Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Deceptive Trailers: Films Mislead Audiences, Hurt Success

2/27/2025

40 9

Summary

Story summary

Movie trailers can be deceiving, leaving audiences feeling let down. Films like "Crimson Peak," which was sold as a horror flick but leaned more towards romance, and "Monsters," that spotlighted human stories over the expected kaiju action, illustrate this issue. Accurate marketing is crucial for a film's success in today's cutthroat industry.

History

Historical Context

Movie trailers often mislead audiences, a trend seen since the early 2000s with films like "The Village," which marketed itself as horror but revealed a different narrative. This reflects a broader industry shift towards sensational marketing to attract viewers, paralleling the 1980s when misleading trailers for blockbusters like "Jaws" set unrealistic expectations, impacting audience satisfaction and box office performance.

1 of 2

Story summary

Movie trailers can be deceiving, leaving audiences feeling let down. Films like "Crimson Peak," which was sold as a horror flick but leaned more towards romance, and "Monsters," that spotlighted human stories over the expected kaiju action, illustrate this issue. Accurate marketing is crucial for a film's success in today's cutthroat industry.

1 / 2