Spoiler alerts do spell profits for the movie industry

By Maryam Nasir

Recently, Sony/Marvel’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has been breaking pandemic box office records since December 2021, and will outgross “Titanic” in the U.S. this weekend.

I mean who doesn’t know what legends like Spider-Man and Titanic are? We need to have a real talk then. Kidding. 

To get back on track, with its earnings reaching $1.37 billion since the release on 17 December last year, the movie became the 12th highest-grossing film of all time worldwide. 

As a big fan of the movie, I myself do feel excited to watch the movie when watching the trailer on 17 November. 

As I observed on Twitter, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” with the hashtag spoiler alert, does have a massive crowd there, not really in visual but mostly on wording which makes readers wonder with the hint shared there.

Wait for a second. Before we go through, do you know that spoiler alert is a “thing” in other countries? Yet, Malaysians do exaggerate this as if it is a big issue. Chill guys!

In canon so far, there is an inexistent right of law about spoilers except that it is an illegal recording in cinemas that can be a copyright infringement if it was done for the wrong reasons.

I highlighted here as hinting and wording, not in visual!

Later on Twitter, one tweet blew up when an issue arises where a sister of Malaysian actress and entrepreneur, Ameera Khan illegally recorded more than one scene of a movie called “House of Gucci” in GSC cinema to be posted in her Instagram stories.

This simple sharing triggered a lot of people and fortunately the cinemas are taking action as they have replied in the comment section shown below which is considered breaking the cinemas’ law of illegal recording.  

This type of spoiler clearly offends many parties where it appears visually and intentionally which I take as a lesson and I hope you guys too!

But still, why do people overreact to a simple spoiler alert content?

Spoiler alert reviews that reveal a film’s narrative can actually attract a larger audience and generate more box office revenue, especially if the picture is generally flying under the radar of viewers.

I do believe it is quite annoying to see spoiler alert but being disappointed by a simple spoiler is unlikely to be the same as experiencing emotional discomfort. Besides, it just goes out of people’s mouths unintentionally. We don’t have to go too far to prove like they spoiled the whole movie.

After all, discussing details about a piece of entertainment falls within one’s freedom of expression which can’t be taken away from anyone.

In my low-key opinion to answer the last question above, if some people are so paranoid about spoilers yet the responsibility of avoiding it rests with them. 

Do watch the movie or show before everyone else or stay off the Internet if it triggers you there. Else, no offence, just be quiet.  

In that, that’s how to differentiate in reacting to a simple spoiler alert with the illegal one as the issue above. 

Some may think, are spoilers really part of movie marketing? To be honest, I don’t know if it’s a thing. But what I am very sure about it is that it did give a positive outcome in terms of its profits. 

Despite the huge promotion, are trailers and spoilers worth the profits? Why are book and comic-based movies more popular? 

As per a Western study, reviews and trailers that expose a film’s narrative can attract a larger audience and generate more revenue at the box office.

Significant here, the Harry Potter series is also a big hit in a publication where it sold half a billion copies, which I am sure most people know the story’s plot yet the movie hit $8billion. 

The same goes for Titanic which is based on a true story and published in a 1912 book named “Thomas Andrews: Shipbuilder” to a blockbuster movie in which the first film reach $1billion profits. I mean, my hypothesis could be true now, a simple spoiler is not that bad.

But to answer those questions above, I think the more the audience knows, the more eager they watch the movie as it piqued their curiosity instead of the low exposure of the spoiler.

As a result, the movie will achieve higher revenue for sure. 

The movie industry has come this far despite any issues that arise regardless whether it is locally or internationally. Therefore, let us support and respect the filmmaker’s ideas that hit a peak by reacting ethically.

(This opinion piece is written as part of individual assignment series for Feature Writing class)

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