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Critic power or star power? The influence of hallmarks of quality of motion pictures: an experimental approach

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Abstract

Most research into the film industry focuses on aggregate level market analysis of a range of devices used by the industry to ensure the success of its films. In contrast, in this paper, we experimentally test how individual cinema-goers are influenced by two variables that have aroused considerable interest in the literature: critical reviews and the role of box office stars. As regards the former, the results of our experiment indicate that negative reviews by film critics are cues that affect cinema-goers’ pre-film assessment of a film yet fail to exert any effect on post-film assessment. As regards the latter, a cast of box office stars is not seen to be an indication of quality per se for our experimental subjects. Nor do box office stars help to mitigate the potential effects of negative reviews.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business Department, University of Oviedo, Avda. del Cristo s/n, 33071, Oviedo, Spain

    Ana Suárez-Vázquez

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  1. Ana Suárez-Vázquez
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Correspondence to Ana Suárez-Vázquez.

Appendix

Appendix

1.1 Promotional material

1.2 Film reviews

1.2.1 Neutral critic—The Notebook

In the 1940s, Allie, a young woman from a rich family comes to the coastal town of Seabrook, North Carolina, to spend the summertime. She meets a local boy, a mill worker. They fall in love immediately, but first her family and then the war put this relationship to the test.

1.2.2 Positive critic—The Notebook

Some stories, told many times before though, always seem to work whether they follow the right motions. One of them is for certain The Notebook, Nick Cassavetes’ latest film, the director of ‘She’s so lovely’ and ‘To live again’. This time and with a deeply romantic story based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Cassavetes knows how to direct the actors in an honest way to obtain magnificent performances.

1.2.3 Negative critic—The Notebook

Director Nick Cassavetes’ fourth film is a story based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. It is difficult to believe that some directors still think that audience can be touched by films as silly as ‘The Notebook’. It is not possible to say very much about a film whose only merit, if any, is making the public cry. It is the ideal film for people who want see a soap opera on the big screen.

1.2.4 Neutral critic—The eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

Joel is stunned to discover that his girlfriend Clementine has had the memories of their tumultuous relationship erased. Out of desperation, he contacts and asks the inventor of this technique, Dr. Howard Mierzwiak, to have Clementine removed from his own memory. But as Joel’s memories progressively disappear, he begins to discover his love for Clementine.

1.2.5 Positive critic—The eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

The film of the French Michel Gondry shows the real measure of his talent. By going through the deep maze of the memory, with its dark zones, Gondry found the white sheet he needed to overthrow his tremendous imagination. The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness, humour and specially lack of love. The film is the result of a team of talented people strongly involved in his work.

1.2.6 Negative critic—The eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

As in his previous film (Human Nature 2001), Miguel Gondry is unable to ascertain. His new film, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, is a mad, boring and confusing story. It is the result of what it could have been a great film. It is a mid point between the poor and the sublime. This too pretentious film uses excessively the flash back to build a story of little consistence.

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Suárez-Vázquez, A. Critic power or star power? The influence of hallmarks of quality of motion pictures: an experimental approach. J Cult Econ 35, 119–135 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10824-011-9140-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10824-011-9140-8

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