Due to the explosive word of mouth from its preview screenings, whether it was regular viewers, the media, or film critics, "Deadpool" received widespread praise. In some regions, 20th Century Fox adopted an exclusive screening strategy for its release.
As the name suggests, exclusive screenings mean that 20th Century Fox and cinema companies agreed to only show "Deadpool" in certain theaters, not allowing any other movies to be screened. This strategy was aimed at Deadpool's two competitors, "Hellboy" and "Catwoman."
"Exclusive screening" has a long history in American cinemas and is quite controversial. It's an understanding reached between cinemas and distributors, granting individual cinemas exclusive rights to screen new releases in specific areas to block competitors from showing the same film, thus achieving a monopoly.
For distributors, "exclusive screening" reduces unnecessary scheduling waste and prevents audience dilution.
This is a tactic commonly used by the big six Hollywood studios, also a strategy to control cinema chains. In a time when almost all blockbuster movies are distributed by the big six or their subsidiaries, this strategy makes it difficult for smaller companies to break through.
Hollywood has its own set of rules, and Murphy has yet to earn the right to have a real say in actual distribution.
After the crew members and guests attending the premiere entered the theater, the seats towards the back began to fill with regular viewers who came specifically for the premiere, either as fans of Deadpool or supporters of a particular member of the creative team. Their attire almost turned the 2,200-plus capacity hall red.
And it was Deadpool's kind of shit red.
"Don't mess it up, everyone!"
At the entrance, a girl took off her Deadpool mask, revealing golden hair and a delicate face, and shouted to those behind, "Don't mess it up! I've already contacted the organizers, and they've reserved two big rows of seats for us."
"Daisy!" someone in the crowd behind her gave a thumbs up, "You're so capable!"
As he tried to push forward, Daisy quickly shouted, "Don't move disorderly, come in one by one!"
This entrance was specially opened for organized fans, a privilege she obtained after several contacts with CAA.
"Everyone, be orderly!" Daisy continued to remind loudly, "This is our discussion group's first collective activity, don't screw it up!"
As the discussion group leader of the Murphy-Stanton forum on IMDB, Daisy had a certain level of influence. Nearly fifty people who came together did not rush like the previous Deadpool but entered the theater in an orderly fashion and found their seats, sitting close together in the front and back rows.
"Looks like these are fan organizations."
Seeing people in the first two rows sitting down one after another, Martin-Smith curiously said, "Anderson, who do you think they are supporters of?"
"Definitely Robert Downey Jr.," Anderson-Williams pointed at their red clothes, "Didn't you see they are all wearing Deadpool's clothes?"
"Everyone, let's shout together..."
Suddenly, a crisp female voice came over. Because of the ongoing entrance, the theater was somewhat chaotic with various noises buzzing, but the girl's voice was clear, "Murphy is the best!"
"Murphy is the best!"
A unified voice came from that direction, immediately attracting the attention of the staff...
"So, they are supporters of Murphy-Stanton."
Martin-Smith and Anderson-Williams realized, surprised that the young director had so many fervent fans.
More people poured in around them, not many dressed casually like the two of them; most wore one or two pieces of Deadpool merchandise.
"20th Century Fox's promotion is very successful," said Anderson-Williams, who studied marketing in college, "The movie hasn't been shown yet, but so much merchandise has already been sold."
Martin-Smith looked around and nodded quickly, "Deadpool's gear has practically become the standard for watching movies here."
As they discussed, time passed by. As the seats behind gradually filled and the staff reminded everyone, the murmuring grew softer until the big screen lit up, and all noises vanished instantly.
After the intros of 20th Century Fox, Stanton Studios, and Marvel Comics, the previously quiet audience instantly changed, erupting into laughter at the Hollywood Chinese Theatre.
"Can the opening credits be done like this?"
Martin-Smith laughed so hard he could hardly catch his breath, and Anderson-Williams wasn't much better, constantly pointing at the big screen, "This director...ha...this director is too talented."
The on-screen credits were unlike anything they had seen in years of movie-watching: humorous, fun, and interesting.
"A movie by a jerk."
Following this self-deprecating title were the names of the cast and crew.
"Deadpool: The perfect idiot made by God, Robert Downey Jr."
"Vanessa: A sexy girl, Jessica Alba."
"A villain from England."
"A crazy Canadian comedian, Seth Rogen."
"An unpredictable girl, Lily Collins."
"A character made entirely of CGI, Colossus."
"A stingy producer, Kara Faith."
"A lazy director doing nothing, Murphy-Stanton."
An ordinary beginning effortlessly stirred the audience's emotions, filling the Hollywood Chinese Theatre with joy.
Daisy couldn't stop laughing, "Murphy, this guy, is too self-deprecating!"
As the film officially began, Daisy realized she couldn't close her mouth from laughter, amused non-stop by Deadpool's relentless mockery and self-deprecating jokes.
The theatre was awash with laughter, waves upon waves of joy.
Moreover, the film wasn't just funny; it also inherited Murphy's signature boldness, a clear indication of Murphy-Stanton's dark style.
With plenty of blood-splattering and limb-flying violent scenes, not to mention scenes filled with breasts, birds, and butts, and countless F and S words from Deadpool's mouth, the movie turned out to be the filth king among the typically upright superhero movies!
Especially when Deadpool's house featured a poster of Robert Downey Jr. and Leonardo DiCaprio holding hands, the music suddenly changed, singing a song Daisy couldn't understand, though the tune seemed like a love song.
"Is this the music you specially got from China?" Kara Faith whispered to Murphy, "What does it mean?"
Murphy whispered back, "It's hard to explain."
It wasn't anything profound, just a song he whimsically remembered—"The sea may dry, rocks may crumble, heaven may collapse, earth may split, we walk shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand..."
Fitting, isn't it?
Such a gag might be incomprehensible, but as long as it piqued the audience's interest, someone would surely look it up. Chinese isn't indecipherable; surely someone would understand it.
Maybe in the future, whenever Robert Downey Jr. and Leonardo DiCaprio appear together, someone will sing this song.
Like this gag, the film brought endless joy to the audience. Even Colossus, who seemed serious, filled his lines with jokes.
He earnestly told Black Widow, "Deadpool's mouth is his biggest weapon. He'll keep talking nonsense until you surrender or are annoyed to death."
Martin-Smith and Anderson-Williams could hardly sit straight, Deadpool seemed unbeatable.
Deadpool chatted nonsense with the driver, mocked his opponents during fights, and even while tied to the operating table at the mercy of the villain Ajax, he kept talking nonsense, tricking Ajax about lettuce stuck in his teeth and stealing Ajax's name tag only to mock his real name, Francis, as too effeminate.
Even in his interactions with his girlfriend, Deadpool's nature didn't change.
A proposal on Christmas Eve, which sounds like a romantic affair, was casually handled with a ring pop — not to mention that the ring pop had been hidden in his own rear end moments before.
Even in the final battle, he couldn't stop his nonsense. He pulled out his underwear to make a white flag and arranged the bodies and limbs of the minions to spell out Ajax's real name... When his girlfriend Vanessa was knocked down by Ajax, gasping and falling to the ground in a seductive pose, he ignored the villain, turned on his inner pink filter, and made a heart gesture towards her with romantic background music playing...
At the end, Colossus went on a long spiel about letting go of the gun, forgiving the enemy, and being a hero, but Deadpool didn't hesitate to shoot Ajax in the head, mocking, "Too bad this isn't that kind of superhero movie."
Of course, there's also the unmissable breaking of the fourth wall.
As the credits rolled and everyone thought the movie had ended, Deadpool suddenly jumped out of the bathroom.
He continued his antics towards the camera, "You guys definitely want to see my sequel? Might not happen because 20th Century Fox is too stingy to give a budget!"
This blend of humor, action, and direct engagement with the audience encapsulates the essence of Deadpool's character and the movie's appeal, drawing viewers into a uniquely entertaining experience that blends superhero elements with irreverent comedy and meta-commentary, making it stand out in the superhero genre.
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