Each summer weekend is punctuated with the release of the latest blockbuster, and the release of each box office buster is usually greeted, in turn, with a spot among Twitter's trending topics. The rise of the microblogging network has made it possible for audiences to share their opinions immediately after -- or even during -- a film screening, which in turn has put Hollywood into a bit of a bind.
Ticket revenues for new films have dropped 51 percent from a film's opening weekend to its second week, according to a Reuters report, and some are attributing this to the "Twitter effect" and the speed at which word of mouth, both good and bad, can spread via the internet.
For example, Universal Pictures' "Bruno" sold $14.4 million worth of tickets the day it opened, but sales fell 39 percent to just $8.8 million the next day, which some blamed on negative buzz on Twitter.
With the current economic turmoil, several studios have abandoned the flashy big-budget websites of years past. However, some are working to help spread positive word of mouth about their pictures. For example, Sony Pictures has launched Twitter accounts for its films "District 9," "Julie & Julia," and "The Ugly Truth."
