The photo to the right shows a graph of our website pageviews. Usually around 6:00pm, like most other websites, the traffic starts to dissipate. So why is /Film seeing a dramatic rise around the 8:00pm (pacific time) hour on Monday night.
Was /Film dugg? Nope.
Farked? Nope.
Slash-dotted? Nope.
Drumroll…. And the answer is: The 8:00pm opening night screenings of Transformers just let out. That’s what happened. Thousands of east coast movie-goers ran home to find out the answer to a question that probably bothered them throughout the entire film:
What the heck was up with that movie trailer?
Regular /Film readers will instantly know what I’m referring to. The trailer attached to Transformers is for a top secret JJ Abrams produced monster movie. I still haven’t seen the trailer, but most people tell me that it’s on level with the Independence Day Superbowl trailer from years ago. And the teaser ends with no information, other than JJ Abrams (Lost, M:I:III) is producing the flick, which will hit theaters on January 18th 2008. Don’t bother searching online to see this spectacular new trailer, because you won’t find it. I know this because of my website stats. For one reason or another /Film is the top result when you search for information on a JJ Abrams Transformer Trailer on Google. And thus explains the thousands of movie-goers, in search of an answer, and some even in search for a second look.
Paramount has even denied knowledge of any such film, or trailer for that matter. But what they have done is created the next great viral movie advertisement. But instead of using YouTube or Google video, they used the biggest movie release of 2007. It’s a genius marketing attempt, but will it work in the age of branding? Sure, people are excited now. They are searching on Google, looking for an answer. But the truth is, the movie doesn’t even have a final title (that’s publicly known at least). So those who actually took the bait and went on the internet treasure hunt will come out calling the movie either “Cloverfield” (the film’s working production title) or “The JJ Abrams Monster movie”. And before you ask (because others already have): No, the film is not called “Bad Robot”, that is the name of Abrams’ production company.
I’m just thinking out loud, and trying to play devil’s advocate. I actually think this is a great idea. It’s gotten people excited and talking about a film that otherwise could have been released as a b-level January sci-fi action movie. You can read more about the project in our previous blog coverage:
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:11 am
So you are getting hits from a search term for a trailer nobody knows what it’s about? That is so cool…
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:58 am
Saw this trailer last night on the Transformers movie, and I must say it ROCKED!
When first watching it you think your watching another boring anti drug advertisement from the movie studio and then you hear this HUGE scream. For a minute there I hoped against hope it was a Godzilla movie, as it sounded as I would expect he would in the setting.
The special effects were stunning considering they were integrated into a consumer level video stream and that is what I think works. There is just something about watching what is apparently a video taped event that makes it seem so much more real.
Its the one thing that the Blair Witch had going for it (apart from the over hyping) and it just made you think that what you were watching had really happened.
If this movie is just one tenth as cool as the trailer it will be a HUGE movie when it opens.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:42 am
Now i’m excited and extremely curious and I haven’t even seen it!
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
FANTASTIC trailer. I cannot wait to see this trailer again, and would considering seeing TF again just to see it again. cannot wait for more info!
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
I was treasure hunting too and the only thing I could find was J.J. Abrams attached to the next installment in the star trek series releasing in December of ‘08. Now the release date was a full year off, but IMDB has botched dates before. But there’s no way a star trek movie is that cool looking! Whatever it is I hope it lives up too the buzz.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Maybe I’m the only one that saw this trailer and got upset. It reminded me of how it felt to be in NYC during 9/11 and the blackout. That was not a feeling I wanted to revisit right before seeing a happy fluffy movie like Transformers…
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I would have to say that an offical trailer for this movie J.J. Abrams is attached to will/would premier on ABC during LOST! Overall the Teaser Trailer was an A+ and I can’t wait until the Teaser hits online and more info on this movie comes out.
Also TRANSFORMERS ruled!
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
The trailer is an clever and effective marketing scheme, and apparently it is working because I am on the net looking for whatever the hell that preview was. It was similar to the Godzilla trailers from a few years back that didn’t show the monster. Hopefully this film can live up to the hype that the trailer is already brewing.
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
you really think transformers was a fluffy happy movie “A”? your a moron.
the trailer had absolutely no relation to “9/11″ and frankly anyone who can get
upset by a movie trailer that has no relation to an event probably should just
stay in their houses for safety. we can’t all censor everything so the one person
out there who gets his/her feelings hurt by a lousy movie trailer can go on to
watch a “fluffy kiddy movie” without feeling some emotion.
get over it. I was in NY the morning of and leaving to CA and had to sit in a terminal for hours but I don’t get upset when I see a movie with airline terminals in it.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 pm
All I can say is wow. I would pay again just to see the trailer.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:20 pm
i saw this trailer and i shit my self!!
i kept saying please dont let this be a stupid commercial!!
i then thought it could be godzilla, yongery, or maybe even gamera(but gamers just had a relase so that was ruled out)
but what ever it is going to be lets hope it good!!
July 4th, 2007 at 2:12 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NNxPcgn_Dk bootleg version of trailer
or you could go here: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/9282
July 4th, 2007 at 3:09 am
They must have had a Non disclosure agreement with the word death showing up a lot.
July 4th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I agree with that non diclosure clause theory. And some one just got checked out because that trailer is no longer on youtube or bloody-disgusting. Paramount works quick…..
July 4th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Well That was one heck of a trailer. I think it is a remake of the original 1956 Godzilla movie. Or at least a remake of the godzilla Vs king kong movie. Being the new kong movie did so well. The roar that was used in the trailor is almost the same to the original roar of Godzilla in the first movie in the 50’s. After the first Godzilla movie his roar was some what changed. Well I hope it is, if it isn’t, no big deal I will see it anyway because abrams is a great director. I am a huge Lost and Alias fan. Oh yea transformers was a lot bette rthen I thought
July 5th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
ok guys here is the secret of the trailor it is for Transformers 2 the dammage to the city, the fire, statue of liberty head, all done by the unitor robots which one I couldn’t steal the answer for that yet but keep watching tun in. ( waiting for the debate but i have the inside from some hollywoods) see ya at the theatre in Jan…..
July 5th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I have no idea what this si, but I’m pretty syked about it.
I saw Transformers it’s opening night, and I thought the trailer
was pretty awesome. Of all these, I’m hopeing it’s a Godzilla
remake, or a big-screen adaptation of Voltron. Whatever it is,
I’m pretty syked about this film. Awesome trailer. I’m definitley
going to see it once it is released.
July 5th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I have no idea what this is, but I’m pretty syked about it.
I saw Transformers it’s opening night, and I thought the trailer
was pretty awesome. Of all these, I’m hopeing it’s a Godzilla
remake, or a big-screen adaptation of Voltron. Whatever it is,
I’m pretty syked about this film. Awesome trailer. I’m definitley
going to see it once it is released.
July 6th, 2007 at 10:17 am
wow i told my little bro to check out the trailer on youtube. he was able to
see it but i got on like 5 min later and they pulled it. and then i found
the ethanhaaswasright web sight. this is some sweet marketing work. i got
sucked in for sure. it better be crazy good like the trailer was. and i think im
the only one here that hopes its not godzila or anything to do with lost.
however i will be in line on the 18th to find out….
July 10th, 2007 at 9:22 am
here is a thought…the guy that th kids are throwing the go away party for, is going to Japan.
July 15th, 2007 at 10:09 am
So who cares what Peter thinks? You haven’t even seen the trailer.
July 19th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I bet its voltron. Im justt saying giant lion, young adults, crazy stuff. Voltron. What perfect thing to go with a tranformers movie.
July 30th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/medium.html
full trailer
September 27th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
It’s not a Godzilla remake. Nor a Zilla movie. JJ Abrams said himself that this was something completely new. This movie has been driving me nuts since I saw the trailer. I’m hoping to see an official one either before Beowulf or There Will Be Blood.