Much is made of movie premiere parties, but it’s often what happens before the screening that is even more important to studios’ publicity teams: the media and buzz generated on the red carpets themselves. This year’s crop of tent-pole movies debuted with costumed characters, wacky stunts, on-theme displays, and intricate printed carpets to design eye-catching—and inspiring—arrivals lines.
The revival of Ghostbusters premiered on July 9 at TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, where an army of people in ghost-busting costumes enlivened the arrivals area.
On June 8, Disney-Pixar hosted the U.S. premiere for Finding Dory at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre. Appropriate for the movie's under-the-sea theme, the arrivals line, as well as the party, had a sprawling blue carpet instead of the traditional red.
The all-ages party shared a carpet with the arrivals line; it featured sand art for an on-theme, festive tie-in.
Hollywood Boulevard shut down on May 23 for the premiere of Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass at the El Capitan Theatre. Stars including Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, and Sacha Baron Cohen all arrived to an ornate printed carpet, reminiscent of the film’s fanciful scenery. Pink also performed her single from the film, “Just Like Fire,” for fans outside Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Three-dimensional mushroom props and moss, and whimsical signage flanked the entrance to the snaking red carpet.
A three-dimensional logo, printed carpet, and movie imagery as a backdrop served as unmissable entrance branding.
The premiere had a giant Stay Puft marshmallow toy—like the one in the movie—plus its prop car decorating the arrivals line.
At the premiere for Disney's Pete's Dragon at El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on August 8, a huge dragon cutout served as a photo op for attendees to ride and pose on the arrivals line.
Sausage Party premiered on August 9 at Regency Village Theatre. A cookout offered on-theme eats out front.
Low-brow, cookout-style games included a Pabst-branded beanbag toss.
The premiere had a grocery store-style decor theme.
On June 6, Legendary Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Blizzard Entertainment hosted the global premiere of Warcraft at the Chinese Theatre, where a three-dimensional prop added drama to the arrivals area.
Live costumed characters brought the themes of Warcraft into reality at the premiere's arrivals area.
On July 18, Universal Pictures celebrated Jason Bourne’s return to Las Vegas with the U.S. premiere of Jason Bourne, taking over Caesars Palace. A logo-inset graphic black-and-white arrivals carpet popped inside the venue.
Kubo and the Two Strings premiered on August 14 at AMC Universal CityWalk. Attendees including voice actors Matthew McConaughey and Art Parkinson posed on the green carpet with costumed characters from the animated film.
Suicide Squad premiered August 1 at the Beacon Theatre in New York. Stars Karen Fukuhara and Jay Hernandez signed autographs on tablets from sponsor Samsung.
A chain-link fence added edge to the Suicide Squad arrivals area.
A pink carpet and black logo press wall lent a feminine but edgy vibe at the premiere for Bad Moms on July 26 at the Village Theatre in Los Angeles, appropriate to the movie's themes. Balloons spelled out the movie's title on trussing, in a bit of a nod to the movie's school scenes.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows premiered on May 22 at Madison Square Garden in New York, with sponsorship from Dodge. The massive arrivals line angled around vehicles.
Turtle characters made for photo ops alongside green ropes—instead of the traditional red ones—between stanchions.
