A $49 woman’s makeup kit from the movie “Priscilla” allows fans to wear their own “winged eye” look made famous by the wife of Elvis Presley. This film-licensed cosmetics merchandise is making a publicity splash. The publicity is the viral type as fans go online with tutorials and commentaries about the Priscilla x Half Magic cosmetic product and the source movie. There are … [Read more...] about ‘Priscilla’ Spawns Elvis-era Cosmetics
‘Freddy’s’ Boxoffice Pops Despite Peacock Streams
Horror film “Five Nights at Freddy’s” achieved amazing premiere boxoffice despite its simultaneous run on the Peacock video streaming service. Just a $20 million movie production, “Freddy’’s” posted a humongous $80 million domestically (U.S. and Canada) for Universal Pictures for the Oct. 27-29 weekend while streaming concurrently on Peacock. Both Universal and Peacock are … [Read more...] about ‘Freddy’s’ Boxoffice Pops Despite Peacock Streams
Striking Actors Angle for Publicity
Hollywood’s actors strike prohibits overt publicity to support movies and TV shows, which hurts boxoffice and TV program launches that would otherwise get a lift from plugs by star talent. The New York Post detects that A-listers, hamstrung by union no-work mandates, are now angling to indirectly “stay in the public eye — and in the minds of Emmy and Oscar voters — through … [Read more...] about Striking Actors Angle for Publicity
Swift, Beyoncé Bounced From Oscars
The upcoming Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concert theatrical films shape up as cinema blockbusters, but neither is expected to be eligible for Oscar consideration under current Academy Awards rules, according to a Variety story. The problem is these are self-made films crossing a line into self-promotion, and not from independent documentarians. Both concert films fall into the … [Read more...] about Swift, Beyoncé Bounced From Oscars
Struggling Parks’ Hopes Ride With Horror
Halloween haunted-houses and rides that pop up in big theme parks take additional urgency after a soft summer season, resulting in more park adaptations of horror and suspense films for seasonal attractions. Universal Studios parks in Orlando and Los Angeles are particularly prolific with their autumn Universal Halloween Horror Nights franchise, and announced creation of a … [Read more...] about Struggling Parks’ Hopes Ride With Horror
‘Haunting in Venice’ Downplays Pedigree, Hypes Horror
“A Haunting in Venice” is based on an Agatha Christie mystery novel, but the theatrical film adaptation was marketed as a horror film, ignoring its best-selling author pedigree. What gives? It seems Walt Disney Studios decided that moviegoers are not moved by literary acclaim, but horror sells at the boxoffice. Christie, who died in 1976, did not get noticeably … [Read more...] about ‘Haunting in Venice’ Downplays Pedigree, Hypes Horror
Testing Prompts More ‘Nun II’ Gore
Warner Bros. Pictures amped up the gore in “The Nun II” after prerelease test screenings indicated audiences wanted more mayhem, in a departure from the first “Nun” flick, which emphasized suspense. The R-rated “Nun II” rolled up a healthy $32.6 million in domestic boxoffice Sept. 8-10 at 3,728 theaters. The horror genre-flick ranking No. 1 In weekend boxoffice and easily … [Read more...] about Testing Prompts More ‘Nun II’ Gore
Netflix Hot on Films, Warms to Big Screen
Netflix will offer 27 original films from September to December, reaffirming movies as a pillar of its programming, including what seems a growing number with minor theatrical windows before streaming. Some 11 of the 27 have a short exclusive cinema run ("in select theaters"), which is a growing phenomenon. The movies run the gamut with adult dramas, romantic fare, family … [Read more...] about Netflix Hot on Films, Warms to Big Screen
Netflix Film Gets ‘Nose’-ticed
The Netflix-produced movie about composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein is getting unexpected publicity because of star Bradley Cooper’s prominent prosthetic nose in its trailer. Cooper portrays the late Bernstein in “Maestro,” which is also the actor’s second time as a director. He also co-wrote the film. Critics snipe that the large nose is an antisemitic swipe since it's … [Read more...] about Netflix Film Gets ‘Nose’-ticed
Ken Makes ‘Barbie’ Sizzle
“Barbie” walked a marketing tightrope with Job No. 1 being to satisfy the core girl audience of the toy line while at the same time pushing different messages to adult demographics. To go wider, the breezy Ken character delivered dry humor, a police mug-shot photo of the Barbie character showed her being busted (Ken too), and other out-of-character self-parody was introduced … [Read more...] about Ken Makes ‘Barbie’ Sizzle