Family- and kids-oriented summer movie tie-in promotions with restaurants used to saturate media, but it appears there's a diminishing appetite for them. In a sign of the times, there's a short list of big promotions with major chains this summer. The Wendy’s restaurant chain is partnered with Universal Pictures’ “Minions & Monsters,” the July 1 animated film (image … [Read more...] about Films Starving for Restaurant Tie-ins
Horror Rebounds via Surprise Blockbusters
The revival of cinema boxoffice now includes the horror genre, after being mostly missing in action during the pandemic and its aftermath. Two unheralded scare flicks — “Obsession” and “Backrooms” — just blossomed into genuine blockbusters. Focus Features distributed “Obsession,” which rolled up $169 million in domestic boxoffice (U.S. and Canada) since its May 15 … [Read more...] about Horror Rebounds via Surprise Blockbusters
Warner Taps AI for Ticket Sales
Warner Bros. Pictures mounts a tie-in with artificial intelligence service ChatGPT promoting “Supergirl” that also enable moviegoers to directly buy cinema tickets (ChatGPT movie screen-grab above). Online ticketer Fandango is part of the promotion. A press release hails the marketing initiative as a “first-of-its-kind ticketing promotion.” AI is washing across film … [Read more...] about Warner Taps AI for Ticket Sales
Restaurants Supersize Movie Roles
Two movies headed to cinemas are connecting to restaurants in unconventional ways. “Toy Story 5” is planting some pop-up restaurants, which are purpose-built publicity vehicles, with Papa Johns Pizza (image of restaurant above). Also, the “Fast and Furious” franchise is being adapted to the themed restaurant at Universal Studio Hollywood Tour. Walt Disney Studios will … [Read more...] about Restaurants Supersize Movie Roles
Culture Wars Engulf ‘Odyssey’
Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan takes a thoroughly-modern approach to casting his next movie that is based on a classic ancient Greek tale, igniting a media firestorm from influencers, movie fans and critics. For his film "The Odyssey," Nolan selected black actress Lupita Nyong’o as famed historical character Helen of Troy, whom ancient text and history depict as … [Read more...] about Culture Wars Engulf ‘Odyssey’
Defining Cinema Audiences by Passions
Teen, young adult and middle-aged consumers increasingly embrace elements of popular cultural to define themselves, which prompts movie research to sometimes miss their preferences. A 37-page research analysis titled “Fandom in Focus: How Cinema Will Captivate Passionate Audiences in 2026” makes the case for needing a new yardstick to measure youth audiences. The report is … [Read more...] about Defining Cinema Audiences by Passions
Change up: Netflix Warms to Cinema
Video streamers are pumping up their theatrical slates, which is good for film supply to cinema. Amazon MGM Studios mapped out a dozen theatricals this year premiering in cinemas, in what gives it a major-studio-like profile. Now, colossus Netflix is putting one foot forward. The largest streamer with 325 million paid subscribers globally, Netflix upgraded sci-fi fantasy … [Read more...] about Change up: Netflix Warms to Cinema
‘Scary’ Film Marketing Mocks ‘Michael’
The new blockbuster Michael Jackson biography movie gets zinged by another movie with the marketing messaging that the late King of Pop is “Touching Fans Everywhere.” Oh, dear! The satirical comedy film “Scary Movie 6” hoists an eerie image that is unmistakably Jackson (poster image above) in its advertising that incorporates the “touching” phrase. That image and verbiage … [Read more...] about ‘Scary’ Film Marketing Mocks ‘Michael’
AI Resurrects Actor for Trailer
The late actor Val Kilmer is resurrected in a movie trailer via artificial intelligence technology, in a film marketing milestone. Kilmer, who died a year ago and is famous for his “Top Gun” roles, is re-created for independent-made western “As Deep as the Grave” (trailer screen grab with Kilmer above). “The footage includes Kilmer at various ages — at one point, he’s a … [Read more...] about AI Resurrects Actor for Trailer
Kids Demographic Revives Cinema
The kids demographic continues to carry cinema to prosperity. Children-oriented animated feature film “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” (image above) from Universal Pictures is the latest example, bagging a staggering $131 million in domestic boxoffice over the three-day Easter-holiday weekend (and $190 million for five days when including Wednesday and Thursday). Its ticket … [Read more...] about Kids Demographic Revives Cinema