THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GMA AND ABS-CBN

WHEN it comes to the boob tube, GMA-7 seems to know more about the right formula in enticing masa viewers so they lord it in the ratings. But when it comes to the big screen, ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema is obviously more astute in choosing the right projects that will hit it big at the box office. This is evident in the box-office chart of top earning films in 2008 as registered in Box Office Mojo.

The number one post is held by Star Cinema’s “A Very Special Love” starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo, earning P180 million. Next is Star Cinema’s “Caregiver” with Sharon Cuneta earning P140 million, followed by Star Cinema’s “For the First Time” starring Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion earning P133 million. In the fourth slot, GMA Films finally makes its presence felt with “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend” starring Richard and Marian Rivera earning P101 million. No. 5 is the Dolphy-Vic Sotto starrer, “Dobol Trobol” earning P90 million. Then it goes back to Star Cinema with “When Love Begins” starring Aga Muhlach and Anne Curtis earning P89.5 million.

Regal Entertainment gets the 7th slot with the horror flick “Maingat Ka sa Kulam” starring Judy Ann Santos earning P85.5. million. No. 8, 9 and 10 go to Star Cinema again with “My Only U” starring Vhong Navarro and Toni Gonzaga earning P78 million, “My Big Love” starring Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby with P70 million, and Vhong Navarro’s “Supahpapalicious” earning P67 million.”

As you can see, seven movies in the top 10 are all produced by Star Cinema: “Very Special Love,” “Caregiver,” “For the First Time,” “When Love Begins,” “My Only U,” “My Big Love” and “Supahpapalicious”.

Only four films went beyond P100 million: “Very Special Love,” “Caregiver,” “For the First Time” and “My Best Friend’s Girlfriend.” The last two films star Richard Gutierrez. It’s also obvious that the favorite film genre of local moviegoers is the romantic comedy. Only one serious drama made it to the list, “Caregiver.”

On the 11th position is GMA Films-Regal co-production, “One True Love,” starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera earning P62.5 million. Take note that Marian’s movie with Richard Gutierrez earned so much more than her movie with her perennial TV partner, Dingdong. The next two slots belong to Regal, with two comedies: “Manay Po 2: Overload” at no. 12 earning P30 million and “My Monster Mom,” at 12 earning P29.2 million.

But with the recently concluded Metro Manila filmfest, for sure, the listings will change since “Tanging Ina” has also hit the P100-million mark. Other top earners “Iskul Bukol,” “Shake Rattle & Roll X” and “Desperadas 2” have also surpassed the earnings of the movies in the list above. Still, it’s Star Cinema again who emerged topgrosser in the filmfest with its entry, “Tanging Ina.”

One showbiz observer says the reason why Star Cinema lords it over the rest is that they get a lot of free trailer plugs on the shows of ABS-CBN. This might be true. But more than that, it’s the product that speaks for itself and Star really knows how to whet the local viewers appetite. Now, if they could also transfer that kind of expertise to their TV shows.

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