To honor the last week of Pride Month, and with the recent success of shows like Heartstopper, Euphoria, Queer Eye, and Love, Victor across both TV and streaming, Vault AI wanted to dig deeper into current trends for series with prominent LGBTQIA+ themes. Here’s what Vault uncovered:
What demographic tends to be the most attracted to series with compelling LGBTQIA+ hooks?
Women. Of all the series in StoryGuide that motivate viewership via their LGBTQIA+ Themes and Protagonists, the vast majority skew female, with an average audience make-up of 61%.
What’s the trend for LGBTQIA+-related shows in recent years?
Rising in number and popularity. As a viewership driver, LGBTQIA+ Themes has become increasingly prevalent since roughly 2016, helping to boost ratings, binge, and longevity for the shows that offer it. So far peaking in 2021 with 19 occurrences, this driver—defined as “topics connected to members of the LGBTQIA+ community”—has an “outstanding”-level impact nearly every time it appears.
How are LGBTQIA+ leads being represented on-screen today?
With more nuance than ever. Over the last few years, shows as varied as Euphoria and Joe vs. Carole, and have found success in fully dimensionalizing their main characters, building them out to where their sexuality is one of many key traits rather than the only one. LGBTQIA+ Protagonists explore storylines ranging from Adultery and Dysfunctional Relationships to Teen Life and Rivalry–just like any non-LGBTQIA+ role.
What’s the impact of featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist?
Strong and positive. Queer leads are increasingly becoming more of a draw for audiences eager for unique and authentic characters and storylines that center historically maginalized voices. In only the first six months of 2022, LGBTQIA+ Protagonists have already become more prevalent and more impactful than in both 2020 and 2021, particularly in terms of encouraging binge-watching.
Which story drivers work best alongside LGBTQIA+ Themes?
Love and family dynamics. Queer themes are often most effectively explored within the context of close personal relationships, creating tension and emotion that become compelling reasons to watch. Indeed, LGBTQIA+ narratives that highlight Romantic and Family Relationships in particular tend to drive ratings and bingeability.
*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside ratings performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.
Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs:
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Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
Netflix’s most expensive original film to date releases in late July and is intended to jumpstart a brand new action franchise for the streamer. Directed by the Russo brothers (of Marvel fame) and starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as opposing CIA assassins, the film serves as an homage to high-octane 70s-style thrillers. Here’s what you need to know about The Gray Man:
Which audience will drive viewership for the title?
Older men. Males 35+ show the greatest demand (‘Promising’ at 114), very much in line with other recent Netflix male-led actioners like Extraction and 6 Underground and in keeping with the typical fanbase of the spy thriller genre. However, The Gray Man is unlikely to find the same success with women seen in the streamer’s breakthrough hit Red Notice (96 vs 116), which may have drawn a broader audience thanks to co-star Gal Gadot and its promising Buddy Comedy (110) driver.
What could help strengthen the movie’s appeal to women?
Gosling’s team-up with co-star Ana de Armas. While also a top ratings driver overall, the pair’s high-stakes Partnership (138) amidst danger and action as both race to escape the maniacal Evans is a particularly strong draw for women, most notably those <35 (158).
Will the Russo brothers’ propulsive action sequences be important to ratings?
Most definitely. The directors’ edge-of-your-seat Car Chases (121) and Stylized Physical Violence (111) are important drivers for demand, especially with their exhilaratingly chaotic blend of practical and visual effects.
What will make The Gray Man stand out from other action movies?
The mano-a-mano battle between two former CIA colleagues. The Face-Off (118) between Gosling’s on-the-run renegade agent and Evans’ psychopathic assassin in hot pursuit is the top concept driving the film’s freshness. The excitement of watching the pair square off, as well as the surrounding trickery, sprung traps, and themes of loyalty and betrayal will help this film stand out among Netflix’s other releases.
How does the film’s bestselling source material fit into its appeal?
It serves as a strong basis for the story’s Global Adventure (126). The Gray Man novel takes its ‘spy vs. spy’ plotline around the world, and this first movie adaptation filmed set pieces in both France and the Czech Republic as well as stateside—settings that will undoubtedly help bring in an international audience.
*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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About Vault AI
Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
Netflix has achieved yet another breakout hit, this time in the form of a heartwarmingly sweet LGBTQ+ British teen rom-com. Released back in April, the series has shown considerable staying power, building on viewers’ positive word-of-mouth and touted in the media as one of the best new shows of 2022. Here’s what you need to know about Heartstopper:
What audience has been driving the show’s popularity?
Younger adult women. Although the show follows two teenage boys, Heartstopper viewers are heavily female (71%), with a full quarter made up of women 18-29. Its audience profile is similar to other recent teen-oriented romantic dramas, including Never Have I Ever,The Summer I Turned Pretty, Gossip Girl, and Love, Victor.
Has all the media buzz been accompanied by increased social chatter?
Most definitely. Heartstopper’s has seen a much more sustained level of online activity than the norm, coasting at our max (160) for the entire first month after launch (potentially receiving an extra boost from Pride Month). The show’s social buzz has outstripped more typically-performing comps like Love, Victor, Gossip Girl, and Never Have I Ever, which all saw drop-offs within a week after their initial release.
What has made this show such a breakout hit for Netflix?
Its sweet, heartfelt depiction of budding Teen Romance (160) and the ups and downs of Teen Life (144). The series delves into common high school rom-com tropes from an LGBTQ+ perspective and tells a universally relatable Coming of Age (124) story about finding first love.
What makes this series different from other teen high school romances?
The all-boys British grammar School Setting (160). This fresher and more unusual (to Americans, at least) version of the educational backdrop has made the setting a more central ratings driver than for other teen series like Euphoria, Pen15, and Love, Victor.
Which emotions has Heartstopper tapped into that are generating such praise? Love (123) and Acceptance (118). The show’s inherent sweetness and positivity, especially around its central LGBTQ+ romance, are what’s creating such strong word-of-mouth; similarly, the Trust (118) and Anticipation (118) surrounding the budding relationship between teens Nick and Charlie play into its likely longevity.
*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside ratings performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.
Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs:
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Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
Disney Pixar’s newest animated feature releases this weekend only in theaters and is already receiving the brand’s expected high level of critical acclaim. The film is a prequel of sorts to Toy Story, depicting the adventures of the (fictional) human astronaut, voiced by Chris Evans, that inspired young Andy’s beloved Buzz Lightyear action figure. Here’s what you need to know about Lightyear:
What audiences will be most excited for this film?
Kids and teens. In keeping with Pixar’s previous outings, both boys and girls under 18 connect most with the film’s central themes (‘Outstanding’ at 124). That said, when compared to Toy Story 4 (2019), Lightyear’s story has the ability to attract more men 18-44 (120 vs 108).
What story hook will bring in the widest array of viewers?
The hero’s journey. Whereas the original Toy Story films highlighted the buddy comedy between Woody and Buzz, Lightyear centers on the heroic efforts of Buzz after being marooned on a far-away planet. Buzz and his crew’s Journey Home (152) promises a rousing sci-fi adventure, and comes to life when our heroes engage in a Humans vs. Monsters (118) conflict against the evil alien Emperor Zurg.
How important is the Buzz Lightyear IP?
Very. The movie’s spiritual tie to Tim Allen’s version of Buzz is a key element of nostalgia for adults who know and love the original Toy Story films. In all, the Buzz Lightyear IP (125) is predicted to be the second-most important interest driver.
What else is appealing to younger viewers in addition to Buzz’s mission?
An adorable robot cat. In keeping with Disney’s tradition of cute animal sidekicks, Lightyear introduces the Anthropomorphic Cat (118) Sox as a companion to the titular astronaut. A major source of silly comedy, Sox appeals to kids, teens and 18-34’s, though he will likely prove less popular among adults 35+.
*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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Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox weekly.
Get in touch to test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI.
About Vault AI
Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
Releasing this week, Paramount+’s newest comedy series offers a cleverly satirical look at the cutthroat world of competitive gaming. From the creators of American Vandal, the show is a mockumentary-style parody about a team of professional League of Legends esports competitors vying for their first championship–and all of the absurdities that go with it. Here’s what you need to know about Players:
What type of audience will Players bring to Paramount+?
A younger one. Unlike the streamer’s other recent successes (Mayor of Kingstown, Halo, The Offer, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Game), viewers for its newest comedy will lean toward Gen Z, with 55% predicted to be under 30. We’re also predicting a heavily male audience (66%), even more so than similar gaming satire Mythic Quest (at 59% male).
What’s driving the comedy in this series?
Its unique milieu. The ultra-competitive world of pro gaming is ripe for satire, and the show centers the heightened POV of its extremely Eccentric Characters (119) and their comedically high-pressure, Difficult Workplace (119) to ratchet up the absurdity in every situation.
What’s the one most important aspect of the show from a ratings perspective?
Its group focus. The complex Team Dynamics (136) between the esports teammates and their shared sense of disappointment, frustration, and hope as they prepare for the championship tournament is Players’ top overall viewership driver. The interplay between the variously quirky personalities also creates a strong avenue for the series’ humor.
What will make the show bingeworthy?
The clash between new and old. When rising teen star Organizm is recruited to the pro gamers’ team, the situation sparks a Rivalry (126) and Power Struggle (138) with veteran icon Creamcheese, who refuses to share his limelight or his Stardom (117). Viewers will be hooked laughing at Creamcheese’s toddler-like tantrums and other juvenile attempts to thwart his own teammate.
What’s most likely to help Players push into a second season?
The sense of absurdly over-the-top competition. The show’s Sports Focus (152)–esports, that is–as well as the accompanying Ambition & Drive (131) and unchecked Competitiveness (136) of Creamcheese and his pro team create a driving engine that will help propel the story forward.
*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside ratings performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.
Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs:
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Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
In the age of peak content, the media and entertainment industry faces new challenges after years of expansion. The streaming boom is slowly turning into a battle of customer retention while linear TV continues to lose viewers, and audiences are slowly returning to movie theaters in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. In the midst of this change, we are now faced with the reality of inflationary pressures and a potential recession, exacerbating the challenges of competition and subscriber fatigue. In the face of these challenges, the value of “hit” content has never been higher. Given these changes, now is the time for content creators and marketers to gain a competitive edge by making their content and research strategies more nimble, scalable, and reliable via AI-powered Consumer Insights.
AI-powered Consumer Insights encompasses respondent-free research techniques that offer media and entertainment executives a faster, more accurate and more secure approach to consumer insights than current survey and focus group methodologies. By using AI to understand consumer behaviors and taste preference, issues related to sample size and data quality are eliminated, global insights are more timely, and research findings can evolve in real-time as the competitive landscape changes and new viewership patterns emerge.
With total content spend reaching over $140bn in 2022 (Variety), top studios and streamers require more thorough and complex research to identify prospective “hits” and optimize creative and marketing strategies. This mass-production of content and proliferation of direct to consumer streaming platforms has led to unprecedented levels of competition in the US, causing many media and entertainment outlets to lean heavily on international markets to sustain growth. Fortunately, Artificial Intelligence is particularly well suited to utilize Big Data to understand the competitive global content landscape, audience tastes, and drivers of viewership. AI empowers the media and entertainment sector with the Consumer Insights needed to thrive in today’s uncertain marketplace.
A comparison of content costs among streaming competitors. (Variety)
To be sure, survey and focus group research continues to play a critical role in helping the media and entertainment sector understand the opinions and thoughts of certain audiences. However, this article articulates the benefits of embracing AI-powered Consumer Insights as part of the research process to optimize ongoing and future content investment and marketing strategies.
The Flaws of Traditional Consumer Research
Aging methodologies underpin much of the status quo for consumer research. These traditional consumer insights rely on respondent-based methodologies like focus groups, panels, and surveys. These traditional methods help identify the decision making and experience behind peoples’ recent behaviors, but are less powerful when predicting future behaviors. The glaring failures of political polling in recent times are evidence of this.
While there have been some technological advancements in traditional research methods, namely fraud response detection and mobile survey samples, these haven’t addressed the fundamental issues of sample size, extrapolation, and reliability.
“Entertainment companies continue to use traditional respondent research despite fundamental issues.”
Sample Bias and Accuracy Issues
Insights based on traditional consumer research are only as good as the respondent data collected. Experts question if surveys and focus groups can consistently collect high-quality data. Studies show that 90% of researchers need to improve panel quality control (i.e., removing bots and problem respondents from their panel). Over 40% of respondents claim familiarity with fake brands, demonstrating the challenges in trusting respondent feedback at face value (Grey Matter Research). Long surveys are another issue impacting data quality. Survey lengths increase to gather more meaningful insight, often taking thirty minutes or more to complete, resulting in respondent fatigue, non-response bias and diminishing data quality.
Small Sample Size
The small sample sizes of traditional methods are often a source of frustration for the entertainment market. Yet, with no clear alternative, and tight budgets to meet, respondent surveys are deployed with samples as small as 300-1,000 respondents. As a result, the risk factor of extrapolating these findings to the broader population in an increasingly complex market is high, diminishing the entertainment industry’s ability to make critical business decisions with a high degree of confidence.
Slow and Labor Intensive Process
Aside from data quality and sample size issues, collecting respondent feedback is inefficient. Positioning studies for entertainment content often take six weeks, not including planning time. More significant global genre and landscape studies often take months. As a result, insights are often weeks old by the time they arrive. In a competitive market with rapid releases, this turnaround is suboptimal.
Static Results
Finally, data collected in respondent studies do not reflect changes in consumer behavior that emerge after the study is completed. To monitor trends over time or dig deeper into nuances discovered during research, the entire survey or focus group process must start again from the beginning — the antithesis of scalability.
Despite these fundamental issues, most entertainment companies continue to use traditional respondent research as their primary methodology. Fortunately, there is another way to make decisions that drive business outcomes.
A New Dawn: AI-powered Consumer Insights
Predictive, data-driven audience research provides decision-makers with insights based on population-level viewership behaviors rather than respondent opinions. As a pioneer in this space, Vault AI’s approach uses a proprietary combination of AI and consumer insights talent to identify the core story themes and character profiles present in the content. Machine learning then identifies the story elements that drive viewership based on actual in-market performance data (e.g. box office, live viewership, number of hours streamed).
“AI-powered insights are based on actual behavioral data, not stated responses from respondents.”
This approach was designed to deliver consumer insights in a way that directly addressed the limitations of traditional respondent-based consumer research in the entertainment market.
Eliminating Sample Bias and Small Sample Sizes
AI-powered insights are based on actual behavioral data, not stated responses from respondents, eliminating the issues in sample quality, respondent bias, leading questions, and small sample extrapolation. All of this is made possible by using AI and Big Data to understand the actual viewing behaviors of entire populations, rather than collecting feedback from a small portion of the population to extrapolate to a larger group.
Faster Turnaround Time & Dynamic Results
By eliminating the time needed for respondent recruitment and study administration, AI analysis can deliver actionable consumer insights within 24 hours. Unlocking the ability to deliver insights early enough for implementation and with enough time to support rapid iteration and follow-up studies. As production unfolds and as release approaches, insights can be rapidly updated to reflect the evolving creative and marketing materials and competitive release landscape.
Vault AI’s approach alleviates the core limitations of traditional research.
Why Now?
The trends of globalization and multimodal distribution in the media sector (e.g., releasing on both linear TV and streaming) coupled with increasing market competition and challenging economics make AI-powered Consumer Insights well suited to the current and future needs of content creators, marketers, distributors, and researchers.
One World, Many Markets
The media and entertainment industry is increasingly international. Global OTT revenue is projected to rise from $135B in 2021 to $224B by 2027 as streaming services produce and distribute content on an increasingly global basis to sustain growth (Digital TV News). However, the traditional respondent-based research techniques used to inform these production, distribution and expansion strategies offer few synergies and limited economies of scale, making them suboptimal for the consumer research needs of today’s competitive global entertainment landscape. Conversely, the speed and reliability of AI-powered Consumer Insights methodologies become an increasingly compelling value-add when applied on a global basis.
A Hit is a Hit in Any Language
The availability of and appetite for foreign language content has increased across the globe. In the US, 2020 Oscars champion Parasite and recent box office breakout Everything Everywhere All at Once are not in English, while streaming hits Squid Game, Money Heist, and Lupin are all imports (CNET).
Globalized content is more than just the US importing and exporting content – Squid Game was at one point the top show in 90 countries (Forbes). AI is language-agnostic and can understand viewership based on population-level engagement data in any country. The advantages of predictive insights, including turnaround time, are particularly game-changing as the number of titles and countries researched increases.
Multimodal Distribution
Another critical trend impacting consumer research in the entertainment industry is the increase in multimodal distribution — namely, releasing content in multiple distribution formats (e.g. linear and digital). Distribution decisions add complexity to content and marketing strategies. AI-powered consumer insights have an advantage over traditional and proprietary 1st party subscriber-specific datasets by representing audience behavior holistically across all modes of distribution.
Viewership is increasingly fractured and difficult to capture. (FierceTV)
The rise of multimodal distribution has prompted new research questions. Instead of asking: “Will this attract a live audience at home or in theaters?” audience research today strives to answer: “How can this content create the greatest lifetime value across all our modes of distribution?” AI and Big Data-driven analysis provide a methodologically robust view of audience consumption and a means for predicting the value of content in any release format.
AI-powered Insights Yield Impactful Results
Traditional consumer insights methodologies were designed for simpler times. Surveys remain great for understanding why a group of people took specific actions. However, AI is more powerful as a strategic ally for predicting the performance of unreleased content and optimizing release strategies to maximize commercial success and navigate significant market turbulence.
Content, audience and distribution decisions pose complex questions, exasperating the fundamental shortcomings of traditional research. In contrast, Vault AI’s proprietary combination of data, AI and consumer insights experts evaluates consumer viewing patterns holistically across all types of distribution and consumption, providing faster and more accurate insights aligned with the needs of today’s media and entertainment industry.
Continue the conversation about what AI-powered consumer insights can do for you: etitelman@vault-ai.com
Or register your interest for our upcoming webinar on this topic
— About Vault AI
Vault AI delivers AI-powered consumer insights for leading streamers, TV networks and film studios. Our proprietary mix of performance datasets, machine learning, and consumer insights professionals brings you powerful insights with the highest accuracy and fastest turnaround time. Without needing a single survey or focus group, we help you make better production, development and marketing decisions for your content at scale.
Releasing in mid-June, Starz’s upcoming new Renaissance period drama points the spotlight at the girl who would be queen–England’s Queen Elizabeth The First. The series tracks Elizabeth’s life after the death of father Henry VIII as she fights for the crown and becomes embroiled in all the court scandals of her day. Here’s what you need to know about Becoming Elizabeth:
What audience will be most interested in the series?
Older women. Viewers will be mostly female (56%) and heavily older (91% aged 35+), with a full third falling into the F55+ group. This demographic split mirrors similar female-led royal period dramas Reign and Victoria, but Versailles (which followed a young Louis XIV of France) attracted relatively more men.
How important is the show’s portrayal of real-life history?
Very. The fact that the show is Based on Historical Events (123) and full of depictions of true-to-life Political Manipulations (115) is key driver for ratings and lifts the degree to which it’s perceived as a Biography (120) and History (117) series.
What about this series will make for a fresh historical retelling?
Its focus on Elizabeth’s teen years. While many previous projects have explored the reign of Elizabeth I, Becoming Elizabeth concentrates on her Coming of Age (113) story, her Inner Conflict (125) around a potential claim to the throne, and the heightened adolescent trials and experiences that ultimately forged the future ruler of England’s Golden Age.
What element lies at the heart of this story? Family Conflict (128). The court intrigue is heightened by the fact that the games are being played around and amongst siblings. The three children of Henry VIII–young and sickly Edward, domineering Mary, and stubborn Elizabeth–become both agents and pawns of manipulation, and their tumultuous Sibling Rivalry (126) will be a key viewership driver for the series.
How will the royalty of it all contribute to the show’s success?
It will help with longevity. As with The Crown, Reign, and The Great before it, Becoming Elizabeth’s focus on Royalty (114)–in this case, the English monarchy–will feed viewers’ obsession with the lives of kings and queens and offer a compelling reason for them to keep coming back.
What emotional experience will keep viewers glued to their seats?
The whiplash of a high-stakes adolescence. As Elizabeth both tangles with scheming relatives and feels the first blooms of romance–all while fighting accusations of treason and rebellion, punishable by death–her emotions seesaw from Love (113) to Anger (113), providing a rollercoaster viewing experience that will offer fodder for many seasons to come.
*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside ratings performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.
Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs:
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Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
Releasing this weekend, Hulu’s newest original film is a witty queer rom-com offering a modern twist on the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. Following a group of friends on vacation in the historic LGBTQ+ locale of Fire Island, the story celebrates both cultural and sexual diversity, while highlighting the importance of family. Here’s what you need to know about Fire Island:
Who will be the film’s biggest fans?
<35s. While the viewing audience is projected to skew female (53%), male and female viewers 18-34 (92) are predicted to have the most connection to the film’s themes and characters. That said, the story’s appeal is quite broad, even more so than Hulu’s Love, Victor (67% female), and many elements have the potential to expand the target if word of mouth takes off.
What’s its most compelling story hook?
A tight-knit group of friends on a wild and crazy vacation. The story centers on a Crazy Guys Vacation (160) filled with rowdy, Hangover-style comedy alongside doses of drama and romance. Even more, this particular Chosen Family (128) of affectionately sarcastic gay BFFs is important to both men and women.
How important is Fire Island’s diverse casting?
Crucial. The movie’s welcome inclusion of ethnic, sexual, and cultural Diversity (141) among the Asian-American characters is a major draw that underlines the importance of both non-white representation and queer love stories. Importantly, this gives Fire Island a refreshing take on the ‘boys’ trip’ theme.
Where does the love story fit in?
It’s supportive. While not a leading theme, the film’s exploration of LGBTQIA+ Romance (98) is a particular draw for younger women <35. However, even more intriguing are themes borrowed from Pride and Prejudice, such as the Social Class Conflict (111) between Fire Island’s versions of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy (and their associated cliques).
*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:
—
Stay in the know
Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox weekly.
Get in touch to test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI.
About Vault AI
Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
After two seasons on broadcast, creator Seth MacFarlane and the FOX network jointly collaborated to morph the popular live-action space comedy into a streaming-only Hulu Original. The show’s upcoming third season reunites the same cast and crew for another round of epic adventures, but this time ramps up the storytelling to take advantage of the additional flexibility offered by streaming. Here’s what you need to know about The Orville: New Horizons:
How will The Orville’s audience shift in the move from FOX to Hulu exclusive?
It will trend younger and even more male. Audience predictions show a transition to 66% male/34% <30 viewership from the series’ original linear broadcast predictions of 57% male and 18% <35.
Are viewers excited about its transition to streaming?
Somewhat. The release of the new S3 trailer–which highlighted the show’s action-adventure side, in contrast to S1’s comedy-first positioning–did cause a spike in online activity (114), but social tracking has been a bit sluggish since then. However, there is still time for the metric to jump ahead of its June 2 premiere.
What story concepts worked well for the first season of The Orville?
The comedy and its motley crew. Viewers loved the show’s Satirical Humor (132) that lovingly parodies the sci-fi genre as well as the Co-Worker Relationships (143) and Unlikely Friendships (137) formed between the disparate individuals running The Orville, with Seth MacFarlane’s charismatic Captain Mercer Leading the Way (152).
What emotional hook best inspired the early buzz about the show?
The crew’s emerging bonds. The Admiration (136) and Trust (131) they developed throughout the season, both for each other and particularly for Captain Mercer’s leadership, were closely linked to S1’s social buzz.
Which aspect of the show will best take advantage of its new streaming home?
Its Distinctly Realized World (148). The unique, futuristic, fleshed-out universe in which The Orville takes place is the #1 driver for its bingeability and could help onboard new viewers to the series. The characteristic worlds of Star Trek and Star Wars play a similar role for the most recent shows within those franchises (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Obi-Wan Kenobi).
*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault AI’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside ratings performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.
Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs:
—
Stay in the know
Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox weekly.
Based in Los Angeles and Israel, Vault AI is using a combination of machine learning and consumer insights experts to help the entertainment industry predict consumer response to content. Test your content faster and more accurately with Vault AI and get granular insights across the entire content life cycle today.
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