The Market for Motion Pictures in Thailand: Rank, Revenue, and Survival at the Box Office

Abstract

We examine the theatrical market for motion pictures in Thailand using a sample of films exhibited in 2004–2008. Using data on weekly and cumulative film revenues, we find strong evidence of increasing returns to information as indicated by substantial concave departures from the Pareto size distribution. The distribution of cumulative revenues across films is consistent with the winner-take-all nature of an elimination tournament. In contrast to other markets dominated by Hollywood imports, several of the top-earning films in Thailand are domestically produced.