DCEU Audience....who is it? And who should it be?

[writer0327]

I believe a great deal of the issues with these films is in the intended audience. I think one of the reasons the animated films and shows are so well done is because DC knows and understands exactly who they are making those shows for. But I don't think they have the same confidence who their target audience is for the films. So, in your opinion....

Who are they making these films for?

and...

Who should they be making these movies for?

General movie going people?
Hard core comic book fans?
Families? Kids?
Summer blockbuster crowd?
All of the above?

Personally, I have a feeling DC is choosing the last one. Thoughts?

 

[Flint Marko]

All of the above. With movies this big and expensive, they have no other choice.

 

[Victarion]

General and Summer, I think. For all the rumblings you'll hear about how WB went and tried to lighten up Suicide Squad, there's more than enough there that a few parents I know wouldn't want their kids seeing.

Them being so willing to go off kilter with some characters like Batman and Joker leads me to believe they're not entirely focused on the hardcore comic fans. Now, I'd consider myself something of a hardcore comic fan since I loved Ostrander's squad comics, as well as others outside of DC like Hellboy and Spawn. But I did like the idea of a Joker that's truly a champion of chaos, thought it deviates from the source material I've read - might save you from a greater evil like Waller, might take some innocent dude's loved ones hostage at knife point. That's why I'd say they're not targeting the hardcore comics crowed entirely (yet; Geoff might steer their ship more in that direction with his movies).

 

[Bats123]

I find all the "they make it just for the fans" claims absolutely ridiculous, movie studios dont think about just 10% of the audience (in this case, comic book readers) general audience, movie geeks, supehero geeks, kids, teens, adults, they all matter, and i think Marvel has found that sweet spot where everyone can enjoy it, and i dont think "watchmen-ing" Batman and Superman was the right decision, but they onviously panicked by the reaction to it that they quickly started brightning up Squad with SONGS, FLASHY TRANSITIONS, JOKES, MORE SONGS, ACTION, and in a way it clearly payed off since its making some bank (having no competition in August also helped) so maybe WB is learning from this and heading to the right direction, i for one am hoping WW is the one that manages to surprise everyone, im putting trust in Patty.

 

[Batmannerism]

Okay, respect to the OP, because it's a legit question. But the real answer is that good movies appeal to a very wide audience, not a specialized one or a niche. Back in 1978 Superman the movie appealed to just about everyone- a bit like The Dark Knight in 2008, or the Avengers in 2012.


Right now I feel like DC is making films for studio execs who think they know what the public wants....but don't have a clue.

If there was even a half-decent action flick out right now (lucky Jason Bourne was a dud) SS would have struggled, becaue it wasn't a good movie. It was gaudily dressed up crap ( not the massive disappointment of B v S, but for me it reminded me a bit of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, Secret of the ooze - well, okay that's a bit much, it wasn't quite that terrible).

Sure it was lightened up, but for me a lot of the humour fell flat - and Smith as Deadshot was either a phoned in performance or a complete miscasting.
Sad, because I think Smith could have turned up in a later DC film a John Stewart or any of a number of DC characters - of African-American heritage or not, and been really great. He needed to be a character with a sense of humour.

I mean, Jim Caviezel would have been a great Deadshot, why WB felt they had to rely on Will Smith, who hasn't had a credible action hit in nearly a decade (and a complete howler with After Earth).

Anyway, I'll finish where I started - good movies appeal to a very wide audience. Just make good movies, and DC will find its audience.

 

[chamber-music]

If your spending blockbuster budgets on these movies then they should be aimed at general audiences.

No one makes movies just for the fans because they want to appeal beyond just the fanbase.

I don't think the problem is that WB don't know who their audience is. I think the problem is that they don't believe in their characters and properties. I also think some of the people involved probably don't understand what the appeal is those characters and how to translate that over to wider audiences with movies.

 

[First Avenger]

You don't make "movies for fans" ruining Superman,Batman,Joker,Lex...

 

[Jochimus]

Right now I feel like DC is making films for studio execs who think they know what the public wants....but don't have a clue.

This, pretty much.

 

[The_Manhunter]

You don't make "movies for fans" ruining Superman,Batman,Joker,Lex...

Good, because that didn't happen. t:

 

[MadVillainy]

You don't make "movies for fans" ruining Superman,Batman,Joker,Lex...

S*** man you don't make a "movie for fans" and spend 200+ mill on it.

 

[LoganGambit87]

the biggest misconception is that darker movies cant get a worldwide audience appeal

Days Of Future Past and The Dark Knight trilogy are darker super hero movies and had no problem making huge bank and critical praise

 

[MadVillainy]

the biggest misconception is that darker movies cant get a worldwide audience appeal

Days Of Future Past and The Dark Knight trilogy are darker super hero movies and had no problem making huge bank and critical praise

Been saying that since the "critics have a bias against dark movies" nonsense showed up.
But people wont listen

 

[The Joker]

Good, because that didn't happen.

You'd have to be kidding yourself to think the DCEU versions of those characters are fan favorites and not controversial portrayals.

 

[Victarion]

I'd argue that Bats was improved (granted the only DC titles I'm sticking with atm are Deathstroke and Suicide Squad) from the source material. You're huffing something strong if you're going to claim these changes have made the characters' film adaptions in the DCEU fan favorites - but I'd say they're improved from the source material in the sense that I'm more likely to look into their comics based on what I've seen onscreen.

 

[Xrated48]

Good, because that didn't happen. t:

Yes it has

 

[Jason Kane]

Okay, respect to the OP, because it's a legit question. But the real answer is that good movies appeal to a very wide audience, not a specialized one or a niche. Back in 1978 Superman the movie appealed to just about everyone- a bit like The Dark Knight in 2008, or the Avengers in 2012.

With the first two Cavill outings, th niche is pander to people who are better off findinf a different interest than feel a 78 year old character should be a mopey sad sack of an alien just because they claim they want it when there's mutiple expys that are around to give them that (hi, Hyperion and Irredeemable)

Right now I feel like DC is making films for studio execs who think they know what the public wants....but don't have a clue.

Not so much as right now but in various occasions pre-Nolan as well. Its worse now because they and the folks far as DC's editorial keep fixing and erased what never sucked/broken.

Sure it was lightened up, but for me a lot of the humour fell flat - and Smith as Deadshot was either a phoned in performance or a complete miscasting.
Sad, because I think Smith could have turned up in a later DC film a John Stewart or any of a number of DC characters - of African-American heritage or not, and been really great. He needed to be a character with a sense of humour.

I mean, Jim Caviezel would have been a great Deadshot, why WB felt they had to rely on Will Smith, who hasn't had a credible action hit in nearly a decade (and a complete howler with After Earth).

Anyway, I'll finish where I started - good movies appeal to a very wide audience. Just make good movies, and DC will find its audience.

One would think the WB would've learned from the Wild Wild West fiasco regarding banking on Will but NOPE! But yeah, its a complete misxast for me; one along with jada on Gotham bringing forth the neverending stupid "Jaden as Static" memes and clickbait articles that are now dead thanks to the Black Lightning news.

Adding insult to injury is the six week script that turned a one of DC'S finest assassins into just another Smith character really hard the character more nevermind the discount version from Arrow.

 

[Jason Kane]

S*** man you don't make a "movie for fan" and spend 200+ mill on it.

More like movie for *****bags with Snyder's mindset

 

[First Avenger]

Good, because that didn't happen. t:

Eh,denial doesn't mean it didn't happen.

 

[Victarion]

*****ebags is kinda strong isn't it? I get that Snyder's tastes aren't popular in the fandom, but name-calling's uncalled for.

 

[MadVillainy]

*****ebags is kinda strong isn't it? I get that Snyder's tastes aren't popular in the fandom, but name-calling's uncalled for.

Agreed

 

[Jason Kane]

*****ebags is kinda strong isn't it? I get that Snyder's tastes aren't popular in the fandom, but name-calling's uncalled for.

Strong but accurate

 

[BlackMask]

It basically needs to be to as many people as possible.

 

[flickchick85]

Strong but accurate

No. You do not get to put down an entire population of fans (MANY of whom are your fellow posters) like that. Consider the infraction you just received a warning. Next time you'll be taking a leave of absence.

And just as a reminder to everyone else: like BvS, or don't like BvS, but DO NOT make derogatory generalizations about the fans who feel the opposite of you.

 

[Lantern Venom]

The DCEU definitely isn't for very young kids, but that's why shows like DC Super Hero Girls and Teen Titans Go exist.

 

[metaphysician]

The audience they *should* be making movies for is "everyone", since that's the audience any blockbuster needs to draw. Sadly, Snyder seems to largely be making movies for himself, which results in movies that appeal to the "90s grim and gritty spikes-and-blood" iron age fanbase. Not that you can't make a good movie out of such material ( Deadpool: "Hey guys!" ), but Batman and especially Superman really shouldn't be that. End result is, to quote a cliche, Superman movies for people who don't like Superman.