MOVIE CRITICS HAVE NO IMPACT ON BOX OFFICE

MOVIE CRITICS HAVE NO IMPACT ON BOX OFFICE

AUBURNDALE, Mass. (Wireless Flash) -- The future may not be too bright for movie critics according to a new study which claims critics have little or no impact on a film's success. According to Copernicus Research, the critics' favorites tend to be box office bombs. For example, out of the 10 best-reviewed films of 1999, only "American Beauty" and "Toy Story 2" made more than $28 million at the box office. By comparison, movies that were slammed by critics like "Wild, Wild West, Big Daddy" and "The Mummy" all racked up more than $100 million in receipts. The research also shows some film critics -- including Peter Travers of "Rolling Stone" and Janet Maslin of the "New York Times" -- actually have a reverse affect. When they recommend a film, viewers avoid it. When they hate a film, moviegoers flock to see it.