Olivia Dineley

Why ‘Deadpool’ was so successful:

‘Deadpool’ is a 2016 action-comedy, produced by Marvel Studios. It follows the story of Wade Wilson and his journey to getting revenge and how his character develops and gains superpowers. Gaining $760.3 Million at the box office, making it the 7th highest-grossing Marvel film, following in the footsteps of Marvel’s Avengers Assemble.

A films success is measured by the grossing amount, how well it does in the opening weekend, merchandise sales and the overall reviews from film critics. The grossing amount is calculated by the amount of box office (how much is made from sales) and the amount it cost to make it is subtracted.

‘Deadpool’ had some very good trailers, which could suggest why the film was such a success. They mainly used the colour red, which is a bright, eye-catching primary colour. This would draw viewers into the trailer, by catching their attention. The trailers have a comedic effect, making viewers laugh or feel happy when watching them. People like laughing, so would want to go see the film as soon as it is released. The trailers also show that there will be action, without giving too much away as regards to the storyline. The trailers ‘break the 4th wall’, which makes viewers feel included and part of the storyline.

The advertising targets to a mass audience. Going against the stereotype, it advertises to both male and females, by labelling it as a ‘love story’ and releasing it a few days before Valentine’s Day. This could also be why the colour red is used a lot in the trailers. It also advertises to a younger audience (15+) by using social media. This follows the stereotype of teens staying on social media.

The fact that it is based off of a comic means that whoever has read the comic book, would want to go see the film. Also, people who generally like Marvel films would want to see it, as they know that their films are usually of a high standard.

The film was rumoured to have been made very early on, so that meant fans could build up lots of ‘hype’ and make others aware that the film was going to be released. The anticipation had built up, and it became a huge success before it had even been released.

In my personal opinion, the film is successful because it is just a good film. It uses a range of camera angles and techniques to keep the film interesting. The contrast between the action, humour and dark themes (cancer, death, and vanity) makes it appeal to everyone in some way. The fact it uses quick scene cuts and fast-pace jokes means that every time you watch it, you’ll pick up something new, or find a joke funnier because of something that happened. The film doesn’t require a background knowledge of the franchise, but if you do have the knowledge, it is a funnier film, as some jokes are aimed towards the fans. This can then lead to people wanting to watch the films that are in the franchise, furthering Marvel’s success as a film company.