What factors most influence what films you choose to see?

I thought this might be interesting (or maybe not), but we'll see. Basically, rank the following components based on how much they influence your desire to see a film.

1 = most influential
15 = least influential


Trailer
Director
Actors
Composer
Synopsis/Summary of Plot
Special Effects
Setting/Time period
Costumes
Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay
Awards Received
Critics' Reviews
Money made at the box office
Friends' recommendations
MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)
Genre

--------------------------

For me-

1. Actors
I have to admit that at a glance the first thing I take note of in a film is who's in it. I definitely have my favorite actors and have watched countless movies simply because they were in them.

2. Synopsis/Summary of Plot
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. If the premise looks interesting, I'll go see it.

3. Setting/Time Period
I'm a sucker for period pieces, historical epics, and the like, so a lot of times I'll watch a film just because it's set in another era.

4. Genre
I like a lot of genres (most genres, actually), but a lot of times I'll be in the mood for a certain type of genre of movie.

5. Trailer
Let's face it, trailers are how movies catch their potential audience's attention. I hate when trailers give away the entire movie, though. There have been times when I haven't watched a movie simply because I felt like I'd already seen it from watching the various trailers.

6. Director
I admit I'm not completely in the know about all the directors out there, but there are definitely certain names I recognize that influence whether (or many times not) I want to see a movie.

7. Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay
This one's a bit of a double-edged sword, especially when it comes to book adaptations. For the longest time I refused to watch The Fountainhead simply because I knew it would not even begin to compare to the novel.

8. Awards Received
I'm a sucker for all the awards shows (Golden Globes, Oscars, SAG...) so sometimes films nominated will pique my interest. I also know that the nominees and winners at these ceremonies aren't necessarily representative of the best movies or the movies I want to see.

9. Friends' recommendations
I tend to have pretty different tastes from my friends, but I'm always open to recommendations. Most of the time, though, I know what I want to see and so I see it.

10. Special Effects
So, older movies with not-so-great special effects certainly do not put me off to watching them, but impressive special effects are nice eye-candy, if nothing else.

11. Money made at the box office
I don't know. Sometimes I feel the need to see a movie simply so I know what everyone else is talking about. Not really a big deal, though.

12. Composer
I listen to a ton of movie scores, but honestly the composer doesn't really affect what movies I see. In fact, I have a lot of scores to movies I've never even seen.

13. Critics' Reviews
I'm a huge Roger Ebert fan, but I never read his reviews until after I've seen the movie. I rarely take critics very seriously, but if the movie is at, like, 2% at RottenTomatoes, then I reconsider momentarily if it's a movie I wasn't sure about in the first place. If I want to see the movie, though, I'm going to go see the movie.

14. Costumes
Ummm...I don't know. I think this goes back to the Setting/Time Period aspect where if the costumes look really cool as part of the atmosphere and are visually pleasing, then it might pique my interest.

15. MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)
The rating really doesn't matter at all. I watch movies of all ratings.

 

1. Actors
I'll watch almost anything if it has one of the following actors: Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton or Marlon Brando.

2. Director
I'm a huge fan of several directors... for example, if Tarantino makes a 2 hour long movie of someone on the toilet, I'll probably be the only guy in the theater.

3. Genre
I'll watched action, comedy, drama... you won't catch me in a chick flick or kids movie though.

4. Friends' recommendations
I trust my friends more then I trust critics or box office numbers.

5. Synopsis/Summary of Plot
if the story appeals to me, I'm there.

6. Setting/Time Period
I like historical movies(however inaccurate they may be.

7. Trailer
A good trailer can always get me interested in a movie.

8. Special Effects
Not that important, but it's a plus.

9. MPAA Rating
I don't watch kids movies so a G rating(or even PG most of the time) is an automatic no.

10. Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay
If I've heard of the true story or read the book, of course I'll watch the movie... at least if the true story was interesting or the book was good.

11. Awards Received
not that important, but I've watched movies before just because the lead won the best actor oscar.(Last King of Scotland comes to mind... great movie btw)

12. Critics' Reviews
I hardly ever make a decision based on critics' reviews... but if all of them are leaning heavily to one side either way, it could affect my decision.

13. Money made at the box office
Like Espy, this isn't a big deal to me... but if a movie's made 200 million and everyone's talking about it but me, I might go see it just to see what the fuss is about.

14. Composer
Composer's not really important at all... but it's a little more important then...

15. Costumes
who gives two ***** about costumes... "OMG you need to see this movie!" "Why?!" "Because the clothes they're wearing is so authentic!" "Uhhhh..."



and my list would've been different if Espy had included the most important reason for watching a movie on there... Nudity!!! Honestly Espy, what were you thinking leaving that off?!?!

 

Haha, yeah, I don't really know why I added costumes except that I suspect that not nearly as many people would have gone to see Catwoman if it hadn't been for Halle Berry in that black leather cat suit...and because 15 was a better number than 14.

 

Trailer--15 The Trailer is quite possibly the most important factor given that it is the first thing you see about the film.

Director--1 I have my favorites but I don't have alot of knowledge of directors in general.

Actors--7 I'm kinda split on this. I have to say I am sick of Tom Cruise and might be turned off by seeing anything he makes, though if Harrison Ford makes a flick I tend to have a positive outlook.

Composer--1 There are many tracks I love but I am not a music expert.

Synopsis/Summary of Plot--15 Along with the presentation of the trailer, the story has to grab you.

Special Effects--10 I am forgiving when a CGI character doing a "stunt" looks like a cartoon, but I do hate it when my eyes are not fooled.

Setting/Time period--1 This is not an issue most of the time.

Costumes--12 Authenticity is important regardless of wether or not the setting of the film is familiar, wardrobe is the key.

Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay--7 Interesting but not a biggy.

Awards Received--1 I could care less about awards though I do like watching award shows.

Critics' Reviews--5 I do not normally follow critics but wide ranging negative reviews on all fronts can turn me off to a film.

Money made at the box office--I could care less.

Friends' recommendations--7 i will listen but if I don't have an interest then I just don't.

MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)--2 This means nothing to me but a G rated live action fantasy would be silly.

Genre--9 I am not normally interested in normal drama and I am not too particularly interested in most horror.

BTW, this is a really good idea for a thread.

 

Director first and foremost. If it's Spielberg or Zemeckis, I'm there. There's few directors these days that can actually direct anymore. Second it's franchise. I love movie sequels. If I like a first movie, I'm really ready to see a sequel.

 

Actors
Definitely the most important factor. I won't see a movie with just Paul Walker in it, but I'll see anything with Christian Bale or Edward Norton. Even if Paul Walker is in it.

Synopsis/Summary of Plot
Obviously, if the plot looks good, then the movie looks good, which means I'm going to see it.

Trailer
This is what initially attracts me to a movie, unless it's a film that I've been hyped about ever since it was announced (i.e. Iron Man, the Dark Knight, etc.).

Setting/Time period
This is high on the list because I hardly ever see historical flicks. I don't know why, I just... don't like 'em.

Critics' Reviews
This carries a lot of significance if I "kinda sorta" am interested in the movie. An example of this was the Illusionist, which looked kind of interesting, and I ultimately decided to see it because of the great reviews (this was the first Norton movie I'd seen, so he didn't attract me to the film).

Director
I rarely keep up with directors, but I'll see any Christopher Nolan or Brian Singer film.

Special Effects
I really don't care for big-time special effects, but they do carry importance occasionally (i.e. Pirates, Star Wars, etc.).

Genre
I don't like horror or romance. I'll see a movie belonging to any other genre if it looks good.

Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay
I hardly read for pleasure anymore, so most adapted movies I see before I read the book (i.e. the Outsiders). But if a movie is made that's based on a book I really enjoyed (i.e. Ender's Game), I'll probably see it unless it looks crappy. But if it's based on a true story that I'm interested in, I'll most likely see it (i.e. Walk the Line, Cobb, Pride of the Yankees, etc.).

MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)
I really don't care about this one, even though I can't yet see a movie in theaters without an adult present if it's rated R. My parents sneak me in most of the time anyway.

Awards Received
Meh. Occasionally a Best Picture nominee will attract me, but I see movies I'm interested in, not movies that network executives like.

Money made at the box office
Most of the time I see a movie, it's opening weekend, so I don't know the numbers yet. I wouldn't care anyway, if the movie looks good, I'll see it regardless if a lot of other people have seen it.

Friends' recommendations
Most of my friends think Paul Walker and Jessica Alba are the greatest actors ever and Fast and the Furious was the greatest movie ever made.

Composer
I don't keep up with composers, and music isn't what attracts me to a movie. At all. Except the music in the trailer, if there is any.

Costumes

 

Director
An easy number one for me. There are certain directors I trust to make incredible films. A recent example is Rob Zombie's Halloween. I've never seen a Halloween film yet and I don't know if I will watch the original before it comes out, but I will see it in theaters just because I love the way Rob Zombie does things.

Trailer
My best friend and I sit in theaters and use a thumbs up/thumbs down system to silently debate films we want to see. Yeah, we've argued films so much that we don't even have to say a word to do it anymore. If the trailer rocks and it doesn't look like it's all special effects I will definitely look into seeing the film.

Actors
There are actors that I love watching. I'm tempted to go see Waitress in theaters merely because Nathan Fillion is in it at the expense of all dignity and self-respect. This is certainly weighted by type of actor, for example I'd watch a movie with Steve Carrell just because he's funny enough to rise above average material, Evan Almighty looks to be this way. But if it has nothing but an actor going for it I will catch it on DVD at the most.

Friends' recommendations
Depends on the friend, but if my best friend tells me something is incredible I will see it.

Sequel
There are films I will see just because they are sequels to something awesome. 28 Weeks Later is a great example of this. There was a new director and a new cast, but I still had to see it.

Synopsis/Summary of Plot
I won't see a film merely on this, but mixed with good reviews and someone I like involved it's often enough.

Special Effects
This one is kind of with the trailer in a way. If a film looks like it will have some incredible scenes I might be willing to overlook other flaws. I won't be impossible to drag to Transformers now that I've seen how awesome the effects look in that.

Genre
Sometimes merely being a well reviewed comedy or martial arts film is enough to convince me to see a film if I'm in a mood for it.

Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay
Only adaptation of a novel or comic really applies here and that's only if the subject matter really interests me. True stories means extreme liberties were taken with real life events. Original screenplay means nothing to me.

Poster
Another eye-catcher. I remember seeing a poster for Pathfinder and I knew I had to at least catch it on DVD. Often seeing an interesting poster in the theatre will make me research a film.

MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)
I'm more likely to see an R rated movie than anything. I won't see PG-13 horror in theaters and I'm less likely to watch it on DVD. I'm also more inclined to see R rated comedies.

Critics' Reviews
RT average more than anything. If I'm on the fence it will often sway me one way or the other.

Composer
Music in film isn't a big thing for me. I enjoy it occasionally, but a score isn't a reason to see a film.

Setting/Time period
I like things set in all time periods so this really has no effect.

Costumes
Even less effect. Into the Blue couldn't even lure me in with Jessica Alba in a bikini.

Money made at the box office
I consider the general movie going public to be idiots when it comes to finding films to see. How else do you explain Serenity's failure in the box office?

Awards Received
Watch the Futurama episode "That's Lobstertainment". Awards are people patting each other on the bum for nothing. Look at Brokeback Mountain. It won Oscars just because of two cowboys falling in love. Get HBO you idiots. It was nothing outstanding, shocking or original. Six Feet Under did more years before Brokeback hit theaters.

 

There is no criteria for me. Generally if its a franchise, director or actor i like I am often going to see it. But most of the time I find little things in the trailer tell me a lot about th e nature of the movie. If the trailer captures a certain style of filmmaking or does something generally unique I tend to be interested. Word of mouth also seems to be something that weighs heavily as there are certain films I lean towards often of a more independent variety where an advertising campaign isn't widespread or sometimes nonexistant.

Honestly its hard to explain as its almost a judgement I make on a movie to movie basis.

 

Actually, Brokeback only won a couple awards. Crash won Best Picture that year.

 

Yeah, and who remembers Crash?

 

Trailer - 4
I'm often sold on a movie just from the teaser. I was sold on 300 from the Teaser.
Director - 1
Very important. I will see a favourite director's film almost reguardless.
Actors - 10
I'm not all that worried about the actors. I don't usually hold grudges against individual actors, so if a movie has an actor that has acted in a movie I didn't like, it won't stop me from seeing this one.
Composer - 5
If it's by one of the best, I may see it just because of the composer. Eg. Memoirs of a Geisha
Synopsis/Summary of Plot - 11
I'm fairly open to how a movie goes about telling the story that is summarised in its synopsis. Sometimes a plot that sounds quite dull can come out very well on film.
Special Effects - 6
I am seeing Transformers purely becuause it looks like it will have awesome effects.
Setting/Time period - 7
Almost any time period can make a great film, so I try not to judge it on that.
Costumes - 12
If I had judged films like X-men purely on costume, I would have never seen them.
Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay - 8
Any adaption of a good book I will try and see, regardless of how much I know they will screw it up.
Awards Received - 15
No amount of Oscars will persuade me to see a film.
Critics' Reviews - 14
I ignored the critics on most films I have seen this year, and still enjoyed them.
Money made at the box office - 13
Sometimes I do like to get in on any movie that EVERYBODY seems to be seeing, like the original POTC back in 2003.
Friends' recommendations - 2
Probably my most common method of seeing films.
MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R) - 9
A R16 or R18 rating will put me off some films, but others, which meet the above criteria, I will usually try to see.
Genre - 3
I try to avoid Teen Gross-Out comedies and preteen chick flicks as much as possible.

Edit: No respect for the composers... Shocking...

 

Anyone intelligent enough to know that the exploitation of shock value and homosexuality doesn't equate to good film making, yet a multi-layered story structure that becomes a larger mosaic of a film, masterfully achieved through well thought out scripting and editing. I have no issue with gay cowboys, I have issue with the use to gay cowboys to shock people and embed the film into out collective consciousness through contraversy.

 

mostly the director i guess. actors come second together with an exciting synopsis.

these days i think i'll watch it if it's not a sequel

 

1. Synopsis/Summary of Plot
2. Trailer
3. Genre
4. Director
5. Actors
6. Special Effects
7. Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay
8. Composer
9. Setting/Time period
10. Awards Received
11. Friends' recommendations
12. Critics' Reviews
13. Costumes
14. Money made at the box office
15. MPAA Rating

 

I'd have to say the trailer and the plot.

 

I do. Crash was an excellent film and I nearly wrote an analysis paper on it, but I was switched to the group writing about Whale Rider.

Oh and I never said Brokeback won Best Picture. I said it won awards and it did. It was overrated and overhyped I couldn't even sit through it. An average film that used homosexuality as a claim to fame.

 

1. Director - Ultimately, it does come down to the director. If their past style has been very good/great quality, I'm practically in line to see their movies.

2. Friend's Recommendations - I trust my friends and family's opinions on movies.

3. Genre - I'm quite particular in the movies I like to watch. Basically, it means anything but romantic comedies, super-ultra kiddie movies (unless nagged to death practically), and some of the hyped up summer action movies.

4. Actors - Seems kind of shallow, but it does tie in with the director. A good actor can take a mediocre film and make a dang good one (see The Pledge with Jack Nicholson as one example).

5. MPAA Rating - Being a father, I sometimes do have to choose movies that have MPAA ratings of less than PG-13 (though the kids loved the Spiderman movies).

6. Trailer - If the movie is advertised well, then I will have an inkling to see it.

7. Synopsis/Summary of Plot - It's not terribly important to know what's going to happen before the movie starts, but it sometimes helps make the decision easier.

8. Composer - It's not greatly important, but good music does make a movie bette.r

9. SFX - Not really important.

10. Setting/Time period - see above

11. Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay - see above

12. Costumes - Same as before

13. Awards Received - Unimportant

14. Money made at the box office - What does money have to do with me seeing and enjoying a movie? Absolutely nothing.

15. Critic's Reviews - Opinions are like ********. Everybody's got one, and they all stink. Period. Critics are the most unreliable group of movie goers, and I'd be more willing to trust a fart in the wind's recommendation of a movie than Roger Ebert's.

 

Trailer

I'm going to give this an 8. Sometimes I see trailers in theaters and learn abot a movie and decide if I'm going to see it or not, but it doesn't have a huge influence.

Director

One. I don't care who the director is.

Actors

A 9, I think. If I want to go see a movie, it (usually) won't matter who is in it, but there are actors I'd go see even if the movie wasn't the world's most appealing.

Composer

I don't care, so 1.

Synopsis/Summary of Plot

15 -- highly important!! I'm not going to go see a movie with a bad plot.

Special Effects

A two, I think -- if the effects are overdone I won't go, but I don't go looking for that sort of thing.

Setting/Time period

One. I don't care; no matter what time period, I'll go see it if it looks good.

Costumes

One.

Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay

I think I have to go with four, because if I liked the book, I'll go see the movie.

Awards Received
Critics' Reviews
Money made at the box office

All one.

Friends' recommendations

Pretty important -- I'd say 10.5 or 11.

MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)

It used to matter, but I turned seventeen yesterday so now it doesn't.

Genre

10.

 

Trailer

I try to avoid them. Teaser trailer are much, much more intriguing.

Director

The most important of all.

Actors

More a negative thing. I don't like certain actors...Cruise, Costner, et al.

Composer

Not very musical.

Synopsis/Summary of Plot

This is important.

Special Effects

Not that interested, unless they are poor, as in the first Spiderman movie.

Setting/Time period

I like historical films, except when history is incidental to the star's ego (a la "Braveheart", "The Last Samuai", etc.)

Costumes

See above.

Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay

Sometimes

Awards Received

The Venice Film Festival, no.

Critics' Reviews

You have to be careful re this. Critics tend to have the same tastes, and often they overpraise some really stupid, smug little films ("Election" comes to mind).

Money made at the box office

I care nothing for that one.

Friends' recommendations

Pretty important -- I'd say 10.5 or 11.

MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R)

Doesn't matter.

Genre

10.

 

length...if it's over two hours, it better be awfully good!

 

I admit excessive length gives me pause, too.

 

1. Director - By far the single most important factor
2. Critics' Reviews - I try to take them with a grain of salt, and I read them critically, but I do take them seriously
3. Trailer - You can get a general feel for something with the trailer
4. Awards Received - Depends on the award.
5. Actors - There are some actors I would watch doing almost anything, but other factors will balance that out
6. Friends' recommendations - Depends on the friend. I have a handful of friends who have similar taste in movies, but most of them do not.
7. Synopsis/Summary of Plot - Can be helpful, but ultimately the quality of a movie tends to come down on the side of execution, not overall concept
8. Genre - There are genres I tend to avoid
9. Costumes - I like good costumes and visual design
10. Special Effects - Can be fun
11. Setting/Time period - Meh. A good movie can make a bad setting interesting, and vice versa
12. Based on a true story/Adaptation of book/Original Screenplay - Depends on the story/book/etc
13. Composer - Occasionally, the soundtrack will attract me to a movie, but it's rarely the case with a composed soundtrack (as opposed to one with a collection of songs I like).
14. Money made at the box office - Not a factor
15. MPAA Rating (G, PG, PG-13, R) - Could not give a ****.

Brokeback Mountain, though flawed, had nothing to do with shock value, and Crash had nothing to do with good filmmaking. I've pooped things better than Crash. It was a wretchedly bad movie, as opposed to Brokeback, which was good but overrated.

 

Oh I have nothing against Brokeback. My point was that people remember Brokeback Mountain not for its good acting or fine crafting but because of the contraversy surrounding it. The lasting legacy of the film isn't its merit but its hype. I fail to see how Crash doesn't qualify as good film making. Personal opinions aside, it structured a unique look at the interconnected lives of various individuals and through its use of editing demonstrated that our actions and choices affect the lives of everyone around us in ways we can't fathom.

 

So unique that Babel did the same thing a year later.