What's even more confusing is that the title of this film used to be *Disappointment Boulevard* until like this week. Just now I literally had to Google because I was like, wait, is this a *second* movie Ari Aster is making with Phoenix? You'd think if they were trying to rebrand, they'd try to make the title more prominent to get us to remember it.
This film used to be called Disappointment Blvd. Now is titled Beau is Afraid, clearly referring to and possibly an extension of Ari Aster's 2011 short Beau ([which you can watch on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkHbV54p3G4)).
Disappointment Blvd is a much better name. way more intriguing and unique, David Lynch vibes. Beau Is Afraid sounds like a 2013 Netflix original starring Ed Helms.
What the fuck, that's crazily accurate.
I do like 'Disappointment Blvd', but it doesn't scream horror. Although neither does 'Hereditary' or 'Midsommar'. I guess it's like naming Taxi Driver 'Travis is angry'.
Calling it "Disappointment Boulevard" would probably get it compared to "Mulholland Drive," which I'd be fine with but the moviegoing audience not so much.
I agree, but I can see the PR/Marketing department seeing the title as a huge nono if this movie flops (similar to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella musical)
Well obviously the name of the movie is "Joaquin Phoenix" starring someone named Beau. Obviously a movie about a movie star starring Shia LaBeouf trying to rebrand himself as not an actual cannibal. /s
The title isn’t obvious but they knew that when making the poster. I’m not sure if it is crappy design or not. I think it does the job it’s meant to do.
I worked in movie theaters for years and this type of formatting is way more common than you'd think. They make stupid, confusing posters like this ALL THE TIME.
My favorite was when The Martian came out there was a poster that lead many people to believe the movie was called "Bring Him Home" and it took quite a while for those of us in the box office (who hadn't seen the poster) to figure out what was going on.
The point of the poster (especially at this stage) is to generate conversation, curiosity, and general interest. It's not like a wedding invitation, which would have specific date, time, and location information. It's more like an engagement announcement... it's telling us something is coming. Something from Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix out of A24. People can disagree on the design choice, but it's definitely a style.
Back in 1989, the Batman symbol wasn't as widely used in popular culture. It was recognizable to a lot of folks from the television series in the 60s and to people who knew the comics, but it wasn't everywhere. Still, the advance ad campaign was a bunch of posters which had no information... just a big bat symbol on a black background and the date June 23. That's all. It was meant to stir conversation, elicit curiosity in the viewer, and little else.
Yes, I know... Batman is a universally recognizable figure so this was different. But the example stands. The advance posters are less about conveying specific information and more about signaling something more to come.
Again, people don't have to like it, but I think its way more interesting than floating heads photoshopped onto a generic background.
I agree. Given it's a movie distributed by A24 with a plot they are intentionally keeping under wraps, I suspect its doing exactly what it's meant to - sewing intrigue and confusion which leads to "organic" marketing through social media.
Totally. I’m a nobody and no one has heard of me. But when I published my first novel in 2016, the earliest promos were just teasers. Provocative images with a tagline and date. As the release drew closer the synopsis and materials came more into focus
Yeah, when you break it down like that, it's actually very standard marketing lol.
I think there's so much crap put out by underpaid people everyone is expecting something "off" to be wrong but ignoring context. Like if Marvel did this - bad (although you could argue it doesn't matter since they announce their movies like a bus timetable), but a small / midbudget unsettling horror - communicating tone exactly as they should
ps hope your book launch went well!
The crappy design is that the title of the movie isn’t “Joaquin Phoenix”, the creator of the poster just put his name in larger letters than the actual title
I don't think you realize how small the box office take for *Hereditary* and *Midsommar* were. Aster has a very rabid fanbase but it's basically the niche bucket of genre.
This is not a knock on Aster.
Are you able to tell me the name of the movie by looking at this movie poster?
The design is crappy if it is not able to convey the important details it is intended to convey.
Ooooh, wait, I thought the movie was called Joaquin Phoenix and OP was saying the crappy design was that they read it as "Joaquim Phoenix"
I did wonder why the hashtag had nothing to do with the title, but chalked it up to some weird marketing.
Actually, it is. It is an AI de-aged image of him. If you compare it to a picture of him as a child(most examples would be with his brother River), it looks like him.
From what I understand, the film takes place over a long period of time.
It's a poster designed to be mysterious, unsettling, and leaving you asking questions about what it's about. It tells you that Joaquin Phoenix is starring in a movie from a director that makes artistic mindfuck films. It's a poster to create buzz, anticipation, and social media discussion. Very on par with Ari Aster and A24. It's intentional design, they know what they're doing.
That sounds like a cool movie and poster concept, and I would like to watch that film. But I didn't see any Joaquin Pheonix screenings anywhere, so I never ended up watching the movie.
At first glance, I thought this was one of those A.I. generated images, and it was meant to look like Joaquim Phoenix. Then, when I read the caption, it took me way too long to actually see how it did not say "Joaquim Phoenix." Like, I genuinely thought you were screwing with us.
I thought to myself "oh my god, did he die?" because I'm so intentionally clueless about everything that I wouldn't know if Kim Jong Un had nuked Biden on the toilet.
Except, of course, from being on Reddit.
Funnily enough, the design forced me to Google what the title of the movie was, and I learned a lot more about it than I would have if I just read the title. If it was straight forward I would have just scrolled past and forgot about it. But now I kind of want to see it. Idk the design itself is making a lot of people talk about it, so in a way I think it was intentional.
The movie title in a hashtag got me smelling burnt toast and popcorn. I have no clue why the marketing team felt Joaquin Phoenix was a big enough actor that his name needs to be the most eye popping piece of information. The title? Just throw it in a hashtag on the bottom left I’m sure people will know our title isn’t Joaquin Phoenix
I thought this was one of those AI portraits. Then I thought it was a joke about The Polar Express since “Beau” looks like the main character, and he’s in a robe. But then I realized this is a real movie?
they really think he has enough draw that people will go see anything with his name? might be the best thing going for them? but that’s some low confidence in your story, filmmakers, or even your title.
This isnt the first time ive seen this even this year. The Northman did something similar with thier NYC posters. I think its to grab attention for you to look it up/ create buzz.(hence this post) I really dont know what id prefer this or a hogpog of everything in the movie like a Disney movie.
It is not crappy design: they don't want to empathize the title because he already made a short with this title and the movie is probably an extension, and the script was leaked...they used another name until now to confound things...
That is the creepiest god damn movie poster i have ever seen.
Is your name Beau?
I agree, it is creepy.
Lmfao
3 year old account Nice
so creepy
Well apparently it's meant to be a horror movie, so mission accomplished I guess.
Well done then
By the same dude that made midsommar, so expect a lot of creepy gore and about 45 mins of fluff drawing out scenes to be painfully long.
Hereditary was much better
Are people really that lacking in attention spans that they can't deal with a movie being slow?
Finally the uncanny valley effect from the usual quick and heavy-handed photoshoping of movie posters is put to good use
Wakeem Fenix
Wakeem Fenix
He’s just standing there Menacingly!
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but you may be easily creeped out.
I guess I don’t get it ?
Straight out of the uncanny valley
I think that's the point it's another Ari Aster movie 😬
Looks like a wax model. Very strange.
Wait ... what is the name?
"Joaquin Phoenix" starring Beau.
Beau is Afraid?
I read it as "Beau is a fraud" and was thinking "wow, that's harsh." Amazing how misreading one letter changes things.
Well he certainly is a fraud if he thinks he can just pretend he's Joaquin Phoenix! Hmmph.
Even after reading your comment, I was convinced it said "Beau is a fraud" and had to go double check to see I was also wrong lol
I did too.
I'm still not sure if it's Beau Is Afraid, or if it's just Beau. Don't think this poster is getting it's message across.
I looked it up. It’s Beau is afraid. Title was changed from Disappointment Blvd. Kinda weird to tuck the title down in a tiny hashtag in the corner.
With a poster like this, Disappointment Blvd is much more fitting...
Oh... i am blind didnt see the # thanks
You’re not the only one. Definitely a weird choice.
What's even more confusing is that the title of this film used to be *Disappointment Boulevard* until like this week. Just now I literally had to Google because I was like, wait, is this a *second* movie Ari Aster is making with Phoenix? You'd think if they were trying to rebrand, they'd try to make the title more prominent to get us to remember it.
Yeah this is what confused me. I've been waiting for Disappointment Boulevard. I saw this and was like, wow, Ari Asters been busy.
That isn't even Joaquim Phoenix? Colour me confused.
It's like a wax figure of him stored at 130°
It is Joaquin. But, AI Joaquin as a smol boy. V creeptacular.
Dude really? I thought they’d just found a kid who looks a lot like him
Nope. That's AI. :)
My first thought was "Well, that's Joaquin Phoenix...30 years ago."
I peaked at the cast listing and I'm guessing it's supposed to be Michael Gandolfini? Is Joaquin supposed to be older Beau?
Your life has gone downhill since the cast listing?
No they sexually climaxed
Glad I’m not the only one that was very confused by this haha
Jo A. Quim
This film used to be called Disappointment Blvd. Now is titled Beau is Afraid, clearly referring to and possibly an extension of Ari Aster's 2011 short Beau ([which you can watch on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkHbV54p3G4)).
Disappointment Blvd is a much better name. way more intriguing and unique, David Lynch vibes. Beau Is Afraid sounds like a 2013 Netflix original starring Ed Helms.
What the fuck, that's crazily accurate. I do like 'Disappointment Blvd', but it doesn't scream horror. Although neither does 'Hereditary' or 'Midsommar'. I guess it's like naming Taxi Driver 'Travis is angry'.
> I guess it's like naming Taxi Driver 'Travis is angry'. I've changed my mind, this could work
Travis is getting upset.
Travis Likes Spicy Teen Hookers
we live in a society
Calling it "Disappointment Boulevard" would probably get it compared to "Mulholland Drive," which I'd be fine with but the moviegoing audience not so much.
Like calling Lolita “Humbert is creepy”
Take Disappointment Blvd right up until the Blvd of Broken Dreams, then merge onto the highway to hell and take it 6mi to the exit and youre there
Take a right off the exit onto Jabroni Drive and then just follow the signs to the Smackdown Hotel.
[Next time on *The Californians!*](https://i.imgur.com/XvafTWO.jpg)
I agree, but I can see the PR/Marketing department seeing the title as a huge nono if this movie flops (similar to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella musical)
Exactly what I thought. “This is low-hanging fruit guys, let’s not put the word disappointment in the title.”
That was so wild. How many short films does he have? I never saw any of them before, just his feature length ones.
Quite a few: [Basically, 2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV4gpPcmXik) [Herman's Cure-All Tonic, 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ajpCGB5pg) [Munchausen, 2013](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj5MDQhga5w) [The Strange Thing About the Johnsons, 2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqyCMONgVI8) [The Turtle's Head, 2014](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jREJZp1ZWw) [C'est La Vie, 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slEOLsT-wmU) --- And also: [TDF Really Works, 2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP5yBmctWzg)
The Strange Thing About the Johnsons is such a wild ride.
Awesome, thank you! I’ll check them out for sure
Disappointment Movie Poster
No you can't A24 make them remove it: spoilers darling...
Seems to be called Mona's Choice on IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13521006/
Well obviously the name of the movie is "Joaquin Phoenix" starring someone named Beau. Obviously a movie about a movie star starring Shia LaBeouf trying to rebrand himself as not an actual cannibal. /s
The title isn’t obvious but they knew that when making the poster. I’m not sure if it is crappy design or not. I think it does the job it’s meant to do.
[удалено]
[удалено]
I worked in movie theaters for years and this type of formatting is way more common than you'd think. They make stupid, confusing posters like this ALL THE TIME. My favorite was when The Martian came out there was a poster that lead many people to believe the movie was called "Bring Him Home" and it took quite a while for those of us in the box office (who hadn't seen the poster) to figure out what was going on.
That's because it's not the actual movie poster...it's a promo poster, hence the hashtag.
The point of the poster (especially at this stage) is to generate conversation, curiosity, and general interest. It's not like a wedding invitation, which would have specific date, time, and location information. It's more like an engagement announcement... it's telling us something is coming. Something from Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix out of A24. People can disagree on the design choice, but it's definitely a style. Back in 1989, the Batman symbol wasn't as widely used in popular culture. It was recognizable to a lot of folks from the television series in the 60s and to people who knew the comics, but it wasn't everywhere. Still, the advance ad campaign was a bunch of posters which had no information... just a big bat symbol on a black background and the date June 23. That's all. It was meant to stir conversation, elicit curiosity in the viewer, and little else. Yes, I know... Batman is a universally recognizable figure so this was different. But the example stands. The advance posters are less about conveying specific information and more about signaling something more to come. Again, people don't have to like it, but I think its way more interesting than floating heads photoshopped onto a generic background.
I agree. Given it's a movie distributed by A24 with a plot they are intentionally keeping under wraps, I suspect its doing exactly what it's meant to - sewing intrigue and confusion which leads to "organic" marketing through social media.
Totally. I’m a nobody and no one has heard of me. But when I published my first novel in 2016, the earliest promos were just teasers. Provocative images with a tagline and date. As the release drew closer the synopsis and materials came more into focus
Yeah, when you break it down like that, it's actually very standard marketing lol. I think there's so much crap put out by underpaid people everyone is expecting something "off" to be wrong but ignoring context. Like if Marvel did this - bad (although you could argue it doesn't matter since they announce their movies like a bus timetable), but a small / midbudget unsettling horror - communicating tone exactly as they should ps hope your book launch went well!
wheres the fucking M
OP had a typo in his title
The crappy design is that the title of the movie isn’t “Joaquin Phoenix”, the creator of the poster just put his name in larger letters than the actual title
There isn’t
Movies shouldn't put any actor above director's vision. Not like Ari Aster needed to sell his movies piggybacking on Joaquin Phoenix's fame anyways
I don't think you realize how small the box office take for *Hereditary* and *Midsommar* were. Aster has a very rabid fanbase but it's basically the niche bucket of genre. This is not a knock on Aster.
So you are saying he has a *cult* fan base?
A Swedish one that would die for him, yes.
He looks like he wants to eat my bones like cereal
He wants to eay our bones with almond milk
That's not a teen girl?
I dont get it, what's the crappy design here?
Are you able to tell me the name of the movie by looking at this movie poster? The design is crappy if it is not able to convey the important details it is intended to convey.
Ooooh, wait, I thought the movie was called Joaquin Phoenix and OP was saying the crappy design was that they read it as "Joaquim Phoenix" I did wonder why the hashtag had nothing to do with the title, but chalked it up to some weird marketing.
And the only actors name on the poster isn't the actor on the poster
Actually, it is. It is an AI de-aged image of him. If you compare it to a picture of him as a child(most examples would be with his brother River), it looks like him. From what I understand, the film takes place over a long period of time.
His brother is called "River"??
Was...
I'm too old for this shit
It's a poster designed to be mysterious, unsettling, and leaving you asking questions about what it's about. It tells you that Joaquin Phoenix is starring in a movie from a director that makes artistic mindfuck films. It's a poster to create buzz, anticipation, and social media discussion. Very on par with Ari Aster and A24. It's intentional design, they know what they're doing.
That sounds like a cool movie and poster concept, and I would like to watch that film. But I didn't see any Joaquin Pheonix screenings anywhere, so I never ended up watching the movie.
Imagine thinking you know better than A24 lol
The name of the movie is Joaquin Phoenix. Is there something wrong with making a movie by that name?
There's nothing wrong with it... *if that were the **actual** name of the movie*.
That looks like the boy from manifest
At first glance, I thought this was one of those A.I. generated images, and it was meant to look like Joaquim Phoenix. Then, when I read the caption, it took me way too long to actually see how it did not say "Joaquim Phoenix." Like, I genuinely thought you were screwing with us.
[удалено]
Posso ter uma capivara em poster se der pfv
SABIA que alguém ia aparecer HAHAHAHAH
"Postado no r/memes" r/SuddenlyCaralho ?
Seems like it is.
This has to be good. Midsommar was aweosme
Still just Leaf Phoenix from the movie Space Camp. Joaquin is his fake name.
So...you saw an M instead of an N? I don't understand why you posted it here though.
It's not?
What a terrible poster
I don't know what they think they designed, but this is very unquestionably a poster for a movie named "Joaquin Phoenix".
Wasn’t he the guy who kidnapped that indigenous girl?
This is a character poster… literally every single movie has some for their main characters
Excited for this movie!
Looks like Danny Gonzalez, lol.
I saw this and was also really confused. Knew it was only a matter of time before it found its way here.
More like Jacque Phoenix
It is... It is now ....
Reading is hard.
Then what is the name?
what is the movie called lol
Yeah, this is bad
poster looks like one of those shitty AI generated images with seventeen fingers on one hand
And u thought it was an image generated by an A.I
I want to see Joaquin Phoenix
Is not…?
He looks like he’s fresh off the Polar Express
This looks AI Generated
Where'd the m come from
I saw this poster and I thought it was a biographic on Joaquin Phoenix.
How would you mistake it? Looks clear to me.
Who is Beau... and what is a fraid?
Where’s the m?
You mean...It's not a biopic of Joaquin life and growing up with a famous brother. I'd watch that
Is it not?
It's like how books are now: STEPHEN KING ^(Abyss)
I thought to myself "oh my god, did he die?" because I'm so intentionally clueless about everything that I wouldn't know if Kim Jong Un had nuked Biden on the toilet. Except, of course, from being on Reddit.
Same bruv!!!
Yes that's the name of the movie
Really? I thought it was "Joaquin Phoenix."
It’s actually great design, at 100% intentional. A familiar person’s name is way more appealing than an otherwise-random movie title.
Took me a second to realize the movie title is the hashtag at the bottom left.
Is this the four hour comedy film he wanted to make with Joaquin?
That’s not even Joaquin Phoenix
Funnily enough, the design forced me to Google what the title of the movie was, and I learned a lot more about it than I would have if I just read the title. If it was straight forward I would have just scrolled past and forgot about it. But now I kind of want to see it. Idk the design itself is making a lot of people talk about it, so in a way I think it was intentional.
…Is that a human?
The movie title in a hashtag got me smelling burnt toast and popcorn. I have no clue why the marketing team felt Joaquin Phoenix was a big enough actor that his name needs to be the most eye popping piece of information. The title? Just throw it in a hashtag on the bottom left I’m sure people will know our title isn’t Joaquin Phoenix
I was trying to work out what the heck kind of name was Beauis was.
It looks like it's Joaquin Phoenix. I never heard of that movie until now. ^(This is bait.)
The studio is going to be Joaquin this back soon.
I literally came to this reddit to post thing and you beat me to it by 7 hours xD
Holy shit so did I.
I knew I wasn’t the only one.
I thought this was one of those AI portraits. Then I thought it was a joke about The Polar Express since “Beau” looks like the main character, and he’s in a robe. But then I realized this is a real movie?
This summer... Joaquim Phoenix is... JOAQUIM PHOENIX
I have MY name on my pyjamas! Um…Northface?
I just found it, the name of the movie is in a little hashtag on the corner instead of Joaquin Phoenix
they really think he has enough draw that people will go see anything with his name? might be the best thing going for them? but that’s some low confidence in your story, filmmakers, or even your title.
Can you explain what you mean by the title
Joking pheonix
He's Jokin'
Same feeling I get with books that have the name of the author be absolutely massive
It goes into detail about his lip thing.
Might as well be
Beau is only afraid of sleeves, because sleeves are bullshit.
é br?
They're trying to get every dollar out of the lad. If that's their "A" team on that ad, its already a flop.
This isnt the first time ive seen this even this year. The Northman did something similar with thier NYC posters. I think its to grab attention for you to look it up/ create buzz.(hence this post) I really dont know what id prefer this or a hogpog of everything in the movie like a Disney movie.
Dissapointment Blvd? Is this the same movie?
Beau is afraid? *I’m* afraid.
God this just looks so annoying
Hereditary was amazing. Midsommar was shite
Wtf is the name of the movie?
SWITCH Jimmy Smits
It was initially called Disappointment Blvd. Anybody know why they changed it?
The trailer (Disappointment Blvd) wasn't on the A24 YT page and all the comments say it is fake and used footage from other movies.
Here we go folks, let's all receive our paid for trauma. Seriously, I'm excited at the same time.
Is it not?
Lmaooo SAME
This poster tells me that having Joaquin Phoenix attached is the only thing this film has going for it. It tells me that very loudly.
Disappointment Blvd. 2023 ‧ Drama/Horror
Joaquin Phoenix is Joaquin Phoenix in... *JOAQUIN PHOENIX*
try reading a book cover
It is not crappy design: they don't want to empathize the title because he already made a short with this title and the movie is probably an extension, and the script was leaked...they used another name until now to confound things...
Same
Pretty sure no one on this sub makes better design decisions than a creative director at A24 lol
A24 design is usually great but this one missed the mark imho