It drew 160,000, a record to date. The 1995 International, sponsored by PNC, attracted 103,000 visitors. Though the International is one of the world's most prestigious and enduring exhibits of modern art, modern art is a tough sell. Blockbusters are rarely critics' or scholars' darlings. Though they usually include an educational component, they do not dwell on esoteric principles nor startle academics with revelations.
Blockbusters are cash cows.
In the typical equation, ticket sales are matched by the gift shop revenue. In 1996, there were 14 blockbuster shows at U.S. museums. That figure climbed to 18 in 1997, to 21 in 1998 and soared to 31 in 1999, the most recent year for which data is available. While that is just over half Los Angeles' box office, consider that the Met had five shows among the top 10 blockbusters of 1999. The Carnegie's biggest draw was a 1988 touring exhibit of robotic dinosaurs.