The fan interpretation of the movie as literally that really colors my perception of the movie. I love Bukowski (with some trepidation), and I know that the dudebro interpretation is 180 degrees from the intended meaning, but when it’s that badly misinterpreted I can’t help but feel like the cultural baggage weighs it down. It’s been decades since I’ve seen it, but when I started becoming aware of the PUA culture ((which I think provided the nucleus to the incel/maga culture we see today), they were leaning hard into it.

Contrast that with American History X, which I’ve been told has been interpreted by skinhead/WP subcultures as a film that portrays them positively and justifies their POV. I don’t associate that movie with that interpretation because they’re a much more marginalized community (at least until 2016), and because the movie really beats you over the head with the message so much that misinterpretation cannot be attributed to the film.

I think this comment sums up why a lot of studios don’t avoid spoiling major plot points in trailers. It’s very easy to advertise a movie as something it isn’t (or just the opening third), and miss the core audience that will actually leave good reviews on it, convincing others to go.

A movie that did a great job of getting across what it was in the trailer, but still throwing a massive curveball, was Barbarian, which I really appreciate it for. Almost every plot point was subversive, though partially because it was such a strange film.

No one knows what The Matrix is... You must experience it for yourself.

Right. All I remember from the marketing material, even the bespoke website, was an image of a Sentinel. Seeing that was enough for me to avoid all reviews, but I did visit that website a few more times and still had no idea what the movie was about. Saw it opening night. Actually I was a bit disappointed by the premise, seemed very derivative. Still a great movie tho.

Ugh I'm glad we're part this part of history, when every film and tv show started this same trend for a time.

Do you want Ancient Aliens? Cause this is how you get Ancient Aliens

People played along like it was real found footage but grown adults understood it was a movie. It was fun to pretend it was real. They didn’t do traditional press to help preserve the idea…it wouldn’t have been as fun if the actors were on the tonight show etc.

I read articles about it before going to the theatre, a major studio picked it up as a tiny indie film and didn’t change a lot but they did throw some budget at some sound production that amped it up. The scene in the tents where you hear shit all around them? In surround sound it’s fantastic. The studio added that.

Just rewatched the offical trailer, and you're totally right! All you really know is that Deadpool is trying to protect some kid and forms the xforce. It doesn't spoil anything with why Cabal is there, any other villain's that show up, or the character arc of the kid.

Great example!

Absolutely The Matrix. None of us knew what it was about when we went to see it opening weekend. I thought it was going to be about aliens. Boy was my mind blown.

"You put your father's skull in a bowling ball?"

"Oh! No, no, no... guy at the Pro-Shop did it for me."

"God gave me this gift, I shovel well, I shovel very well."

I remember seeing it in theaters and really not knowing what to do with it.

That movie was so nuts, they could have shown a lot more and still given nothing away…

The OG!

"In space no one can hear you scream"

Rewatched the trailer, literally all you know is that they are in space, and there is something terribly wrong.

Such a good trailer.

One of my minor cinema regrets is that I saw T2 before I saw T1, so the impact of the moment Arnie steps out of the elevator in front of Sarah wasn't what it might have been. Still a great movie though, so glad I saw it in the cinema.

Really? I think you might have lucked out and seen a different trailer, because the one I saw completely spoiled the big reveal!

I about spit up my drink going through that trailer.

So for Gary Oldman is this role tge equivalent of like Kirk Lazarus playing Lincoln Osiris? Or Tugg Speedman playing Simple Jack? Because I just can't decide.

Out of curiosity, What's the twist in frozen?

They did pretty well with Inside Out as well. Bing Bong wasn't even in any of the promotional materials at all.

Infinity war comes to mind for me. IIRC, the trailers contained a bunch of fake footage that wasn't actually in the movie to prevent spoiling anything.