The Big Picture describes the Midas formula for a blockbuster movie:
The blockbusters are aimed at children and teenagers and are scripted according to ‘the Midas formula,’ the ingredients of which include ‘a child or adolescent protagonist,’ a ‘fairy-tale plot in which a weak or ineffectual youth is transformed into a powerful and purposeful hero,’ ‘bizarre-looking and eccentric supporting characters that are appropriate for toy and game licensing,’ a happy ending ‘with the hero prevailing over powerful villains and supernatural forces’ and ‘conventional or digital animation to artificially create action sequences, supernatural forces . . . and elaborate settings.’ In two words: ‘Harry Potter.’ In four: ‘Lord of the Rings.’