[LA Times]
Studios aim to give older fan favorites like ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Titanic’ and ‘Top Gun’ a premium-ticket comeback as conversion to 3-D gains popularity.
… For studios, it’s easy to see why spending $10 million or so to render a beloved film in three dimensions holds appeal: There’s a built-in fan base. But there are risks too: As the number of 3-D films in theaters has ballooned, American audiences have become more selective about which ones they deem worth the premium ticket prices. …
Due to software improvements, 3-D conversions are becoming less expensive. Twelve months ago, the conversion of a two-hour film cost about $100,000 ar minute; now it’s closer to $25,000 a minute, according to Rob Hummel, president of Legend 3D, the company converting “Top Gun.” At a certain price point, it may prove difficult for Hollywood to resist reaching even further into its catalog. …
See the full story here: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-3d-rereleases-20110925,0,2063864.story