Film Marketing Reviews: The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Collection
Explore more marketing ingenuity and truly engaging tactics in another collection of film marketing reviews!
From the epic journeys of ‘Lord of the Rings’ to the mind-bending twists of ‘Tenet’ and the timeless adventures in ‘Harry Potter’, the futuristic landscapes of ‘Blade Runner 2049’, the post-apocalyptic chaos of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and the enigmatic realms of ‘The Matrix’ – we’re diving deep into the marketing strategies of these cinematic wonders!
Select your favourite movie from the list below and join us on this incredible ride as we dissect the marketing magic behind these iconic films! ✨🎬
Lord Of The Rings:
Some 20 years later, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy remains a captivating lesson in filmmaking as well as film marketing.
In this discussion recorded for the launch of ‘Two Geeks And A Marketing Podcast’, Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards reflect on how Peter Jackson used early vlogging and other marketing techniques to woo three different target audiences.
>Check out the Spotlight article about the marketing of The Lord Of The Rings here
Tenet:
At the time heralded as the movie that will get audiences back to the theatres, Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards review the marketing of the time travel film ‘Tenet’ released in the Summer of 2020 in the middle of a global pandemic.
It is fascinating to look back and ask the question: how did audiences respond?
> Check out the Spotlight article about the marketing of Tenet here
Flash Gordon:
Join us to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the iconic movie Flash Gordon as well as the release of the 4K Blu-Ray 5 Discs Box set, in this extract from ‘Two Geeks And A Marketing Podcast’.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards talk about their favourite moments, the sometimes wacky set design, the songs from Queen and the challenge of marketing to a global audience a movie that is quintessentially British!
> Check out the Spotlight article about the marketing of Flash Gordon here
The Martian:
We explore the making and marketing of ‘The Martian’ directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon with an incredible ensemble cast.
Highlights include attention grabbing PR tactics in collaboration with NASA, a VR experience and an immersive pre-launch marketing phase which included video logs created by each actor – completely in character!
The Mandalorian:
We return to the Star Wars universe to reflect on the UK launch of ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 1 on Disney+ in Spring 2020.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards ask whether a TV series is succeeding where the third trilogy failed, to re-engage the original fans whilst appealing to new audiences.
Mad Max: Fury Road:
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards have great fun talking about the making and marketing of the sequel we never knew we needed!
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ has a fascinating development history dated back to 1997 and the marketing campaign is just as intriguing, from impactful teasers to PR stunts such as a drive-in screening, dusty car-wash competition and Warboys surprise concerts, it is all a bit mad!
Blade Runner 2049:
This sequel to the 1982 Sci-Fi classic was directed by Denis Villeneuve and released in 2017. ‘Blade Runner 2049’ is just as visually stunning as the first movie (set in 2019) and some of the marketing assets are outstanding and simple.
But does the film live up to the hype? Is it a worthy sequel? Has too much time passed between the two films?
The Matrix:
This film was quite simply a cinematic triumph in 1999 as the world entered the new Millennium.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards reflect back on their experience of seeing ‘The Matrix’ for the first time, the incredible cinematography, the unforgettable slow motion fight sequences, the outfits and accessories, and the great quotes.
Don’t worry we do find time to talk about the marketing campaign built upon the central question: What Is The Matrix?
Blade:
Was this really the first Marvel movie? 10 years before Iron Man and 20 years before Black Panther?
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards recount the making and marketing of this thrill a minute film. Released in 1998 ‘Blade’ is an exhilarating mix of vampires, science fiction and martial arts starring Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Dorff, N’Bushe Wright and a horde blood sucking immortals.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
This is a trip down memory lane for Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards as they explore the marketing of the ninth version of ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ based on the book series by Douglas Adams.
From screen releases to DVD boxsets, we look at the extended universe created by the producers and fans alike including an award winning trailer, audio guides on iTunes, official website, soundtrack, exclusive gift sets, and so much more!
The Tomorrow War:
This is a great addition to the time-travel sub-genre, a stunning alien invasion summer action movie released straight onto Amazon Prime in 2021.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards investigate whether the claim made by by Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke became a reality: “The Tomorrow War will be a global event that will surprise and delight our customers around the world”.
Matrix 4 – Resurrections:
In a first for Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards, they talk about a film that was yet to be released and before the marketing campaign had even started.
The official trailer dropped the day before we recorded this episode, and we discuss the contents of the trailer and our expectations of the film.
It is fascinating to look back now and reflect on our own views and predictions.
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone:
Let’s celebrate #20YearsOfMovieMagic by reviewing the first Harry Potter film and take a close look at the marketing campaign which successfully used scarcity (partially due to the need to protect the young actors) to increase interest in the movie.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards originally recorded this conversation for episode 61 of ‘Two Geeks And A Marketing Podcast’.
Minority Report:
“Everybody Runs”
What an absolutely captivating movie – now over 20 years old – this is a masterclass in near-future storytelling by director Steven Spielberg.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards discuss the making of “Minority Report’ and the marketing techniques used to entice a worldwide audience, and how many of the film’s predictions have come true?
Rings Of Power (Part 1):
“A grand journey is defined by its travelers.”
Amazon bought the television rights for The Lord of the Rings for US$250 million in November 2017, making a five-season production commitment worth at least US$1 billion – the most expensive television series ever made.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards study the first six months of the extensive, worldwide marketing campaign for ‘Lord Of The Rings: Rings Of Power’ from teaser images to enigmatic social media posts, trailers and the amazing series of character posters.
Could this be the best teaser campaign ever?
> Check out the Follow Along article about the marketing of Rings Of Power (Part 1) here
Passengers:
“There is a reason they woke up.”
This 2016 sci-fi and psychological thriller directer by Morten Tyldum and starring Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt and Michael Sheen is a spectacular looking film with incredible design and a thought provoking storyline led by two popular bankable stars.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards look at the marketing and influencer campaign, discover hidden messages in the posters and trailers, and ask whether comments that the promotion was misleading are justified.
The Fifth Element:
In this extract from ‘Two Geeks And A Marketing Podcast’ we celebrate the 25th anniversary of ‘The Fifth Element’ directed by Luc Besson.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards share stories about the making and the marketing campaign for this 1997 blockbuster that continues to charm audiences worldwide with its unique of blend comedy, French design and homage to Blade Runner, Metropolis and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Prometheus:
“The search for our beginning could lead to our end.”
This is what sci-fi movies are meant to be! We’re transported into a completely different world, the captivating storyline, the costume designers, the sets and vehicles, the creature effects, the soundscape and that amazing soundtrack!
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards report back on the incredible promotional campaign incorporating all elements of the marketing mix which created an interactive universe well before “Metaverse” became a common buzzword.
Rings Of Power (Part 2):
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards continue their extensive study of the marketing campaign for the most anticipated (and expensive) TV series.
In part 1, we looked at the many elements of the brilliant teaser campaign and we are now discussing how the producers and marketers kept building the anticipation, dealt with naysayers and engaged with the fan base.
In Time:
“His crime wasn’t stealing time. He was giving it away.”
This great sci-fi thriller by Andrew Niccol and starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy is often over-looked, and wrongly so.
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards take an in-depth look at two versions of the trailer for this time twisting film and wonder whether the original trailer may have left audiences confused and underwhelmed?
Dungeons & Dragons (2023):
Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards cannot quite believe their luck, they get to talk about role-playing games, fantasy stories and film marketing at the same time!
We plunge and delve into the immersive marketing campaign of ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves’ the long awaited fantasy epic with an interesting challenge: there are two audiences.
Can the marketing campaign (and indeed the film) appeal to both he D&D gamers and the general public?
Roll for initiative and let’s find out in this extract from ‘Two Geeks And A Marketing Podcast’.
To be continued…
Thank you for spending some time listening, watching and exploring this Film Marketing Reviews Collection with Pascal Fintoni and Roger Edwards. Feel free to send us your movie suggestions and favourite film marketing tactics from the sci-fi and fantasy genres.
Until the next time, continue to make your film marketing campaign better and faster.
Additional Credits:
Photo of silver and blue robot by Maximilian Kafanke via Unsplash
Photo of the One Ring of power by Eeli Purola via Adobe Stock
And Finally…
The opinions expressed are the authors’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the filmmakers, distributors, marketers, cast and crew mentioned. Whilst we take every precaution to ensure that facts are correct, errors and omissions may occur and the authors assume no responsibility or liability. For a full version of our disclaimer notice including ‘Fair Use’ please click here.
