Commentary: Hollywood turnover

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But look at how the whole process has accelerated: In 1984,"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," the second film in thefranchise, spent 12 weeks in the top 10. Five years later, "IndianaJones and the Last Crusade" spent 10 weeks in the top 10. Today,eight weeks in the top 10 -- which generally requires that a movieis playing in at least 1,000 locations -- is a significantachievement.

By contrast, some of this summer's less successful movies had thetheatrical half-life of a June lightning bug; one or two weekendsand they fell off the radar. Mike Myers' "The Love Guru," whichopened in fourth place on June 20, spent just two weeks in the top10 and is limping out of theaters with just $31.4 million to itsname. M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening" opened far better -- onJune 12, it bowed in third place with $30.5 million -- but with a66% drop in its second weekend, it spent only three weeks in thetop 10 and is wrapping up its run with just more than $63 million.

The competition might be Darwinian, but this summer's moviesactually have shown more staying power than last summer's lineup.

Among 2008's May and June releases -- the jury's still out on"WALL-E" and "Wanted" -- there have been four other films to datethat hung on in the top 10 for six weeks: "Kung Fu Panda" and theleggy trio of romantic comedies "Made of Honor," "What Happens inVegas" and "Sex and the City."

Among last year's May and June openers, only "Knocked Up" lasted inthe top 10 for eight weeks. "Spider-Man 3" led off the summer witha seven-week top-10 run, while the two other May blockbusters --"Shrek the Third" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"-- enjoyed six weekends apiece in the top 10. Ultimately, one otherfilm, "Ocean's Thirteen," hit the six-week top 10 benchmark.

So while five May-June movies lasted in the top 10 for six weeks orlonger last year, at least six can claim that status so far in2008.

At the same time, the profligate 2007 release slate was full offlop sweat: Among wide releases, "Delta Force," "Bug" and "Hostel:Part II" spent just two weeks each in the lower rungs of the top10, while "Lucky You," "Gracie," "Nancy Drew," "I Know Who KilledMe" and "Who's Your Caddy" registered just one ill-fated week eachin the top 10.

Clearly, the studios have been more selective about the movies theyhave treated to wide releases this summer; with just a couple ofexceptions, those movies have prospered. Hollywood has gotten themessage: If you're going to compete in the summer movie sweepstakes-- amid ultrawide releases, massive opening weekends and a quickrush to judgment rule -- only the strong will survive.