How important is a good soundtrack in selling a movie?

Question

Would pulp fiction been a successfull if it wasn't for the soundtrack

Answer 1

I think soundtracks in selling a movie are "extremely" important. I can think of several movies offhand as well as a few superb tv series wherein the soundtrack at the start and end just move you to not only remember the movie but to leave you with chills, goosebumps, in tears, with a feeling of being patriotic, or pure wonderment, and they got emmys and tony awards.

It's not necessarily the song, and it usually is unknown music, but it's tone quality, certain instruments and noises give people certain feelings, and intenseness or softening at the proper times that give the reactions...."subliminal suggestion" is what it's called.

Answer 2

It's freaking huge. Pulp Fiction would have done just fine even without the soundtrack. That was a great movie that easily stood on its own. However, a great soundtrack can get an awful movie much more attention than it would otherwise deserve. Go rent The Doom Generation for an excellent example.

Sookie - I wasn't a fan of the movie either, but there was no denying the excellence of its soundtrack. I believe it got that movie a lot more attention than it otherwise would have received.

Prof - You should check out anyway. Granted it's stupid but you'll get to hear some decent music and see Perry Farrell working the cash register at a 7-11.

Dani G - Yeah, I've gotten accustomed to being called Rckets, so I went ahead and made it official. The "Lovn" part was likely something of a misnomer. But you can still call me LnR if you desire. :)

Answer 3

Extremely important if not essential.

The soundtrack is an area of the finished canvas regardless the degree of transparency. And, in many cases (such as Pulp Fiction) the viral effect has proven to tack on a zero or two to the bottom line.

Like marrying lyrics to music, it either works or it doesn't.

As in any medium, we're free to draw our own conclusion on whether the final result is good, bad or ugly.

Apocalypse Now. An awesome movie... The Doors soundtrack...
Worked great for the consumer and made Ho$$ywood happy too!

Answer 4

I think in terms of selling a moving, a soundtrack with a lot of well-known artists was more important in the 80s when all the movies were flashy and/or gimmicky.

However, a soundtrack can significantly change how a movie feels...so the soundtrack could impact how critics and moviegoers talk about the movie and thus impact sales.

Answer 5

Pulp fiction isn't the greatest example of the point you're trying to illustrate because that movie has a good story with excellent dialogue. The soundtrack enhances it, but isn't really essential to making it good. It was already good before they added the music. Generally, however, soundtracks can really help a movie, and not simply in terms of marketing.

Answer 6

I really don't know. Good question.
Sometimes people buy movies (or go to the cinema) when they hear the soundtrack first. It's like: "It has a good soundtrack and it must be a good movie". I really don't get that. In most cases it turns out that the movie sucks even if it has an awesome soundtrack. Could be a possibility. I don't know.

Answer 7

I will say that it can only work for you. I think a good movie on a general public scale people will find out about, but I can think of at least two movies that I knew would be awful, but gave a shot to because the soundtrack was very good.

Oh, wait, I think I'm looking at the question wrong. If you mean good music to accent the movie itself then yes. Music is an incredibly important tool. It accents the emotions you want to convey very significantly. If it's done right, in a way where you barely notice it there can be a lot of impact. Kind of like suspense scenes where you get subtle violins and pads kind of tickling your brain, but you're engulfed in the scene too much to notice. Very useful tool.

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Thanks for the tip on the Doom Generation. I liked Nowhere and was interested in seeing the Doom Generation, but I will pass. I only saw the really messed up part at the end and it kept me from renting it for a while, but I was still curious.

Answer 8

Like LnR said, it was a great movie that would've stood on its own. The Soundtrack helped accentuate an already great storyline.

Sometimes soundtracks better/make bearable a so-so or barely watchable movie.

Eddie and the Cruisers - the movie was okay, but the music added so much more

Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet - the soundtrack rocked and since the music was so much a part of the movie (like all of Luhrmann's films) it added another layer.

Like Musik & Sookie said.......Singles was an all right movie but the music added to the authenticity (it also didn't hurt to have Alice In Chains & Soundgarden perform on screen)


Rckets: I see you finally assumed your musical nickname......it looks good on you

Answer 9

Example The movie Singles I don't think would have gotten any attention without the soundtrack. I bought the soundtrack before even seeing the movie. I was all hyped to see it and when i did , I was disappointed..lol But the cd..loved it

Pulp Fiction ..would have been a hit with or without the soundtrack.

I say it's important..even if after you see the movie and it stinks, they still gotcha.

edit: Sookie sorry I did not see your post before i posted..:)

Answer 10

pulp fiction would have been just as successful without the soundtrack

i can tell you that the only reason i saw "bodysong" and am planning on seeing "there will be blood" is because jonny greenwood wrote all the music for both movies
i can't ever remember being put off of a movie because of the music