Recent trailers for movie musicals have downplayed their musical elements, raising questions about the disconnect between studios and audiences.
In the age of streaming platforms and endless entertainment options, children often find themselves immersed in TV show phases, fixating on a particular series until they’ve watched every episode. For one writer, his daughters’ intense obsession with the French animated series Miraculous led them to eagerly anticipate the release of Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie. However, upon watching the film, they were surprised to discover that it was a full-blown musical, a fact that was not evident in the trailer. This raises the question: why are trailers for movie musicals hiding their true nature, and is there a disconnect between studios and audiences?
The Trailer Deception: A Common Trend
The writer highlights that Miraculous is not an isolated case. Many recent trailers for movie musicals have downplayed or completely omitted their musical elements. The trailers for Wonka, The Color Purple, Mean Girls, Disenchanted, and even Frozen II, all fail to showcase the singing and dancing that define these films. This trend raises concerns about the marketing strategies employed by studios and their understanding of audience preferences.
A Historical Perspective
To contrast the current trend, the writer looks back at classic movie musical trailers. The trailer for Singin’ in the Rain from the 1950s boldly proclaimed itself as “The Big, BIG Musical Show of the Year!” and showcased snippets of various musical numbers. Similarly, the trailers for Chicago (2002) and La La Land (2016) prominently featured the film’s musical elements, contributing to their commercial success. These examples highlight a stark contrast to the current approach of downplaying musical numbers in trailers.
A Disconnect Between Studios and Audiences
The writer speculates that studio executives may believe audiences no longer consider musical numbers to be a selling point for a movie. This assumption is puzzling, given the success of recent musical films like La La Land. The writer questions why studios continue to produce musicals if they are hesitant to market them as such. This disconnect between the people who make the movies and those who market them needs to be addressed to avoid setting up films for failure.
Conclusion:
The muted marketing of movie musicals in recent trailers raises questions about the disconnect between studios and audiences. While studios may believe that viewers no longer desire musical numbers, the success of films like La La Land contradicts this assumption. By downplaying the musical elements in trailers, studios run the risk of disappointing audience expectations and hindering the commercial success of their own films. It is time for studios to reevaluate their marketing strategies and embrace the true selling point of movie musicals: the music itself. Only then can they truly captivate and engage audiences, ensuring the success of this beloved genre.
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