Counterprogramming during Hollywood blockbusters

[terry78]

It's been ongoing for a while now, but usually during summer whenever a giant action vehicle is released, a chick flick(because that's what it normally is) is released the same day, to apparantly garner the audience of females and men that just don't seem to care for spectacle. It's a little on the nose to be honest, but it also seems to pander, basically saying that most chicks and a select few men just would rather see Cameron Diaz or McDreamy in a wacky romantic farce and wouldn't even think twice about seeing a giant summer blockbuster of their own accord. Devil Wears Prada did succeed with Superman Returns in 2006, and they are seeing success with it obviously. There's already talk about next year with Wolverine and the Hannah Montana snuff film(I mean, Disney Hannah Montana Movie) being released on the same day, and that there may be ample competiton for the ol' canucklehead. I know most of the females on here are moreso into the comic flicks than the rom-coms, but is this trend pretty much permanent, you feel?

 

[Mr. Credible]

well, not all women want to see iron man, or incredible hulk, etc...

movie studios feel they have a good audience with the women who drag their boyfriends to these movies instead of the "big summer blockbusters" they want to see, and generally, they're right.

having options on what type of movie people want to see is not a bad thing.

 

[BatSpider]

i.e. sex and the city

 

[tzarinna]

It's good to have options. I remember when I went to see Napoleon Dynamite, 'cause I'm a nerd lover, and they had bumped it to open another screen for a blockbuster.....I think it was Bad Boys II. The manager was all like "Why don't you go see that?" I was pissed and left. I wasn't in the mood for a loud obnoxious movie, I wanted geekiness.

 

[Catman]

The problem with this counter-programming thing is that most of those movies look bad. ATLEAST Devils Wears Prada was somewhat decent. But stuff like Made of Honor and When In Vegas... look horrible. I can't imagine any female watching those trailers and thinking they're good. It's like showing the trailer to a horrible looking action movie and thinking guys will automatically go see it. If they want to counter program they should ATLEAST release a GOOD counter program.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I think the reason the counter programming is so bad/cookie cutter, is they don't expect a big return, so they keep things cheap.

I really just don't understand why girls go to see these movies, it's all basically the same story just with different actors/actresses.

 

[Rac]

I had this horror image of Made of Honor beating Iron Man at the box office.
Why? People have had enough with sucky Marvel movies.
Hopefully they understand that Iron Man brings back the quality. It wasn't sucky at all like all the other latest Marvel flicks.

Good word of mouth, people! Spread the word!

 

[terry78]

I honestly can not take a man seriously that would do a rom-com centered around him. That Made of Honor thing, on the front, looks like it could be a flick dudes may want to see, because the star is a guy. The female co-stars don't even get top billing. If it was rated R and had a more Meeting Sarah Marshall vibe, then I couldn't pan it....as much.