbn

Champion

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

You should see a box office section below the Details section on title pages.

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

Confirming Peter's answer here. We are still working through some bugs in the display which may be impacting your view, sorry.

Filming and production dates will be returning to the free site early in 2018. We are still reviewing copyright dates.

For free access to other box office information, we recommend our sister site http://www.boxofficemojo.com/ and we will be looking at adding better linkage to/from IMDb and Box Office Mojo in 2018.

7 years ago

gromit82

Champion

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7.5K Messages

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276.1K Points

Peter: Thanks for the information. I hadn't realized that the box office data had been placed there.

7 years ago

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

For free access to other box office information, we recommend our sister site http://www.boxofficemojo.com/ and we will be looking at adding better linkage to/from IMDb and Box Office Mojo in 2018.

I was afraid this would be a/the reason for this change.

I think this may very well be one of the worst changes in IMDb's history. Why? Because the core function - in my understanding at least - of a database is to have as much correct data as possible concerning a certain topic (in this case film) in ONE place for people to access. If you delete data from a DATAbase (at least the character pages and literature section seem to be getting back after they've been updated, but that doesn't seem to be the case here), you don't use a DATAbase as a DATAbase any more. And if you don't use a DATAbase as a DATAbase anymore, well, I'm confused?
Maybe I'm missing or misunderstanding something here (I sure hope so!), but the way I see it now, is that the company called IMDb is knowlingly and willingly undermining the database called Internet Movie Database.

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

I know you have seen the main thread at https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/upcoming-changes-to-several-imdb-features-du6man1opd5q0

I have posted a few points relevant to your question on other threads during the last week ...

We are also trying to keep the interface as simple and consistent as possible across all the different IMDb platforms (web, mobile web, apps, and to some extent, IMDbPro) both from how it looks to customers and how the technology operates behind-the-scenes. We are going back to basics in a number of areas, including news. Once we have everything on the same modern platform where it can be more easily maintained, we can move forward building extra features which work everywhere instead of the current almost random experience across every IMDb interface (which means a feature is sometimes implemented five or six times).

We accept that people will not be happy with all of the short term changes, but what would be worse is allowing the old systems to continue to slow progress. If you look through Get Satisfaction you will see hundreds of old threads complaining about inconsistencies, bugs, complexities on IMDb -- the root cause in most of these cases (and the reasons they are not easy to fix) are the old software systems. It is time for the old systems to finally go.

Although they concern different systems, the same principles apply to box office. We have brought the essential and most used box office data into better view on the title main details page which benefits everyone (the fact that the business sub-page was still on the old design after 7+ years is a clue to its usage -- in this case -- not all cases, but definitely this one). The IMDbPro and Box Office Mojo teams are focused on building a better interface for the customers who want access to the next level of detail on box office. This simplifies IMDb and allows us to focus more and move quickly on the features which matter most to people on IMDb.com.

As someone who has consistently reminded us over the years about unfixed bugs and inconsistencies across many areas of IMDb, we had hoped you might be someone who supported the new approach.

7 years ago

jeorj_euler

10.7K Messages

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225.4K Points

The most important of our demands is candor, so thanks, to a degree.

— Jeorj Euler, an IMDb regular registrant

7 years ago

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

Col,

First of all, thanks for the swift response.

I don't have any problem with most things of what you call the new approach. I haven't said anything bad about the character pages and literature listings being temporarily away because I appreciate the reasoning behind it. The same goes for the new way of linking within contributions. I have applauded the changes to the FAQ's, parents guide and plot synopsis as well as the even faster processing of submissions. I also have constructively thought along with some (small) issues regarding the new Help environment. Therefore, I don't consider myself someone who doesn't support the new approach.

That being said, I do have a problem with IMDb removing data without the intention of bringing it back to the regular, free site. As I've said, I feel a database should have as much correct data about a given subject (in this case film and tv) as possible and offer it to as much people as possible. By removing certain data on purpose without the intention of bringing them back, IMDb is doing the opposite of what I feel a database should do.
Apart from that, you have said several times that IMDb means different things to different people. I think we can all agree that's true. With that in mind, I can't explain a statement like "this simplifies IMDb and allows us to focus more and move quickly on the features which matters most to people". To me, this suggests IMDb doesn't look after all groups of different people with different wishes any more, but I hope I'm misreading or misunderstanding something here.

Marco.

PS: I can promise I won't complain when you remove the old lay-out. Although I very well might think along and ask for improvements :)

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

I don't have any problem with most things of what you call the new approach.

Good to know, thanks.

I can't explain a statement like "this simplifies IMDb and allows us to focus more and move quickly on the features which matters most to people". To me, this suggests IMDb doesn't look after all groups of different people with different wishes any more, but I hope I'm misreading or misunderstanding something here.

I think it's a misunderstanding. It is useful we have a really firm example here with which we can work though. Here is how things were before last week: IMDb box office information was available in three different places, with three different data sources: IMDb.com / IMDbPro.com / Box Office Mojo (remember we own BOM and the same software team is responsible for its upkeep). The layout of the old IMDb.com box office page dates back to when we launched the section in 1996 -- it had not changed in 20 years and has a simplistic data model; meanwhile Box Office Mojo has a superior data model and more information / reporting. The three systems (more than) triple the on-going support and future enhancement costs. Every fix we make to any box office feature (twice over) is time which could have been spent adding or enhancing something else instead. We are done with this old approach.

The situation we are in now with box office is better than last week, but it is still a bridge to where we want to go in 2018. We now only have two box office systems instead of three; on IMDb.com we have added more box office data to the main pages so more people will see / benefit from this than any updates to an under-used sub-page. Next we can tie all three sites better together, get things down to one underlying system, and enhance box office related searches across all three sites.

Nothing has changed in the fundamentals of what is in the Contributors' Charter @ https://contribute.imdb.com/charter nor what we are doing and what we are about in the help section (and history and press room) @ https://help.imdb.com/article/imdb/general-information/what-is-imdb/G836CY29Z4SGNMK5 -- the changes allow us to do all of these things better and faster.

7 years ago

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

Next we can tie all three sites better together, get things down to one underlying system, and enhance box office related searches across all three sites.

I of course understand one underlying system is way better than three seperate ones and I don't have a problem with temporary issues in order to get to such a system, but for me it all comes down to the question "Is IMDb planning to get box office data like (weekend) grosses, admissions, budget back on the regular, free site?"

7 years ago

Peter_pbn

Champion

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

As you can see above, the budget field is already there (along with selected opening weekend and total grosses).

7 years ago

jeorj_euler

10.7K Messages

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225.4K Points

Marco, you might be interested to know that the information can still be viewed in the submission interface. Take Titanic (1997), for example: https://contribute.imdb.com/updates?update=tt0120338:business_bt.correct/business_ow.correct/business_gr.correct/business_wg.correct/business_ad.correct/business_rt.correct/business_pd.correct/business_sd.correct/business_cp.correct. The ability to do this may be eliminated some time around the New Year's day, since the IMDb staff will most likely want to count up the contributions to the literature listings. It'd be an ungrateful shame if they simply threw away the stats upon migrating the data to the fee-based site.

— Jeorj Euler, an IMDb regular registrant

7 years ago

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

Thanks for the responses Peter and Jeorj.
As I've said, in the long run, I feel customers of the regular IMDb shouldn't have to go to IMDbPro or Box Office Mojo for information that was previously available on the regular IMDb, that's all.

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

Filming dates are back and the locations sub-page has been re-titled to "Filming & Production" and now includes the data information. For example, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052357/locations

7 years ago

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

Thanks for the update Col. Happy to see that filming dates are back on regular IMDb.

Edit: But I don't see it in reference view. Is that a bug?

7 years ago

benny_puuduu

1 Message

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230 Points

7 years ago

I also do not see the box office information when logged in in referrence/combined view,and pressing the box office link does nothing,but take you back to the title page.
I do see the information when logged out in the horrible default view

Marco

2.8K Messages

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83.1K Points

7 years ago

Since it hasn't come up on this thread and I don't understand anything about this, can somebody tell me whether or not admission numbers of films are still available to the public? If not, can somebody tell me whether or not this will change in the (near) future?

rhoadrunner_76nlxkfoe75mw

4 Messages

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166 Points

7 years ago

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled box office/business link just goes back to Combined page.

Box office/business link just goes back to Combined page. I am using Chrome while logged in with a IMDB account. Example: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0901476/business

bernhard_5846888

3 Messages

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110 Points

7 years ago

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled production time.

I can't find informations about the time a picture was shot anymore. Previously, that was listed in the Box office field which seems not to exist any longer. Would appreciate if someone could help me with that.

Peter_pbn

Champion

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14.4K Messages

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330.1K Points

Col said earlier in this thread: "the information on filming dates will return in an update to one of the other title sub-pages" in the new year.

7 years ago

Col_Needham

Employee

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7.3K Messages

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179.3K Points

Filming dates are back and the locations sub-page has been re-titled to "Filming & Production" and now includes the data information. For example, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052357/locations

7 years ago

daud_lightman

Updates to Box Office on IMDb Title Pages & IMDbPro

Vincent_Fournols

Vincent_Fournols

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javier_martell_8l498gs72jmb5

phil_leguichard

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Col_Needham

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