Paul Dergarabedian Watch: The $4 Billion Summer

Yesterday, the summer of 2007 made box-office history, passing the $4 billion mark to become the highest-grossing summer movie season of all time (thanks in no small part to the greatest film ever committed to celluloid, Superbad, which pulled in an estimated $18 million this past weekend). But what does this really mean?

For the story behind the story, we turn to Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracking firm Media by the Numbers, whose job it is every Sunday to look over the weekend’s grosses and say something insipid to a reporter. (Hey, it is too a job!) So, what brought people to movie theaters in record numbers? According to the Dergarabedianator, it was movies: “Whether it be sequels, originals, comedies, action movies or whatever, this particular mix of films brought audiences in a record-breaking way.�

Thanks, Paul. Again you’ve taught us nothing.

’Superbad’ Still No. 1 With $18 Million [AP]