As someone who has followed BOM from its inception to its current state, perhaps it would be interesting to give my perspective on its history.

It all started as a couple of kids fresh out of college (based on their young tender age, Brandon was 25 at the time I think), had an orgasmic high while watching Austin Power, and thus came up with the name Boxofficemojo. Surprisingly, they succeeded, and BOM became a young, energetic, chic Boxoffice movie site. Then the competition started falling off the wayside, surpassing BOR, Boxoffice Prophet, LEE’s Movies to name but a few. At times, we even see a few posts by BOM’s admin taking shots at the other sites and their predictions, only to have the other sites shot back, for example: “Boxoffice Prophet and its people are intelligent and professional critics. Please refrain from posting about their prediction. Thanks.” (I guess they do spy on each other from time to time.)

With success comes greater ambition, and so BOM set their sight on higher and bigger entity, Rotten Tomatoes. And so, competition and sometimes adversity started between the two sites. But what do they do with these kids who made a home at their sites. We have often heard from BOM admin that they wanted people to talk more about movies. They want to cater to critics, Hollywood people, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous; not a bunch of kids and 30 years old with no life (BKB? ). So the admin set up tight rules and guidelines to keep these kids in check, and perhaps drive them away.

Then came the First Great Banning. A great deal of long-time and popular posters (Loki, BKB, Hito, Maverikk and a slew of other) were banned. The whole forum was in uproar, and many posters decided to go to an alternative site, DailySmile. The only problem is, that site’s admit have no clue as to what to do with his site, much less how to get there. Many posters came crawling back to BOM at times under different accounts. BOM seems to have won the first round.

Then came the Second Great Banning. The logic goes that if they came back the first time, they will do so again. But this is where the admin made their greatest miscalculation. BOM underestimate the Kids Factor—what they lack in intelligence, they more than make up on enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm, the forum became a dead weight. At the same time, many older posters—the one BOM coverted—left too because they were pissed off at the Iron-Fist tactics of the admin. Wrong me once, shame on you. Wrong me twice, shame on me.

Ironically, BOM started out when BOR when down and a great deal of poster came over to BOM. That’s how the BOM forum became as popular as it was. BOR’s forum never recovered from that exodus. It is said here that “those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it”.

This brings us to present day. BOM forum is in a sorry state, and their dream to go up against Rotten Tomatoes lies shattered in their very doorstep. The jury is still out on whether BOM’s forum can recover to its former glory, it ever. Only time and their mojo can tell…

*shakes head*


Congratulations, you're officially weird

You do know that getting rid of the forums won't be such a big deal for BOM, right? Especially since there isn't a lot of activity. The site keeps growing because more people are checking out the stats, which is all that matters.

And they keep exapnding it. The forums themselves aren't the threat.

You know what will really bring that site down?

Those idiotic, moronic, half-assed, brainless reviewers. Those reviews are among the worst written that I have ever come across. Each and every single one of the reviews here at KJ's are better. Dolcevita would kick those guys' asses from here to Alabama and back!


I really hope that someone like Variety or Hollywood Reporter would offer their box office service online, in a big way, as well as have forums. Those are the standard bearers in the industry, nothing beats Variety or its reputation.


Anyways, Apocalypse, better move on, eh? I don't know why you insist on lingering on BOM. You keep bringing things up here. Go post it over at BOM, it has more relevancy over there than here. I see little to no connection between KJ's and BOM. Sure a lot of the users were from there, but so what? Lots of people post in a lot of different messageboards, it makes no difference.

~X Out *insert Bill Murray avatar*

a) I will be forced to close this thread. Not because i have issues with bashing someone but more so, because we're a competing forum and hopefully soon, a competing site, no mood to spread ill will. I do not also think its attractive to have complete threads started and expect not to scare potential posters away.

b) BOM is doing great. The forum isnt but the site is. It had about 700 real posters on the site throughout its history. losing 700 users for BOM doesnt hurt the site much. At the end of the day, its what the main site offers that counts, not the forum, atleast for the longevity. What Box said is right. A downfall at BOM will be based upon its content, not how forum admins act.

c) BOM forums are dead right now but anyone who thinks that within a year, it might not jump start may be wrong. Sure, it'll take much longer to form an actual community but the movie sections should get going. We did hit them hard but not permamently ... nor do i wish the effects to be permament.

d) Go look at alexa ... i know its not acurate but its coverge is huge!!