Hey movie executives, let's try and be a little more subtle next time. While watching "Jurassic World," one of the biggest movies of the summer that shattered weekend box office sales, product placement took over the main screen. The premise of the movie, special effects, and new dinosaurs enthralled audiences, but with the display of the Mercedes Benz logo along with Samsung, Starbucks, Verizon, and Jeep Wrangler, it was almost overshadowed. Was it really necessary to prominently display logos, taking away valuable screen time that could be utilized for further character development, which was generally lacking in the movie? Although, I found the movie to be entertaining, action-packed, and thrilling, the excessive product placement did detract from the experience. The title of the movie might as well have been: "Jurassic World - Sponsored by Mercedes Benz." At least one of the characters, played by Jake Johnson, provided comedic relief, poking fun at the ridiculous amount of branding in the park quoting the "TostiDome" as a suggestion for an attraction. The Indominus Rex - Sponsored by Verizon Wireless kind of ruined the whole thrill of the new dinosaur, until you saw it, that is.
In order to make a movie of this caliber, you’re going to have to get some big-time sponsors, and they are going to want something back. But, I do believe there should be a limit. Somebody has got to realize how ridiculous, and almost comical all of this product placement is. At this point, I’m almost expecting to see a raptor wearing a Rolex or some Ray bans in the next "Jurassic Park."
Movies have become so saturated with product placement, and it is only going to increase. Pretty soon product placement is going to be all over, including on our favorite sports team’s jerseys. The commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, has been quoted saying that product placement on Jerseys is “Inevitable.” Next thing you know we’ll all be buying jerseys with the golden arches of McDonald’s on them. But let’s hope that doesn’t happen, because McDonald’s and athletics should 100% of the time never go together.
Overall, I think that excessive product placement takes away from the overall experience of what you’re trying to watch. When you’re in the movies you want to get lost in the movie and feel like you’re a part of it. When you see blatant advertisements, it takes you out of this experience and also makes the movie feel “cheesy.” Advertisements on anything make it more cheesy. No one is going to want to buy a jersey that has all different kinds of logos on it. Just ask the people who make Nascar jerseys. If “Jurassic World” and Adam Silver’s words are any sign of what the future holds, then I think entertainment in America is going in the wrong direction.
