When does a movie stop making money?

[Peerzy]

Companies usually make DVD's in batch and make say 2 Million copies, they then sell them to shops and retailers, ofcourse the bigger the film the more the shops will buy so they makers get there money then and it's not based on shop sales. If you buy an old DVD (not old movie) chances are it's old stock and the makers have already made a profit on it years ago. Only if the DVD has sold well will companies decide to reprint or as is the norm these days reissue in a new packaging with some shyte feature and call it a limited special collectors edition.

[Busyman]

when does it stop making money? after dvd sales? does a 1950's movie still make money? maybe they never stop? and if it does still make money 50 years later who makes the money? director? actors? everyone involved?

I think it makes money until it becomes public domain. Not of the time.