Due to its unusual independent production and its unabashedly weird tone,Megalopolisinitially struggled to secure a distribution deal.
The studio tried to incorporate the latter into the films tongue-in-cheek second trailer, but it backfired spectacularly.
In theory, thats a novel idea.
It encourages viewers to ignorethe reviews forMegalopolisand make up their own minds when it comes out.
Pauline Kael ofThe New Yorkerdid not write thatThe Godfatherwas diminished by its artsiness.
Vincent Canby ofThe New York Timesdidnt describeApocalypse Nowas hollow at its core.
It was a baffling choice to go ahead with this marketing campaign, because its easily verifiable.
The internet picked up on the fakery within a couple of hours of the trailer appearing online.
Lionsgate ended its statement bluntly: We screwed up.
Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect’s utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit’s resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.
Someone somewhere is responsible for fabricating the quotes, but Lionsgate has yet to identify the culprit.
Between theMegalopolistrailer controversy and the critical and commercial failure ofBorderlands, Lionsgate isnt having a great month so far.
Megalopolisis set to be released in U.S. theaters on September 27, 2024.
Roger Ebert gaveBram Stokers Draculathree out of four stars.
He wrote that Coppola favors spectacle over storytelling, but also lauded the films operatic qualities.
Ebert was much kinder toCoppolasDraculaadaptationthan his fabricated quote in theMegalopolistrailer makes out.
Its not a completely laudatory review, but the positive points far outweigh the negative points.
Frank Rich wrote a negative review ofApocalypse NowforTimemagazine; Tom Hibbert wrote a negative review ofBram Stokers DraculaforEmpire.
There are plenty of negative reviews of Coppolas well-regarded films that theMegalopolistrailer couldve used without making up fake ones.
And not only that;there are even some genuine negative quotes in the reviews that theMegalopolistrailer cited.
Canby didnt say thatApocalypse Nowwas hollow, but he did deride it as profoundly anticlimactic intellectual muddle.
Why make up fake quotes when these pejorative gems are ripe for the picking?
Will Megalopolis' Marketing Campaign Change With Future Trailers?
This was the best way they could find to spinMegalopolis own polarized reviews.
But will that have to change now?
Previously, the studio wanted to distance itself from the films critical reception.
Butnow that theyve been caught fabricating critic quotes, theyll probably want to distance themselves from that, too.
