MovieChat Forums > Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) Discussion > How do movies like this get a Greenlight...

How do movies like this get a Greenlight?

posted 9 years ago by Amanni3968
133 replies | jump to latest

I'm asking in all seriousness. I have not seen the film nor do I plan to, as I find the premise absurd, but that's just me. I don't care that someone produces a movie that I find to be ludicrous, I just want to know how this is done? How does this happen? How are decent scripts passed over for movies like this or Jupiter Ascending, and on and on and on (the list is never ending). I can't wrap my head around this. You catch whiffs or hints of potentially great movies and/or plots, then they fade into obscurity and Hollywood fills the dead space with dung like this. Is the magic formula to take a classic book, and rip it apart, add several layers of ridiculousness, and then that makes it a hit? Can I just come up with oh I don't know, " The Count of Monte Cristo meets the Hunchback of Notre Dame all while attending Hogwarts fighting off nargles". (BTW - that's my idea - my idea, no stealing it!) I mean WTF - who picked this up and said - "WOW, a classic stuffy romance set to the back drop of Victorian England with, say what now, Zombies! Shut the front door *nameless genius scratches chin* Hmm The walking dead is doing pretty good right now, so I say let's run with it"! Is that how it goes down?

[–] teatat 9 years ago

Re: "who picked this up and said - "WOW, a classic stuffy romance set to the back drop of Victorian England..."

Certainly no one who knows much about Pride and Prejudice, because it's a comedy and social satire and took place in Regency England.

As far as how it got the green light: The book (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) was a best-seller.

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

The movie is funny as hell. A friend of mine will have seen it twice by the time it opens officially,. At the free screening I went to last Wednesday the theater was packed.

So this movie's appeal seems to be wider than just Janeites.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] teatat 9 years ago

I'm looking forward to it. :o)

[–] alfa-16 9 years ago

I'm with you, Julie. I loved it. There are more ways to be funny than than contrived gag-lines, gross-out sight gags and knob-jokes though we don't often see them up on screen.

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

Obviously we both have exquisite taste in movies.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] alfa-16 9 years ago

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[–] michael-carter-194-475711 8 years ago

I liked it more for a the zombie twist. It was a fun movie with a different twist than all the other zombies movies that been out. Hell I wouldn't mind if they did a few others like this.

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[–] wlutz19 9 years ago

Lol. This is going to bomb hard. It looks like some Uwe Boll *beep*

[–] beyondj 9 years ago

Have you ever seen an uwe ball movie?? Looks nothing like them!
The book is amazing,

[–] wlutz19 8 years ago

@beyondj You were right. Uwe Boll has done better. At least he made his *beep* money back.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Worldwide: $16,374,328
Production Budget: $28 million

House of the Dead
Worldwide: $13,818,181
Production Budget: $12 million

Source: Box Office Mojo

[–] spamdeath-1 9 years ago

There is no way they are going to make their $28M budget back. Someone is going to seriously regret giving a green light.

[–] krich-27628 9 years ago

It got the greenlight because the book was hilarious and a best seller. The book came out in 2009 around the time when the zombie craze was beginning to become popular. The movie also has a decent cast with some seasoned actors. Watch the film first before forming an opinion, not all mashups and recreations are bad. Since I read the book, I'm looking forward to this film.

[–] BlackMaria 9 years ago

FYI: Pride And Prejudice was first published in 1813.

[–] krich-27628 9 years ago

Yes I know, but Pride and Prejudice and Zombies came out in 2009

[–] teatat 9 years ago

I believe this poster was referring to the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

[–] perfectjade 9 years ago

Lol that people still don't know it was a book and don't "get it".

Anyway, is it MEANT to be a comedy? I just wondered what it was supposed to be. Drama, comedy, or horror... I jump on the zombie bandwagon all the time but I don't get this movie. Still going to see it though.

It weakens us to not give our enemies the respect they deserve...

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

As I've said at least a dozen times, it's a comedy. It's funny as hell.

Maybe that's because I know Pride and Prejudice backwards, forwards, upside down and diagonally, but I laughed until I almost choked.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] perfectjade 9 years ago

Actually you said it's "funny as hell" TWICE in this thread, which doesn't mean it's a comedy. A lot of B movies that were meant to be horror movies were so stupid they were funny to me. So I wasn't sure if this was meant to be that kind of movie or something else. Good grief take a chill pill.

It weakens us to not give our enemies the respect they deserve...

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

No, I was not laughing AT them. I was laughing WITH them. It's intentionally funny. I can tell the difference, you know.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

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[–] CinderFall 9 years ago

B movies are hit or miss. There are REALLY funny ones like "Slumber Party Massacre 2" and "Zombeavers", then there are TERRIBLE ones like "Wedding Slashers". I have not seen a single good review for "Wedding Slashers" and I don't believe there ever will be one. It's that bad. It's not so bad it's good, it's so bad it's bad.

[–] randommovies2002 9 years ago

Hey Jules. Glad to read that you loved it. I'm all in. I'm going with a group of local JASNA members over the weekend. We're totally pumped!

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

I'm actually going to see it again on Thursday night. There are 2 different theaters showing it at 7:30-ish that night. I'll go to the one nearest my favorite pizza place.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] lavignebiz1 9 years ago

What do you mean? Of course it's a comedy. The book was so funny! It's on the same order as Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. The Civil War was between Humans vs. Vampires? C'mon! I got Emma and the Vampires for Christmas and know that I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it. I wish they'd do a version of that using the cast of Clueless.

I have every intention of seeing PPZ, but think I'll see Hail, Caesar first. This next week is going to be busy at the movies.

[–] Ike_McAdoo 9 years ago

same two movies i want to see. i'm just waiting on the reviews.

[–] verucasalt23-1 9 years ago

It's a comedy. With zombies. Sort of like Zombieland or the iZombie TV series, not Dawn of the Dead.

Since it's PG 13, it's less gory than the typical zombie movie, which probably helps it stay light (though Zombieland was quite gory).

"Arguing with trolls is like playing chess with a pigeon . . . ."

[–] randommovies2002 9 years ago

FYI: Pride And Prejudice was first published in 1813.

LOL! 😛

[–] bworm76 9 years ago

Not a clue. Speechless at how moronic the trailer is. And then I just laughed at how ludicrous and stupid it looks, which probably means it will be a hit. No one has original ideas anymore? We just put a spin on something existing? Speaking of spinning, I'm sure Jane Austen is doing just that.

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

I actually saw the entire movie. It was funny as hell. It was intended to be funny as hell.

As for Jane Austen, I bet she'd be thrilled to bits that people still love her work 200 years later.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] randommovies2002 9 years ago

Reference to "turning/spinning in his/her grave" is the most over-used cliché on the internet.

[–] mec_os 9 years ago

you don't expect someone on the internet complaining that no one makes anything original say something original? it wouldn't be internet irony if they did.

[–] MrsJove 9 years ago

you don't expect someone on the internet complaining that no one makes anything original say something original? it wouldn't be internet irony if they did.

I read the book. It came free with my Nook Tablet. It was the story of PaP as remembered except an alternate England I guess and full of zombies and them living andnsurviving amongst it all. I don't know how I feel aboutnit. Just a quirky read I guess.

I agree with a previous poster. It did come out when the zombie craze was at a high. Too much of anything can be a bad thing. The trailer looks weird like those type of weird zombie flicks you find scrolling through Netflix. But ppl think it's funny so who really knows. We'll see.

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.

[–] verucasalt23-1 9 years ago

It's called a retelling. There are many retellings of classic tales, where they change or modernize them. Some other retellings of Jane Austen's work include Clueless (modern Emma), Bride and Prejudice (modern P&P set in India, Bollywood musical), and Bridget Jones's Diary (modern P&P). This one probably used more of Austen's actual WORDS than those others, but that actually made it funnier because you'd have those frilly words, juxtaposed against girls in ballgowns doing martial arts.

"Arguing with trolls is like playing chess with a pigeon . . . ."

[–] fauxindigo 9 years ago

There is a niche for every different type of movie- crazy bad movies get the green light all the time because people (audiences and producers) have varied tastes and motivations. PP&Z has the draw of an apocalypse type film and a period piece but with a fun spin- it has over the top action, horror (probably some gore) and comedy. it seems to mix genres and can appeal to both men and women. Maybe you should just have fun and enjoy it.

[–] blackwood260 9 years ago

Have fun and enjoy it? Anyone who would waste a dollar to see this type of stupid *beep* encourages Hollyweird to keep releasing useless *beep* like this. If you enjoy this GARBAGE you must have the IQ of a potato.

[–] evygaspar 9 years ago

i think you're sort of missing the point of Hollywood. it exists solely to make money off of movie-goers. if people go see a movie, somewhere, another movie of that type is greenlit. they're hardly idiots you know - it's the biggest industry in the world.

also, from your phrasing it is fairly obvious that you have not seen the film that you are protesting. that, if anything, is a sign of a subpar intellect. to call out the intelligence of those who choose to enjoy themselves by watching a fun romp - moronic.

[–] Julie-30 9 years ago

Agreed. I've seen it 3 times and plan to buy it when it comes out on blu-ray. I have several friends and acquaintances who have also seen it multiple times. And all of us are actually quite discerning when we go to the movies.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com

[–] ldub613 9 years ago

The book was quite clever. The source material is classic. Personally I'd rather see this than many upcoming films like Gods of Egypt, Fifty Shades of Black or London Has Fallen

[–] sionxxii 9 years ago

"Who cares what it's about as long as the kids go?"

[–] BlackMaria 9 years ago

For the same reason every superhero that can be dredged up is getting a franchise; likewise video games; vampires a few years ago, and now zombies. "Jumping on the bandwagon" is what it's called. Very few studios or producers want to take chances on untried material/themes anymore. So when one gimminck or theme hits for one producer - be it superheros, vampires, aliens, zombies, etc. - the rest scramble to cash in with their own version. With dedicated fanbases for genre material, and algorithms to back up their decisions, they think these are safe bets. But then there are the financial disasters like Jupiter Ascending, RIPD, John Carter, The Lone Ranger; and the artistic disasters too numerous to list. The irony is, that by playing it safe, the American film industry has made more garbage in the last twenty years than in the previous hundred.

I call this fear of the new and untried "Heaven's Gate Syndrome": when the movie Heaven's Gate came out in 1980, it was the biggest flop in film history up til then. It was considered such a disaster, in fact, that the shock waves rippled throughout Hollywood boardrooms and the risky film making that defined much of the 1960's and 70's came to an end, and the era of the MBA's and bean counters running the industry began. Studios no longer wanted to take chances, they wanted safe projects. And the quality of Hollywood's output has steadily declined ever since. Nick Tosches wrote a great article about this in Vanity Fair about ten years ago, maybe you can find it online.

So if you're holding your breath, waiting for Hollywood to warm up to the scores of great novels and stories out there that could be developed into great films...my advice is to just exhale and move on...

[–] gswan 9 years ago

I call this fear of the new and untried "Heaven's Gate Syndrome": when the movie Heaven's Gate came out in 1980, it was the biggest flop in film history up til then.

I'd always heard about what a financial and artistic disasters Heaven's Gate was. But TVOntario broadcast it a few years ago, together with interviews about the film, and with some of the people involved in it. Financial disaster? It bankrupted the studio. Artistic disaster? I agreed with the people they interviewed that it was an artistic success.

For what it is worth, during the long delay, and reports of cost over-runs during the filming of Titanic, lots of industry insiders were predicting it would be a disaster of even greater proportions. These wise-guys kept saying: "Why for Titanic to be a financial success it would have to be the highest grossing film in history!" Of course it WAS the highest grossing film in history.

RIPD was a terrible film, but I liked the Lone Ranger.

Studios no longer wanted to take chances, they wanted safe projects. And the quality of Hollywood's output has steadily declined ever since. Nick Tosches wrote a great article about this in Vanity Fair about ten years ago, maybe you can find it online.

Yeah, but producers have always been risk averse.

There are some pretty forgettable films from previous years. Focussing on recent forgettable crap films isn't fair, as the forgettable crap films of past decades are largely forgotten. They aren't on Netflix, they aren't shown on the late show. Comparing the entire film output of 2015 with the greatest films of the past, isn't fair because you overlook the forgotten crap of the past.

Yes, there is a lot of forgettable crap made, but twas ever thus, even bearing in mind how many recent films are based on comic books.