A startup of well-connected cinema executives is beta testing a database to enable indie films to crack theatrical release. The Fithian Group is providing distribution services to navigate cinema, starting with R-rated romantic comedy “You, Me & Her” hitting screens later this month (movie poster above with key copyline "Don't Make It Weird"). The initiative aims to … [Read more...] about Database Navigates Cinemas for Indie Films
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Netflix Keeps Original Movies Flowing
Netflix’s large slate of original movies serves as a big marketing lever. The world’s leading streamer with more than 301 million subscribers globally (90 million in U.S./Canada) unveiled its slate of 39 original films for the remaining 11 months of this year. It’s a wide mix of big-budget glitz, medium-budget fare, feature-length documentaries and animation, many with big-name … [Read more...] about Netflix Keeps Original Movies Flowing
Classic Monsters Enjoy Film Revival
Remakes, sequels and re-imagings of classic monster movies dribble to cinema and TV screens, but that small but steady flow is now a torrent. Five sizable films are hitting cinema and TV screens. Universal Pictures premiered “Wolf Man” (marketing image above) in cinemas this weekend and Netflix has “Frankenstein” coming later this year from auteur Guillermo del Toro, among … [Read more...] about Classic Monsters Enjoy Film Revival
Arty-Film Website Letterboxd Blossoms
An influential social-media website for arthouse aficionados, Letterboxd, is hitting its stride, reaching 17 million active members with accounts at end of last year. “In 2024, those members wrote 96.4 million reviews, marked 701 million films watched, and made 6.8 million lists, a popular feature,” a Letterboxd press release says. Fans are scattered for upmarket films, … [Read more...] about Arty-Film Website Letterboxd Blossoms
F-Bombs, Family Films Save 2024 Cinema
R-rated, restricted-audience films and gooey all-family films propped up domestic cinema boxoffice in 2024. “Venturing into R-rated territory for the first time paid off in spades as Disney and Marvel’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ — the third installment in Ryan Reynold’s doozy-of-a comic-book-franchise became the top-grossing R-rated film of all time — while Pixar and … [Read more...] about F-Bombs, Family Films Save 2024 Cinema
Epic PR Clash ‘Ends With Us’
The public relations and legal battle also veered into movie marketing issues. According to Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman, the producer of the movie Wayfarer Studios “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film, to work alongside their own representative with Jonesworks employed by Stephanie Jones, due to the multiple … [Read more...] about Epic PR Clash ‘Ends With Us’
Website Anchors Indiana Jones Vid Game
A major video game built around the “Indiana Jones” movies aims to cash in as licensed merchandise and keep the film franchise alive in hearts of consumers. Video game “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” is from Bethesda MachineGames, which is owned by Xbox maker Microsoft. It's built on the film legacy of the five Indy Jones adventure motion pictures distributed by … [Read more...] about Website Anchors Indiana Jones Vid Game
New Films Exploit Expiring Copyrights
Multiple “Popeye” movies are sailing to cinema, TV and video-game screens as the property’s foundation copyright expires. Expect this to be a trend as intellectual property (IP) created during the early “talking pictures” days get aged out of legal protection. Independent film companies are promoting “Popeye the Slayer Man” and “Shiver Me Timbers” (a signature Popeye … [Read more...] about New Films Exploit Expiring Copyrights
Disney Star Ignites Political Storm
A Walt Disney Studios star imperils the marketplace reception of a reported $270 million film by taking a strong anti-Trump stand. It’s the worst nightmare of every film distributor, having the personal, off-camera conduct of talent ignite an extraneous controversy. “'May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” posted actress Rachel Zegler. … [Read more...] about Disney Star Ignites Political Storm
Hollywood Absorbs Election Marketing Tips
For Hollywood, lessons can be learned from the digital media strategy of the Donald Trump presidential campaign. That strategy is credited for powering his substantial election win, and it’s instructive to compare to the opposite approach of his opponent. “But while both campaigns worked overtime to court influencers, their strategies were divergent,” writes Taylor Lorenz in … [Read more...] about Hollywood Absorbs Election Marketing Tips