Month: May 2022

Hot on the heels of The Book of Boba Fett, Disney+ is premiering another gripping new limited series within the Star Wars franchise. Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprise their roles from the early 2000s film prequels in a story designed to fill in the 19-year blank between Episode III’s Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV’s A New Hope. Here’s what you need to know about Obi-Wan Kenobi:

What type of audience will Obi-Wan Kenobi attract?
Older men. Viewership for the new show is predicted to be 62% male and 63% aged 30+, aligning closely with the streamer’s other recent franchise spin-offs (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett) but decidedly more male-skewing than its non-Star Wars offerings.

How high is fan anticipation for the show?
Through the roof. The release of the teaser and full-length trailers resulted in a big spike in social tracking, and online activity surrounding the series has been increasing steadily since early May (and will undoubtedly surge ahead of its May 27 premiere). Fans clearly want to spend more time with the beloved titular character.

How will its Star Wars connections impact the viewing experience?
They’ll make the show eminently bingeworthy. The cherished tenets of this sci-fi franchise–the broader, fully-realized Star Wars Universe (140) full of Human/Non-Human Relationships (124), the promise of infinite possibilities in its Space Setting (133), and the intricate galactic threads of its Distinctly Realized World (127)–will keep viewers glued to their seats. In spite of their fan rivalry, both the Star Wars and Star Trek recent spin-offs are buoyed by similar viewership drivers.

What sets Obi-Wan Kenobi apart from the other recent Star Wars series?
An unambiguous hero. Where The Mandalorian and Boba Fett are anchored by a mysterious masked entity and a clear antihero, respectively, Obi-Wan follows a character long-established as a bright spot in the galaxy’s enduring battle of Good vs. Evil (121). Both the fact that he’s Being Hunted (128) by the Empire and his accompanying Journey of Self-Discovery (112) after losing a young charge (Anakin Skywalker) to the Dark Side are top ratings drivers.

What type of emotional experience can viewers expect from Obi-Wan Kenobi?
An intense one. Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader and his relentless pursuit of his former Jedi teacher will surface negative emotions like Loathing (117) and Terror (116), both which will drive ratings. In this respect, the new series falls more in line with Boba Fett (driven by Surprise and Terror) than The Mandalorian, whose feel-good Baby Yoda brings up feelings of Love and Awe.

It was true before the pandemic and remains true today that horror movies are uniquely profitable ventures for Hollywood. However you define the genre, the business of selling a “live”, social experience with the promise of suspense and scares has proven resilient. The next few months continue the tradition of great horror/thriller options at the summer box office, beginning with this weekend’s Firestarter. Using the trailer as our stimulus, here’s what you need to know:

How impactful is the film’s association with Stephen King?
Stephen King’s brand (124) will stoke the flame of interest for most ticket buyers, providing an in-going expectation of a quality story. King’s involvement is not only the top-ranking interest driver, but it is especially impactful with horror movie fans who are active online.

What else will be attracting horror fans to Firestarter?
The horrific consequences of Charlie’s Powers (116), the fear she instills in people, and the supernatural destruction she’s capable of exemplify the kind of big-screen thrills horror fans crave. Similarly, the fact that Charlie is increasingly Losing Control (113) of her fire-wielding abilities builds suspense for what will happen next.

What will draw broader audiences to theaters?
The Tug-of-War (111) for control over Charlie between her loving family and others who mean harm adds a relatable human angle for audiences looking for more than just scares. This conflict also poses thought-provoking questions concerning the morality of trying to control Charlie, and the horrifying unintended consequences of that decision.

What genres are audiences likely to perceive Firestarer as?
Given the various story elements at play, it’s not surprising that a distinctive feature of Firestarter is its unique genre mix. While our analysis classifies Firestarter first and foremost in the Horror Genre (133), it also contains elements strongly associated with SciFI (126), Thriller (123), Mystery (118), Fantasy (115), and Action (112) movies.

*Publicly released trailers for widely released films are evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside historical box office performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive opening weekend success.

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on opening weekend success: 

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Welcome to Rapid Insights – Film Edition!

Welcome to Vault AI’s very first Rapid Insights memo on the film industry! Just as you’ve been reading our insights covering the TV space, we’ll now also be checking-in from time to time describing the elements in upcoming movies we believe will drive audiences to theaters or streaming services. We’re kicking-off with a series of pieces looking at the wide variety of releases this summer, beginning today with a rundown of what will be driving audiences to a few of the most anticipated theatrical releases of the season. And we’ll be providing our points-of-view on all the animated, horror, and direct-to-streaming releases as well in the coming weeks.

What does the data tell us?
Taken together, we noticed an interesting recurring theme as we analyzed* the trailers of each film below. Alongside the appeal of big-name franchises, audiences will be seeking something beyond the familiar: stories with characters embarking on unique journeys, understanding their pasts, and overcoming unfamiliar challenges.

Audiences will get their first of two new Marvel Cinematic Universe installments this Friday in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with Thor: Love and Thunder coming July 8th. The MCU brand, with all the character and story continuity it provides, is key to the success of both Doctor Strange (143) and Thor (146). No doubt audiences are eager to witness how these titular characters continue to operate in the larger MCU narrative. Doctor Strange does this by Exploring the Multiverse (113) and facing evil doppelgangers in universes cracked open in Spider-Man: No Way Home, while it’s Thor’s search for a New Path (121) after all he’s experienced that audiences want to explore in Love and Thunder.

The long-awaited Top Gun: Maverick finally lands Memorial Day weekend (May 27), and is sure to stoke the nostalgia of fans while simultaneously introducing “Maverick” to a new generation. Audiences are pumped-up to see the realistic, death-defying Air Combat (157) on the big screen, with Tom Cruise leading the formation. Though, whether you are a fan of the 1984 classic or not, the story of Maverick Facing His Past Demons (111) as he trains a new set of recruits for a high-stakes battle resonates in a relatable way.

The Jurassic World trilogy comes to a triumphant close June 1 with Jurassic World Dominion. With the original Jurassic Park cast reprising their roles, audiences are most energized to see this Franchise Reunion (147) as Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, and Laura Dern work together alongside Christ Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. The mission: to fight back against those responsible for Capturing the Dinos (116) out of the wild, which is sure to supply the intense Dino Action and Scares (116) the franchise is known for.

While not strictly a film franchise, Elvis (July 24) will nonetheless be buoyed by the lasting popularity of one of the biggest pop stars of all time. Though it’s the Racial Tension (142) and debates around Elvis’ relationship to black artists that will stand out as a piece of his history audiences may not know, providing a unique backdrop to the King’s Origin Story (119) to becoming a charismatic, hit-singing showman.

Bullet Train (July 29th) starring Brad Pitt will excite audiences with its fresh Comedic Interpretation (121) of highly choreographed, non-stop Stylized Combat (108) on a speeding train. To that end, Pitt playing the role of a One Man Army (123) that also supplies genuine laugh-out-loud humor epitomizes what audiences will be looking to experience in theaters.

*Publicly released trailers for each film were evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside historical box office performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive opening weekend success.  

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme will have on opening weekend success: