The 'Best Picture' Is Rarely the Most Lucrative One.

Byline: Felix Richter

Peter Farrelly's "Green Book" emerged as the surprise winner at the 91st Oscars on Sunday night. The film, telling the story of world-class African-American pianist Don Shirley and his Italian-American driver Tony Vallelonga touring the Southern part of a deeply segregated 1962 America, won three major categories, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

Having earned $144 million at the global box office so far, "Green Book" was reasonably successful in commercial terms, especially considering its modest production budget of $23 million, but it was still worlds apart from the breathtaking numbers "traditional" blockbuster movies routinely pull...