Three Dimensions The New Standard in Kids Movies

By Germain Lussier on August 3rd, 2009

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Kids movies don’t need any help when it comes to getting butts in the seats. In 2009 alone “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Hannah Montana” “17 Again,” “Night at the Museum 2,” “Up,” “Harry Potter” and “G-Force” all opened at the top of the box office.
At first glance, it might not seem like those movies have anything in common. However, four of them opened with two versions – a regular one and a 3D one. That’s a trend which isn’t going away anytime soon. Before the end of 2009, at least six more movies aimed at kids will be released in 3D and in 2010, that number easily goes into the double digits.
For example, a lot of regular theaters will be showing Disney’s new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in November, but only a handful of them will be showing it in 3D. The same can be said for March’s live action remake of “Alice in Wonderland” and every new Pixar movie in the foreseeable future. Even old movies, such as “Beauty and the Beast,” are being re-released in 3D hoping to give audiences a new experience.

There are several factors that factor into this new 3D revolution. First is that it gets people into the theater. With 500 channels at home, 100 of them in high definition, 50 inch TVs an unlimited number of videos online and on demand, it’s harder and harder to get families to leave the house and pay for gas, snacks and tickets to see a movie. At the moment, good 3D is almost impossible to duplicate in the home (though they are working on that).
Second is that the filmmakers are loving it. Big name directors such as Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Tim Burton and others are all making their next films in 3D. It’s a new toy that they are loving playing with. Plus pirating the movie is impossible.
But what about the audiences? Are they buying into it?
In a recent kid-filled screening of “G-Force” in 3D at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CA, kids were literally screaming and jumping in their seats at the effect. When Jessie from “Toy Story 2″ (being released as part of a 3D only double feature in October) sticks her hands out of the screen in a trailer, the whole theater exploded.
Which in itself because 3D isn’t anything new. Most of the parents in the audience have seen 3D in the past, be it at old horror movies or in various other incarnations. But kids today aren’t used to it. Video games look incredible and everyone loves a good YouTube video, but neither can jump out and grab you.
With each and every film, 3D is going to look better and better. And as more people go to see the 3D versions of movies, more theaters will see the big numbers and buy the appropriate hardware to show 3D versions. The 3D industry only perpetuates itself
The real critics, however, will be kids. It seems like if people keep buying into the technology and the movies before more available, then kids will certainly beg their parents to take them to more and more 3D movies. How can they not? It’s the new, fun thing, and we all love that.