While "Watchmen" had a lot going against it, the film still managed to have the second-largest March opening ever, behind only "300," also directed by Zack Snyder.
Even though the length of the film was two hours and 43 minutes, had a hard R rating for nudity, sexuality, violence and language; included a somewhat mixed critical response, and didn't star well-known actors, "Watchmen" was able to garner about $56 million in sales.
The film, which was based on an Alan Moore graphic novel, definitely catered to its fan base, and they rewarded the producers and everyone involved with the project by coming out to see it.
Numbers for the film were a little less than expected, but that can be understood some by the length of the movie, which cuts back on how many showings it can have.
Now I want to see the merchandising strategy in relationship to the films’ characters, as the types of fans it draws will have a strong core base to work from.
Recession-Defying Film Fans
"Watchmen" Storms the Box Office With $56MM Opening Weekend
Trend Themes
1. Fan-based Marketing - Opportunity to leverage dedicated fan base to drive sales and merchandise revenue.
2. Non-traditional Casting - Explore casting lesser-known actors to attract niche audiences and create buzz.
3. Long-form Content - Potential for success with longer films that cater to specific fan bases.
Industry Implications
1. Film Production - Opportunity to capitalize on fan-based marketing strategies and non-traditional casting to boost box office revenues.
2. Merchandising - Chance to develop innovative merchandise strategies that align with dedicated fan bases.
3. Graphic Novels - Potential for graphic novel publishers to collaborate on film adaptations and drive audience engagement.