Assignment 2: Film Institution Case Study Research

Your chosen movie

1) What film have you chosen? 

The Wolf of Wall Street

2) Why did you choose this film in particular? 

I chose this film because it has an interesting concept because it's making crime seem like the only way into a luxurious life. 

Institutional background

1) What was the film studio or production company behind your chosen film? E.g. Warner Brothers, Paramount etc.

Red Granite Pictures

2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK?

• 
  
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2014) (UK) (theatrical)

No brand loyalty

1) What genre does your chosen film fit into?

• Comedy
• Crime
• Biography

2) How can you tell it fits that genre? Be specific with reference to the trailer.

I can tell that it fits with these genres because the movie is based on a real story, where the main character is running an illegal business (he says so himself) and is making millions out of it. What makes it a comedy is that no one in the movie seems to take the fact that they're doing illegal business seriously or see is at a big deal. Plus they use the money on drugs, parties and sex.

3) Does your chosen film have any stars or a director that are known for that particular genre?

The director, Martin Scorsese has won one Oscar and is well known for two other crime movies- Goodfellas (1990) and The Departed (2006)

The main star, Leonardo DiCaprio, is a very successful and well known actor. He has won an Oscar and has starred in many successful movies, such as Inception, Titanic and the Great Gatsby. Interestingly he has been in two other movies directed by Martin Scorsese: The Departed and Shutter Island.

It’s all a matter of timing

1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film?

17 January 2014

2) When did the first trailer appear on YouTube for your movie? Find the earliest example you can and embed it in your blog.

The first trailer appeared on YouTube on the 16th June 2013-





3) What other examples of marketing (teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper or TV interviews etc.) can you find for your chosen film from before the film’s release date?

This is an example of a poster from before the movie was released:

This is an example of an interview with Leonardo DiCaprio from before the movie was released:

This is an example of an interview with Martin Scorsese from before the movie was released:

It’s a social thing

1) What was the word-of-mouth like for your chosen film? If you can’t find tweets (probably blocked) use the IMDB user review rating or the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating to judge whether the public have given the movie a good review.

Before the Wolf of Wall Street was released in the UK, Americans who had just seen the movie were creating a massive buzz on twitter. Some examples of what people were saying include:

We can even see that even businesses, like Topshop, and other film studios, like Paramount Pictures, supported the film.

2) Find three quotes from user reviews of your movie to create a picture of what the public reaction to the film has been. Post them on your blog.

There are many user reviews on IMDB.com- each with different opinions and reasoning. Some examples of people's opinions include-

"I am not against showing drugs or sex or money in a movie, if it helps the plot. But in this case, it didn't. It was 2 hours of absolute useless display of all the possible debaucheries on earth, without them helping in building up the characters."

" The Wolf of Wall Street is a roaring thrill ride that is both absolutely hilarious and meticulously constructed."

"High energy and wonderfully excessive as it delivers an engaging true story, but the lack of morality anywhere was a limiting factor"

Risky business

1) What was the original budget for your chosen film?

$100,000,000 (estimated)

2) How much money did the film make in the opening weekend?

$18,510,000 (USA) (27 December 2013)

3) How much money has the film made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed).

$392,000,694 (Worldwide) (2 August 2014)

4) For a film to be considered a box office success, it needs to make at least two-and-a-half times the budget in box office takings. Using this method, was the film you have chosen a success? (Or, if it's a recent release, do you expect it to be a box office success?)

Yes, this movie was a box office success as it earned more than 3 times its budget.

Stars in their eyes

Research the stars and director for your chosen film.

1) What films has the director previously directed? Are they in the same or similar genres?


The director, Martin Scorsese is well known for two other crime movies- Goodfellas (1990) and The Departed (2006). He has also directed other films such as Shutter Island.

2) Who is the main star in the film?

Leonardo Dicaprio

3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of the films similar to the one you are researching?

Leonardo Dicaprio has starred in many movies, such as Inception and Titanic. 


4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for the film?

Yes, the star, writer and director are mentioned in the trailer. This is significant as it shows how they contribute in making the movie more successful. Interestingly, the director is mentioned twice in the trailer.