2 ms·

I think what you're missing from Matt Damon was the expectation created around the DVD release - imagine you have a huge advertising push for the theatrical rel

I think what you're missing from Matt Damon was the expectation created around the DVD release - imagine you have a huge advertising push for the theatrical release, that isn't easily forgettable for those who watched and those who didn't for quite some time. And then months later there it was available for everyone to see at their homes (with yet another advertising push). Like he said, the DVD release was like another theatrical release. You could own the film, or rent it and watch it twice if you'd like to - this may sound odd, but it was almost like a ritual. At least for me, renting a movie on Fridays was a whole process. But it wasn't a chore, it was quite enjoyable. Sometimes frustrating because you were waiting for films for months before they were available... imagine as a kid wanting to watch some Diney or Pixar movie, it could be quite painfull after watching months of advertising for the movie, for toys and merchandising, for McDonalds Happy Meals toys, etc. Things had a different cadence, a different rhythm, and probably things were appreciated differently. Mind you I'm not saying "oh those were the days!", I'm saying it was different and apparently it was more profitable for movie makers. But for me sometimes browsing movies to watch on apps can become quite boring, there's something about the "i want this now, a lot of it, and fast" that I can't quite put my finger on it. Probably delayed gratification plays a role on this.

saurik 5y ago
FWIW, for me, I find the delayed gratification just tempers it: I will almost never be more excited to watch a movie than the day I hear about it... if I can't watch it right then 1) I will almost certainly forget to watch it without a reminder (so they will have to pay for their ad at least a second time) and 2) I will have time to let my brain decide "well it probably will suck" (and it almost certainly wouldn't need to be advertising to me this hard if it were actually good: I'd hear about it from the first wave of people who see everything if it were!).
- libertine 5y ago
  Well I was talking about a different time, where film distribution (literally) was still done by a lot of players, and movie theaters actually had several owners (before they closed down or got bought by big chains). A time when local theaters didn't have access to the movies for some months as well. With that said, the majority of people won't forget it, especially with the media budgets used for advertising - promos, appearances, going on the talk shows tours, PR to news/magazines/, etc that's all coming out of the promotion budget. You probably don't realize it but you get in contact with movie promotional material several times before it launches. Maybe you like just a particular set of movies, so the majority leave you little impression. I have movies that are completely oblivious to me, others that stick and leave me curious, but probably with so much content, noise and distraction it's normal to don't recall it all. In my youth I recall that The Matrix, LOTR, Kill Bill, Harry Potter, all left me with big anticipation to watch them, for months if not years.

saurik 5y ago

FWIW, for me, I find the delayed gratification just tempers it: I will almost never be more excited to watch a movie than the day I hear about it... if I can't watch it right then 1) I will almost certainly forget to watch it without a reminder (so they will have to pay for their ad at least a second time) and 2) I will have time to let my brain decide "well it probably will suck" (and it almost certainly wouldn't need to be advertising to me this hard if it were actually good: I'd hear about it from the first wave of people who see everything if it were!).

libertine 5y ago
Well I was talking about a different time, where film distribution (literally) was still done by a lot of players, and movie theaters actually had several owners (before they closed down or got bought by big chains). A time when local theaters didn't have access to the movies for some months as well. With that said, the majority of people won't forget it, especially with the media budgets used for advertising - promos, appearances, going on the talk shows tours, PR to news/magazines/, etc that's all coming out of the promotion budget. You probably don't realize it but you get in contact with movie promotional material several times before it launches. Maybe you like just a particular set of movies, so the majority leave you little impression. I have movies that are completely oblivious to me, others that stick and leave me curious, but probably with so much content, noise and distraction it's normal to don't recall it all. In my youth I recall that The Matrix, LOTR, Kill Bill, Harry Potter, all left me with big anticipation to watch them, for months if not years.