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individual opinion is one of many and is usually in the minority. If you dont "get" a trailer its because
A) you're not the target audience (most likely). Some folks ridiculed the SOUND OF FREEDOM materials but they were excellent for the target audience. Same thing with BARBIE. There were even posts on this board for it - "Who is gonna watch this crap?". You are not the audience for HOLDOVERS and that has nothing to do with how its audience likes it. It's also ok, you like what you like and the next person likes what they like. Thankfully, we are all different people.
B) you have a different opinion that most people (your LOTR example is a good one, you didn't like it but it clearly worked as the movie worked like gangbusters)
C) the distributor is targeting the wrong audience. This is uncommon but it happens a few times a year. (JENNIFER'S BODY is historically the most used example). Lionsgate is frequently a target for being bad at marketing but if you look at JOHN WICK or SAW or KNIVES OUT (very niche films that found a cross over audience) and its hard to really make that case
Studios have gotten really great at marketing to the average movie watcher as the types of movies that work for the average movie watcher has shrunk and niche distributors can focus on their small portion of the audience and they know what they want and the distributor knows them really well. Materials are tested up the wazoo with the target audience.
Most of the time when you hear someone say "the marketing was bad" its because they either werent the target audience or they have an agenda to push (Disney sucks, or its either too"woke" or not "inclusive" or "diverse"). A comment on these boards is "its not for the fans" but then you look at the exit polls and the fans all turned out and loved the film, it just wasn't enough to pull in a mainstream audience above the fans (SOLO and JUSTICE LEAGUE are really good examples of this and its not an accident their box office numbers are similar)
I think a fair criticism is that movie trailers have become too safe and you're just hitting the same notes over and over again because you know it works. Its not gonna work forever. I personally struggle with this when making trailers. I've got through versions of trailers that are really different and have always reverted back to whats safe.
Another criticism about trailers is "They showed everything in the trailer". Thats because that works. the more you show, the better you do. That doesnt mean you show all the best parts, it just means you need to tell audiences what the movie is and why they should see it and that means telling a lot of the story and showing the money shots. Marvel even started manufacturing stuff to put in trailers to give audiences money shots without spoiling that actual money shots. This is why.
Also, trailers are fast becoming less relevant. Artwork, synopsis and social materials are becoming the most important pieces along with direct audience feedback (reviews and ratings). 15/30 second spots are getting a lot more views these days and are becoming more valuable than the 2 minute movie trailer.
Sorry, my language was unclear. I meant who decides the content of the trailer. What scenes are in it. {nm} Dec 01, 11:12
there are companies that cut trailers (Trailer Park!). also assume they are working with the studio marketing depts {nm} Dec 01, 11:20
Holdovers trailer was specifically the Director, Alexander Payne's chosen one (he wanted it 70's era inspired). (more) Dec 01, 11:21
The people who liked the trailer saw the movie. It's Arthouse, not mainstream comedy. {nm} Dec 01, 11:04
Which mainstream movie did you like despite a poor trailer? {nm} Dec 01, 11:23
LOTR #1 Fellowship. The LOTR trilogy is among my all time favorites, but the trailer for #1 was awful. {nm} Dec 01, 11:52
the recent DUNGEONS & DRAGONS is a fine example of a good movie with an awful trailer {nm} Dec 01, 14:19
individual opinion is one of many and is usually in the minority. If you dont "get" a trailer its because Dec 01, 16:56
