Net Trailer Makes the Pros

Originally Published: April 1, 2005

For the first time in film industry history, a movie trailer created exclusively for the internet will make the leap onto theater screens across the country. Due to the phenomenal response online, the exclusive, online-only bonus “guide” trailer for Touchstone Pictures’ and Spyglass Entertainment’s upcoming comedy-adventure, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will debut in theaters across the country today , it was announced Wednesday by Oren Aviv, president of marketing for Buena Vista Pictures.

The trailer is being targeted in front of the highly anticipated Sin City, whose audience will appreciate the original, irreverent, tongue-in-cheek approach of this unique “guide” trailer. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has already become one of the most talked about films of the year on the internet, with more than 7,000 discussions occurring in online communities since the bonus guide trailer debuted.

The movie is a hot topic of discussion in more than 2,200 blogs, more than upcoming summer blockbusters such as War of the Worlds and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In February, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy became the first movie ever to premiere a theatrical trailer on Amazon.com. A recent feature on the movie site IGN FilmForce about the Vogons – a unique race of creatures beloved by Hitchhiker’s fans – registered the most page views ever for an article on that popular website. Traffic at the film’s official website, www.hitchhikersmovie.com, has also generated some of the most impressive numbers for any film released by the studio. Touchstone Pictures’ and Spyglass Entertainment’s The Hitchhhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, directed by Garth Jennings, screenplay by Douglas Adams and Karey Kirkpatrick arrives in theaters everywhere on April 29th.

Commenting on the announcement, Oren Aviv said, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has become one of the most talked about films of the year online. The response to the online trailer has been nothing short of phenomenal, with more than 7,000 discussions about the film posted since its debut. Many of those discussions urged us to put the trailer on the big screen, and Sin City seemed like the perfect film and a great opportunity for us to reach our target audience. The trailer is great fun for movie fans of all ages, whether they’ve read the Douglas Adams books or not, and it takes a very lighthearted, engaging and irreverent approach towards introducing the film. We believe audiences are going to be delighted with this imaginative and unique adventure, and that ‘Hitchhhikers Guide’ is going to be one of the most popular films of the season.”

Check out photos, background information and more from the Hitchhikers’ Guide in the Film Library preview page RIGHT HERE »