How Does a Movie Premiere Work?

Press

A movie premiere works to advertise the opening of a new film prior to a national, regional or local release date. An area known as the "press box" is set up for press to interview the cast and director of the film as well as other celebrity guests. The interview print or video footage is then used to promote the film in other regional or local markets in order to encourage cinema attendance or cable viewership, if the movie will be broadcast on a free-to-air or cable broadcast station.

Ticketing

Tickets are provided for cast and crew, industry insiders, network heads and general audience members. To get the word out, many studios will offer "give-away" tickets and movie premiere packages on local radio stations. This is done to increase awareness about the movie as well as drum up interest for the event. In many cases, a premier can create excitement for a film by providing reviews and feedback of the movie from audience members attending the premiere.

National and Global Markets

A premiere will take place in the market where the film will open. For larger, more mainstream films, a movie premiere may take place in New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta, depending on the distribution schedule. Typically, a film will celebrate its upcoming release date in the United States first. Then, in some cases, go on to premiere across several international markets, marking its entrance into the world market. (This is usually a process that occurs across several dates.) Key international markets include Japan, England, Sydney and Germany.