Movies

Inside The Secretive, Pay-For-Play World Of Movie Trailers

May 29, 2025
Forbes

In a world where there are 25 minutes of previews before every movie, here’s why studios pay millions to secure a spot in front of summer’s biggest blockbusters.

Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2025/05/02/inside-the-secretive-pay-for-play-world-of-movie-trailers/

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25 thoughts on “Inside The Secretive, Pay-For-Play World Of Movie Trailers”

  2. I used to work in a cinema that belonged to a large chain in the uk and when I had to put the schedule together for that specific cinema, I got to choose what trailers where played. I think in my 3 years there only 1 email stated that a specific trailer had to be played (I think it was top gun could be wrong) and even at that it's not like someone from the head office even asked if I did it. Other than that I just chose a trailer if it was the right age rating for what was being played or if I had seen the trailer and really liked it. Nothing was ever said about it so I just did whatever I wanted.

  6. All marketing in the United States is an IRS write off. Studios know they are going to spend this type of money, but get more back by writing it off. This is a goal for all studios to have a zero tax liability at the end of the fiscal year.

  7. i don't mind trailers honestly, always had around 20 minutes in my area, sometimes it takes time to get it in so at least i don't miss the begining of the movie or i can go to the bathroom before, and when they show new teasers i'm happy to watch cos honestly hard to keep up with everything, at least i see wich one looks interesting

  8. I always liked watching trailers at the theater, but I haven't been to one in a long time. Fact is, for the cost of a family of four, you can get a month of every major streaming service.

    It's not like the late '90's when TVs were still rather small, and low definition. Now most have 50"-75" 4K.

  9. It is too bad that Thunderbolts* is not a big hit! It is going to hurt movie sales for the rest of the summer because less people watched the trailers

  10. The odd thing is. When I went to see Thunderbolts on opening weekend, the movie started right on time, with no trailers! I can’t remember the last time that happened.

  12. Honestly, excessive trailers can sometimes be the thing that keeps me away from the theater. I often avoid trailers for upcoming movies once I’ve decided I’m interested because I feel they spoil too much. Having to sit through 30 minutes of spoilers makes me want to skip the theater, or arrive late and risk missing the beginning of the movie.

  13. That’s one of the things keeping me at home. Going out and spending all of that money and then STILL having to sit through a half hour of commercials is just egregious. Especially given the fact that we can all see most of the trailers on YouTube now while eating a snack.

  15. I like how studios complain about being shaken down by theaters when they turn around and take the majority of every ticket sold, up to 90% if the movie is popular enough that they can get away with it.

  19. Personally I don't mind watching 5-10 minutes of movie trailers, if they're good. Saw the trailers for two Nepali movies 'jaar' and 'unko sweater' while watching Thunderbolts last Saturday. They look interesting, well at least the trailers.

  21. By overloading the movie guests with even MORE trailers before their actual show, these studios & theatre chains are treading on very thin ice–any more trailers, they will continue to hammer in the nail of their declining industry as they are directly contributing to a bad guest experience–with other things upsetting guests like absurd concession prices, ticket prices, increasing the price of the better seats, guests having fear of annoying movie guests in their theatre (dumbass kids, unruly people etc, RODENTS & pests, dirty theatres by inept staff)

    These studios & theatre chains better shape-up if they want to grow their declining industry = This is coming from me, a former AMC employee & person who loves movies but rather waits to watch things once they arrive on streaming, in the comfort of my own home now.

    Let this be a lesson in life/business = if they continue to to damage customer experience, they will kill their industry.

  24. If the movie ‘start time’ says 8:00 PM, I take my seat at 8:30 PM……so I don’t have to sit thru this BS, which is usually 10 loud trailers plus commercials!

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