Lucasfilm/Disney
At CES, Kodak turned heads (and wagged a few tongues) with they revealed their plan to introduce a line of Super 8 cameras. Fully supported by some of the top filmmakers working in the industry, it signified a confidence in the future of analog film. Which would seem to contradict the current train of thought: everything needs to be digital because digital is less expensive, more accessible, easier to distribute, screen, broadcast, etc. And to compound that thought, the quality of digital – what with 4K sensors and increasing stops of dynamic range – has caught up to film and may even surpass it.
Not so fast. A lot (and I mean a lot) of projects produced for theatrical and television release were shot on film during 2015 alone. In fact, some of the most popular movies of the year received the analog treatment. In fact, in fact… 3 of the top ten most fiscally successful were shot on film. So here is the top five of last year:
Lucasfilm/Disney
1. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Released only a few weeks ago, “The Force Awakens” has already broken most box office records. Shot with Panavision’s Panaflex Millennium XL2 and IMAX cameras on Kodak 35 and 65 mm negative film.
Universal Pictures
2. “Jurassic World”
Thought to have been breaking box office records until “The Force Awakens” surpassed it and then some, “Jurassic World” remains the second most successful movie of 2015 if not one of the most successful of all time. Shot with Arriflex 435, Panavision 65 HR, Millennium XL2 and Panaflex Platinum cameras (alright, apparently they snuck in the use of a Red Epic Dragon as well. Which is decidedly not digital). Film used: Kodak Vision3 35 mm and 65 mm.
Sony/MGM
3. “Spectre”
Bond. James Bond. The latest 007 adventure hit the bottom of the ten most successful movies of 2015. And marked a franchise return to being shot on analog (the last entry, “Skyfall” was the first and only James Bond flick to be shot digitally). Cameras: Arri Alexa 65, Arriflex 235 and 435 ES, Beaumont VistaVision and Panavision’s Panaflex Millenium XL2 (and, sigh, another film that snuck in the use of the Red Epic Dragon. Most likely for visual effects shots). Shot on Kodak Vision 35 mm film.
Paramount Pictures
4. “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation”
Tom Cruise’s bid to take over the world as the most endearing action star continued with this entry in the Mission Impossible series. Should you accept it, this movie was shot with the Arri Alexa 65, XT, XT M (alright. The XT series are digital cams. However, they were used for special effects shots), Arriflex 235 and 435 and Panavision Panaflex Lighweight and Millennium XL2 cameras. Film: Kodak Vision3 35 mm.
Universal Pictures
5. “Trainwreck”
The Amy Schumer starring, Judd Apatow directed comedy fell into the 27th spot of highest grossing films of 2015. And yet it’s one of the few adult comedies to have been met with both financial and critical success last year. Not bad for a movie that was not a part of franchise or did not feature a comic book or beloved series character. Or wasn’t a full length animated cartoon. Cameras: Arricam LT and ST. Film: Kodak Vision3 35 mm.
The Weinstein Company
Honorable Mention – “The Hateful Eight”
Although this was given a limited release at the very end of 2015, “The Hateful Eight” was ballyhooed on the premise that it was not only shot on film, it would be projected during a travelling roadshow in glorious 70 mm analog format. So a handful of cinemas across the United States had to be equipped with 70 mm projectors. All of the films listed thus far were projected digitally even though they were shot on film. And here comes director Quentin Tarantino to upend all of that. Cameras: Panavision 65 HR and Panaflex System 65 Studio. Film: Kodak Vision3 65 mm.
