Why do fans gripe so much about product placement?

[Spider-Fan83]

^probably copyright issues, or if maybe the channel airing it is sponsored by a rival fast food chain

 

[Deck Rickard]

Product placement doesn’t bother me much except for some specific examples, like in the recent Ghostbusters remake when they order Papa John’s pizza. I’m sure there are a few people who prefer Papa John’s cardboard crust and latex cheese over the million or so superior local pizza joints in New York, but I certainly don’t want to watch a movie about them.

That said, what annoys me more in a movie is when they purposely avoid product placement to the point where it creates illogical scenarios. For example, I think we’ve all seen a movie where a guy walks up to a bar, and just says, “I’ll have a beer.” And then the bartender just gives him some random brew. In the real world, the bartender would actually reply, “Uh, okay... what kind of beer?”

Whenever I see dumb, lazy writing like that, it just takes me out of the movie. If you didn’t want to use a name brand, your character could just say something like, “I’ll have your best IPA” or whatever.

 

[scarlet-witch]

^That's what I can appreciate it when movies make up brands, like Red Apple cigarettes.