Hollywood Heads to San Diego for Comic Con
Tuesday July 22, 2008
What started out as a tiny gathering of comic book enthusiasts has, for better or worse, transformed into one of the biggest and best events for studios to show off their upcoming movies. Sure, there are still plenty of things to do at the San Diego Comic Con if you're into comics - from panels with comic book superstars to booths loaded with collectibles for sale - but Hollywood's presence has changed the complexion of the event.
Over 125,000 people - many of whom were dressed as their favorite comic book characters (the people-watching at the Con is unparalleled) - attended last year's Comic Con, filling exhibit halls to capacity. Tickets to this year's event which runs July 24-27 were available only online and unfortunately for those who didn't plan ahead, the event is now totally sold out. But if you didn't act quickly enough to snap up a ticket, don't despair. Most of the trailers and special video clips premiering at the show will be online shortly after Comic Con's over. There will be no shortage of news as even major TV entertainment shows (though late to the game) are covering the Con. And, of course, there will be extensive coverage of all the big movies right here at About.com in the days following the event (look for interviews with the casts of Watchmen, Terminator Salvation, Land of the Lost, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and other celebs over the course of the next week).
So how important is Comic Con to filmmakers? Studios have come to accept the fact that the reaction of Con audiences can actuallly make or break a movie. In 2006, Zack Snyder brought his 300 cast and clips to show off, effectively launching one of the most intense and effective word-of-mouth campaigns of the past decade, helping to catapult 300's March 2007 opening into the record books. Jon Favreau, a Comic Con veteran, knew what Con audiences wanted and delivered it by previewing special footage from Iron Man prior to that film's release. Conversely, not debuting footage from a big budget studio production can do heavy damage to a film's box office tally... With that in mind, Warner Bros, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment, and Disney are all big players this year, with Warner Bros even going as far as to spread out their goodies over all four days.
Thursday's Highlights:
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Max Payne
Twilight
Race to Witch Mountain
RocknRolla
Ninja Assassin
Punisher: War Zone
Friday's Highlights:
Watchmen
The Wolfman
The Spirit
Saturday's Highlights:
Terminator Salvation
Bolt and Up
Death Race
Land of the Lost
Drag Me to Hell
Pineapple Express
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Quarantine
Sunday's Highlights
Hamlet 2
Friday the 13th
25/8
The Unborn
(Photo of Malin Akerman in Watchmen © Warner Bros)
Over 125,000 people - many of whom were dressed as their favorite comic book characters (the people-watching at the Con is unparalleled) - attended last year's Comic Con, filling exhibit halls to capacity. Tickets to this year's event which runs July 24-27 were available only online and unfortunately for those who didn't plan ahead, the event is now totally sold out. But if you didn't act quickly enough to snap up a ticket, don't despair. Most of the trailers and special video clips premiering at the show will be online shortly after Comic Con's over. There will be no shortage of news as even major TV entertainment shows (though late to the game) are covering the Con. And, of course, there will be extensive coverage of all the big movies right here at About.com in the days following the event (look for interviews with the casts of Watchmen, Terminator Salvation, Land of the Lost, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and other celebs over the course of the next week).So how important is Comic Con to filmmakers? Studios have come to accept the fact that the reaction of Con audiences can actuallly make or break a movie. In 2006, Zack Snyder brought his 300 cast and clips to show off, effectively launching one of the most intense and effective word-of-mouth campaigns of the past decade, helping to catapult 300's March 2007 opening into the record books. Jon Favreau, a Comic Con veteran, knew what Con audiences wanted and delivered it by previewing special footage from Iron Man prior to that film's release. Conversely, not debuting footage from a big budget studio production can do heavy damage to a film's box office tally... With that in mind, Warner Bros, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment, and Disney are all big players this year, with Warner Bros even going as far as to spread out their goodies over all four days.
Thursday's Highlights:
Friday's Highlights:
Saturday's Highlights:
Sunday's Highlights
(Photo of Malin Akerman in Watchmen © Warner Bros)
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