Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What makes a movie successful at the box office?
- How do movie genres (e.g., superhero, romantic drama) affect a movie’s box office performance? Which genre do you think typically performs best? Why?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- consecutive /kuhn-SEK-yuh-tiv/
- globally /GLOW-buh-lee/
- accomplishment /uh-KOM-plish-muhnt /
- expectation /ek-spek-TEY-shuhn/
- profitable /PROF-i-tuh-buhl/
[adjective] – following one after another in a series without interruption
The team won three consecutive games, making them the champions.
[adverb] – in a way that affects or includes the whole world
The singer’s album was popular globally, with fans from many different countries.
[noun] – something that has been achieved successfully
Learning to ride a bike was a big accomplishment for the child.
[noun] – a belief that something will happen or be the case in the future
The students had high expectations for the school trip, hoping it would be fun.
[adjective] – producing a financial gain or profit
The small business became profitable after just one year.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively recently found great success at the box office with their new films. The husband’s superhero movie has dominated North American theaters for three consecutive weeks, grossing over $1 billion globally. This extraordinary accomplishment reflects the movie’s widespread appeal. Concurrently, the wife’s romantic drama, based on a bestselling novel, has surpassed initial expectations with a strong debut. The couple’s simultaneous releases have contributed to the romantic drama’s strong performance. In contrast, a high-budget film adaptation of a popular video game, despite its substantial investment and star-studded cast, failed to captivate audiences and received unfavorable reviews. It is anticipated to be one of the year’s least successful films.
The superhero film has set new box-office records, ranking among the highest-grossing films of the year worldwide, underscoring its immense popularity and financial success. The romantic drama, produced by the lead actor, is expected to be highly profitable due to its relatively low production costs and positive audience reception. In a related event, a horror film set in the German Alps, featuring well-known actors, had a modest start at the box office due to its limited release. Weekend ticket sales estimates have been released, with final figures expected soon.
The superhero film has set new box-office records, ranking among the highest-grossing films of the year worldwide, underscoring its immense popularity and financial success. The romantic drama, produced by the lead actor, is expected to be highly profitable due to its relatively low production costs and positive audience reception. In a related event, a horror film set in the German Alps, featuring well-known actors, had a modest start at the box office due to its limited release. Weekend ticket sales estimates have been released, with final figures expected soon.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What was the outcome of the superhero movie in North American theaters?
- How did the romantic drama perform compared to initial expectations?
- What was the key factor contributing to the romantic drama’s strong performance?
- Why did the high-budget film adaptation of a popular video game fail?
- Which film set new box-office records?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever watched a movie that was a huge success at the box office? If so, what did you think of it? If not, what movie would you like to see that had great box-office success?
- Did you ever see a movie that didn’t meet your expectations? If so, why did it disappoint you? If not, what kind of movie usually meets your expectations?
- Do you agree that a movie’s genre can impact its box-office success?
- How important do you think budget and casting are in determining a movie’s box office success? Can a movie still be successful with a smaller budget and lesser-known actors?
- In your opinion, what makes a movie profitable despite its low production costs? Could this approach be applied to other types of films?