Movies
In-theater commercials and product placements are booming. This is yet another form of advertising to a captive audience.
Commercial Alert is asking moviegoers to say "no commercials" out loud whenever a pre-movie ad is shown on screen. Movie houses should be required by law to tell us when the movie -- not the ads -- starts.
More Information
News Releases
Commercial Alert Criticizes Movie-Length Ad Targeted at Kids
Gary Ruskin | May 7th, 2001
Nader, Commercial Alert Want Theaters to Disclose When Movies (Not Ads) Start
Gary Ruskin | December 14th, 1998
Related Articles and Links
Related Articles
Digital Placement
The Engineer Online (UK) | April 7th, 2008
The Supporting Actor Wore Radials
Stuart Elliot | The New York Times | March 26th, 2008
Coalition to MPAA: Stop Marketing PG-13 Films to Young Children
Josh Golin | Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood | January 17th, 2008
Seinfeld, McD's, Brach's Help Build 'Bee Movie' Buzz
T.L. Stanley | Brandweek | November 22nd, 2007
Advertainment Greets Moviegoers
Laura Petrecca | USA Today | October 15th, 2007
Firms' Donations to LAPD Spur Concerns
Patrick McGreevy | Los Angeles Times | April 15th, 2007
Hollywood's Smoke Alarm
Jeffrey Kluger | Time Magazine | April 14th, 2007
Shhh! The Ads Are About to Start
Jen Chaney | Washington Post | May 15th, 2005
Movie Studios Look for Creative Ways to Market Their Films
Kim Masters | National Public Radio (NPR) | May 11th, 2005
Dubbing In Product Plugs; How Spider-Man 2 Made Dr Pepper a Star in the U.S. And Mirinda a Star Overseas
Charles Goldsmith | Wall Street Journal | December 6th, 2004
Moviegoers Say Pre-Movie Commercials May Keep Them From the Theater
InsightExpress | November 17th, 2004
Big Screen Ads Do Boffo Back Office
Michael McCarthy | USA Today | June 14th, 2004
Under an Audacious Campaign, the Chatter Before the Movie Starts Might Just Be About a Nissan
Stuart Elliott | New York Times | November 6th, 2003
Commercials Steal Show at Movie Theaters
Donna De Marco | Washington Times | January 21st, 2003
Attack of the 40-Foot Ads
Lynn Smith | Los Angeles Times | November 22nd, 2002
Marketing at the Movies --- First, It Was On-Screen Ads; Now, It Is Lobby Promotions, And Some Call It Intrusive
Suzanne Vrancia | Wall Street Journal | September 5th, 2002
Mercedes Ad Looks Like Action Flick
Erin White | Wall Street Journal | July 24th, 2002
Coming Distractions
Greg Johnson | Los Angeles Times | March 24th, 2002
Coming Soon: More Ads Tailored to Your Tastes; Movie Theaters Now Match Ads to Targeted Demographic
Pamela Paul | American Demographics | July 31st, 2001
Increasingly, Movie Showings Pitch Messages from Sponsors
Greg Johnson | Los Angeles Times | November 26th, 1998
External Links
Film Tooned Into Products
Robin Clewley, Wired News | 2001-05-05
NYC legislation to require movie theaters to tell when the movie (not the ads) starts
New York City Councilwoman Gale Brewer | February 18, 2005