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The Similarity Network of Motion Pictures

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  • Yanhao Max Wei

    (Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

Abstract

Ideas are connected. New ideas are often seen as creative combinations of previous ideas. I study these connections in the context of motion pictures. A network of 4,445 movies is constructed to indicate which movies are similar. I first examine the properties of the network using descriptive and regression analysis; then I develop a model of network formation for counterfactual analysis. It is found that most movies imitate and evolve around a “core” of the more successful movies. In addition, imitation is both conventional and atypical: a new movie usually follows a stream of similar movies yet simultaneously combines atypical elements from movies outside this stream. This atypicality, if well balanced, has a positive effect on the individual movie’s box office. However, I find that, in the long run, atypical combination may lead to a worse collective box-office performance because of the way it changes the market structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanhao Max Wei, 2020. "The Similarity Network of Motion Pictures," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(4), pages 1647-1671, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:66:y:2020:i:4:p:1647-1671
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2018.3261
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