One of the most important storyline component formulations,
is 'the way' a motion picture storyline ends or re-solves itself.
As much as others have tried to finish a picture without one of the positive "re-solution formulations" (and still
be profitable), they have failed to profit and suffered miserable audience attendance. Unless producers or directors
incorporate the proper resolution (or unless they specifically incorporate other positive components to compensate
for the reductions), they will always fail their audience's box-office expectations in the future. And while it may
seem obvious to most people ... it is amazing how many new scripts will make an effort to avoid using them.
Below is a table of the vitally important "resolution formulation" endings for the most profitable films.
Examples of the 'Redemption, Reclamation, Restoration or Reunion'
CFI Component Formulation Resolutions
of the Top Grossing Films
distributed in North America (adjusted for ticket inflation) as of 9/21/03
|
No.
|
Title
|
Adjusted Gross
|
Re-Solutions
|
Subject or Object
|
|
1
|
Gone With the Wind
|
$1,268,839,894
|
Reclamation
|
Tara Plantation
|
|
2
|
Star Wars
|
$1,118,591,056
|
Redemption
|
Han Greed/Luke Faith
|
|
3
|
The Sound of Music
|
$894,368,562
|
Reunion
|
The Kids and the Capt
|
|
4
|
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
|
$890,845,225
|
Restoration
|
E.T. Go Hoooome
|
|
5
|
The Ten Commandments
|
$822,680,000
|
Reclamation
|
Promised Land
|
|
6
|
Titanic
|
$811,387,059
|
Restoration
|
Rose’s Memory
|
|
7
|
Jaws
|
$804,334,978
|
Reclamation
|
Public Safety
|
|
8
|
Doctor Zhivago
|
$779,570,661
|
Reunion
|
Tonyas effect on Dr.
|
|
9
|
The Exorcist
|
$694,371,245
|
Restoration
|
Regan’s Body
|
|
10
|
Snow White & 7 Dwarfs
|
$684,520,000
|
Reunion
|
Snow, Dwarfs, Prince
|
|
11
|
101 Dalmatians
|
$627,480,336
|
Reclamation
|
DeVille to Jail
|
|
12
|
The Empire Strikes Back
|
$616,100,238
|
Reclamation
|
Luke’s Father
|
|
13
|
Ben-Hur
|
$615,440,000
|
Reunion
|
Leeper Ladies
|
|
14
|
Return of the Jedi
|
$590,693,096
|
Redemption
|
Father Saves Son
|
|
15
|
The Sting
|
$559,817,141
|
Restoration
|
Money is Safe
|
|
16
|
Raiders of the Lost Ark
|
$553,530,850
|
Reclamation
|
Ark Storage
|
|
17
|
Jurassic Park
|
$541,639,303
|
Reunion
|
Dinner Isn’t Served
|
|
18
|
The Graduate
|
$537,388,351
|
Restored
|
Young Love
|
|
19
|
The Phantom Menace
|
$532,920,178
|
Restoration
|
Queen Rules
|
|
20
|
Fantasia
|
$521,513,044
|
Restoration
|
Stick Rules
|
|
21
|
The Godfather
|
$495,633,713
|
Reclamation
|
Mob Rules
|
|
22
|
Forrest Gump
|
$495,330,489
|
Reunion
|
Forrest Rules
|
|
23
|
Mary Poppins
|
$490,981,819
|
Redemption
|
Father Repents
|
|
24
|
The Lion King
|
$486,057,806
|
Reclamation
|
Son Rules
|
|
25
|
Grease
|
$483,068,607
|
Reunion
|
Tough Love
|
|
26
|
Thunderball
|
$469,744,000
|
Restoration
|
World is Safe again
|
|
27
|
The Jungle Book
|
$462,709,857
|
Reunion
|
Mowgli & Civilization
|
|
28
|
Sleeping Beauty
|
$456,405,632
|
Restoration
|
Princess Awakes
|
|
29
|
Ghostbusters
|
$444,236,844
|
Redemption
|
NY Be Nicer Now
|
|
30
|
Butch Cassidy Sundance Kid
|
$443,103,326
|
Redemption
|
Shot for their Sins
|
|
31
|
Bambi
|
$442,168,562
|
Reunion
|
Thumper & Bambi
|
|
32
|
Independence Day
|
$439,986,939
|
Reclaimed
|
Aliens Lose
|
|
33
|
Love Story
|
$439,588,349
|
Reunion
|
Father & Son
|
|
34
|
Beverly Hills Cop
|
$438,778,513
|
Restoration
|
BH Safe Again
|
|
35
|
Spider-Man
|
$433,380,519
|
Restoration
|
City is Goblin Safe
|
|
36
|
Home Alone
|
$424,250,733
|
Reunion
|
Mom’s & Grampa
|
|
37
|
Pinocchio
|
$423,292,934
|
Reunion
|
Dad’s Home
|
|
38
|
Cleopatra
|
$421,912,144
|
Restoration
|
Rome is safe
|
|
39
|
Goldfinger
|
$416,364,000
|
Restoration
|
World is Safe
|
|
40
|
Airport
|
$415,178,861
|
Restoration
|
Flying is Safe
|
|
41
|
American Graffiti
|
$412,685,714
|
Redemption
|
Last Night Fights
|
|
42
|
The Robe
|
$411,054,546
|
Restoration
|
Church is Safe
|
|
43
|
Around the World in 80 Days
|
$405,784,615
|
Reunion
|
Crew is Safe
|
|
44
|
Blazing Saddles
|
$397,068,785
|
Reclamation
|
Town is Safe
|
|
45
|
Batman
|
$395,355,001
|
Redemption
|
Wayne’s Revenge
|
|
46
|
The Bells of St. Mary's
|
$394,039,216
|
Reunion
|
Boy is back
|
|
47
|
The Towering Inferno
|
$385,439,154
|
Reunion
|
Lovers are Safe
|
|
48
|
Animal House
|
$380,020,513
|
Reclamation
|
Frat is Safe
|
|
49
|
The Greatest Show on Earth
|
$376,800,000
|
Restoration
|
Circus is Back
|
|
50
|
My Fair Lady
|
$376,800,000
|
Reunion
|
Lovers are safe
|
* All incomes adjusted for inflation to the average estimated 2003 ticket price of $6.28.
|