Media Exposed #2: Well done, Avengers

"The Avengers", by Marvel

Article on "The Avengers" opening weekend box office shocker

This weekend was the opening of what I would say is one of the best superhero films out there: The Avengers.  Marvel did a fantastic job in making this film, but advertising it helped get the word out!  For a few months, Marvel spread their campaign on The Avengers film with posters, numerous commercials, radio broadcasting and reaching out to comic book fans with the cast of characters they've brought in for the film.  Even Ellen DeGeneres talked about the film on her show (of course including a spoof of the trailer with her in it as the superhero "The Rambler" :P)!  Through repetition and even testimonial, the movie was being sold to fans everywhere in every way.  The film even had advanced screenings two weeks early so that those audience members could go tell their friends how awesome the movie was! (My older sister and I were lucky enough to have that opportunity, and I had to tell everyone to go see it when it came out a few weeks later!).  Plus, I just saw the movie again yesterday with my sister and some friends.  But, at that advanced screening, I never really knew how much of an impact the advertising of a movie could have on the public until I got to the theatre.  The line for the advanced screening was HUGE, and so many kids AND adults were dressed up in costume their favorite Avenger (a dad and his little boy dressed up as Captain Americas, masks, shields and all!).  The movie campaign team really spread the word out on this film because hundreds showed up, and the radio station KSFM 107.9 was there to advertise it on their broadcast as well!
Going to that film, I realized how the movie campaigners really advertised the movie: through the characters and the actors playing those characters.  So many people loved Captain America, Iron Man, and the the other characters from reading comics or seeing the films for the individual heroes made them want to come see them all come together as a team in the movie.  Additionally, people love the actors playing those characters (Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., etc.), which only draws more people towards the big screen.  The Avengers was so popular, it even beat out the 7th Harry Potter movie for its opening weekend!  I talked to my older brother and his friends, and they knew the movie would draw in huge crowd because people had such high expectations for a very popular superhero group that's been around for so long.  Very true.
I'm still rounding up a group of friends to come see it with me for a third time.  It was THAT amazing!  And I'm telling everyone: take some time off, and go see The Avengers.  You'll be at the edge of your seats in suspense, and laughing at the same time with this film. It has everything. :)