BravesMG

I don't get it. I've seen Slumdog Millionaire, Doubt, and The Reader at matinees over the past two weeks and the theaters are packed with folks that are at least 70 on a good day. I try to stick to matinees to keep away from the teen and asshole crowd, and I'm not complaining, these shows are usually pretty well behaved.

But I haven't seen a single TV commercial for Slumdog or The Reader and only caught a preview for Doubt two or three months ago at another movie. Are the studios somehow actively marketing these films to seniors or something? It seems like the internet is the main means of distribution for trailers and buzz, not really the senior crowd.

obidawsn

I've seen lots of TV commercials for Slumdog and Doubt. But either way, all three of these movies are Oscar potentials, so they are talked about a lot on various news programs. I've noticed that most of the Oscar potential movies usually draw more of an older crowd. They probably still think of the glory days of Oscar. Though it would still be a dream to win an Oscar, I think the glamour and true spirit of the Academy Awards has lost its luster. Part of that is probably due to the constant tinkering with it to keep the running time down, other awards shows, and arguably the caliber of movies. This year was a good year for movies, though. I'm actually interested in many of the potentials.

BTW, this probably belongs in the Movie Talk forum, but that's OK. I never checked out that forum, so I'm glad I got to put my two cents in

Michael Corvin

... because they are retired and have nothing to do all day and would rather pay matinee prices than peak hours prices? Maybe they want to keep away from the teen and asshole crowd themselves? Lots of reasons, although I doubt it has anything to do with the movie selections themselves.

Yakuza Bengoshi

One of the three theaters I typically frequent is Landmark's Bethesda Row in Bethesda, MD, a wealthy suburb of Washington, DC. The movies you mentioned are all playing there, and that theater is always packed with tony retirees. I assume they find out about the movies playing by either keeping up with the free circulars and trailers provided by the theater, since many of them are regulars, or by reading the reviews/blurbs in the Washington Post and magazines like the New Yorker which many people I know young and old seem to read despite the fact that none of us are New Yorkers.

Groucho

These people were probably seeing arthouse films before you were born, sonny.

rw2516

Yup, movie buffs have been around as long as movies.

Hokeyboy

What a mind-boggling silly topic.


Ever hear of cracking open a newspaper and reading the Arts section?

beebs

Older folks read newspapers. Movies, stuff like this years Oscar contenders, would all be well-covered in reviews, oscar previews, and ten best list articles. The holidays are traditionally a time when people visit or get together -- and do things like see a movie together.

-comix

Yavin

I thought it was because ads for these films were now being printed inside the packaging for Ensure and Caltrate ....

BravesMG

No question, I'm just surprised at how many of them pack the theaters when I see so little advertising.

Again, it's not a complaint or anything, they're obviously very well informed and seeking out well-reviewed movies. The crowds for bigger, less well-reviewed movies is usually much smaller during the day.

RichC2

They advertise the hell out of these movies during the day on TV when advertising is substantially cheaper. During a marathon of I think Bones or Psych or something this past week (while I was off) there were a ton of ads for The Reader and Doubt -- as well as bathtubs you can open the sides to, AARP stuff and life insurance. I see Slumdog Millionaire ads all the time in primetime ("4 stars aren't enough" line gets read, a lot).

TGM

I find, that with my parents, they just GO to the movie theatre, with nothing in mind, and decide on something, usually based on the title/actors, whatever once they are there.

Rockmjd23

Not all old people are confined to nursing homes, unfortunately.

Groucho

I prefer the "Carousel" solution myself.

Mikael79

If I ever get to retire, I plan on finally having the time to watch more movies, listen to more music, and play more video games.

Of course, it'll probably end up like that Twilight Zone episode where I break my glasses when I finally have the time.

Brack

old people: hip despite their bad hips

Brack

bless your heart for thinking you'll be able to keep up with kids playing Halo 20.

riotinmyskull

old people have much better tastes than today's teenagers.

riley_dude

The same thing they did before the Internet....read the newspaper and watch TV.

Giles

I was going to say the same thing about the New Yorker, if it's mentioned/reviewed there it's quaranteed that Washingtonians will hear about it (whether or not the smaller indie films will indeed come to DC is another thing) - as for Bethesda Row, it's the chains cash cow, they make money hand over fist there.

MrE

Silly question, easy answer: Ask them.

The Bus

Newspapers, magazines, and word-of-mouth.

Patman

One of the side-effects of seeing films that attract an older crowd is this:

I was watching Frost/Nixon, and in the last 10 minutes where everything was coming to a head, and the audience was basically riveted to the screen at a crucial moment in their interview, an old lady sitting 2 seats from me starting snoring louder and louder, and it took every fiber in my body not to just bust out laughing from the sheer spectacle of the situation.

DRG

At that age he won't last a minute in the holodeck!

BravesMG

You do see a few odd things, it's always funny to watch the first loud noise and then watch half the crowd adjust their hearing aids.

I again want to state that I'm not making fun here, God bless anyone for seeking out good movies. It's harder to be frustrated if anyone is loud because it's not malicious like with the backlit cell phones or playing grabass with 10 people in a row. I'm 27 and I feel much more comfortable with the older folks during the day than anybody else.

I'm also surprised to hear that they advertise so heavily during the day. Makes sense though. I also haven't read a newspaper in years, but I assume that is another good way that print advertising still works.