Instructive hits and misses at the box office

“BEN-HUR”

This month’s movie box-office grosses teach both industry people and viewers a thing or 10 about how this season’s film fortunes are panning out—and why.

For instance, when it was first announced that the hit film, “Ben-Hur,” last produced with Charlton Heston topbilling, would be remade, hopes were high that the 2016 version would similarly hit the spot with viewers.

Alas, the new screen epic has grossly underperformed, and won’t be able to recover most of its $100-million investment.

What went wrong? Some disappointed observers cite its deficient production values, weak storytelling, uncharistmatic portrayals—

and even its pivotal chariot race ostensibly fails to excite and involve.

Lesson learned: When you follow up on a celebrated blockbuster, make sure that you don’t just imitate, emulate and repeat, but have your own dynamic take on the dramatic material up for retelling.

On the other hand, “Don’t Breathe” cost only a fraction of “Ben-Hur’s” budget to bring to the screen, but it’s faring better.

The intimate thriller and chiller has been doing well at the box office and with reviewers, and has even ended up on top of weekly movie ratings.

What is spelling the big difference? Viewers are fascinated by its tale about a gang of young thieves setting out to rob a “defenseless” and blind old man—who turns out to be superior to them in every way possible!

The key twist is that the “victim” makes sure that their all-out confrontation takes place in the dark! That turns his liability into an asset, because he’s used to finding his way around his home without having to see where he is and where he’s going—and his “attackers” aren’t!

Rave reactions include capsule encomiums like “there isn’t a false scare,” “a home invasion story that is artfully terrifying,” “a breathless, visceral, nerve-wracking thrill ride”—

what more could the film’s suddenly prosperous makers want?

Other new movies that are doing well include “Suicide Squad,” which has racked up $207 million—and counting; “Sausage Party” with $88 million; “Bad Moms” with $102 million; “Pete’s Dragon” with $95 million, “Jason Bourne” with $155 million, and “The Secret Life of Pets” with $358 million.

The impressive figures indicate that full-length animated films are having a really good year, with “Pets,” “Sausage” and “Dragon” (shot in live action with animated sequences involving the dragon) flying high.

The most instructive production is “Sausage Party”—it’s one of the first “for adults” animated features with some racy dialogue and situations.

It was feared that it wouldn’t do well, but it’s proven naysayers and naywishers wrong. There is a market for “more mature” animated comedies, after all! Live and learn.