Watchmen Goes Viral
Jan 20, 2009 by Vic HoltremanWarner Bros. has a slew of new Watchmen-related websites out there.
Seeing as how spectacularly well the online viral campaign(s) worked for The Dark Knight, it seems that Warner Bros. is being smart and trying something similar for Watchmen. There are a bunch of Watchmen-related websites out there and one of them has a strong resemblance to WhySoSerious.com from the TDK campaign.
I don’t know if Warner Bros. will go to the same extent as it did with The Dark Knight, which had somewhere around a dozen various websites associated with it, but they are trying to drum up some excitement on the web (isn’t there enough already?) with a scattered bunch of sites for Watchmen as well.
Here’s the list of what’s out there so far…
Of course we have the main site for the film: WatchmenMovie.WarnerBros.com. This has been recently updated with additional character bios, avatars and wallpapers. It’s also the home of the video production blog for the film.
Watchmen Official Website
The second site to pop up (as far as I know) was I-Watch-The-Watchmen.com which is an interactive site where you can create a character-specific profile pic of yourself, grab a countdown widget to throw on your website, download wallpapers, screensavers, skins, etc. They’ll also have iPhone apps coming soon.
I Watch the Watchmen website
Then we have WatchmenMovieWidget.com where you can grab the code to add a countdown to the film to your website or blog.
Watchmen movie widget website
Most recently we have TheNewFrontiersman.net. This site that reminds me of WhySoSerious.com in both look and approach. This gives you a peek inside what seems to be a government file on the heroes in the film, with a 1950s look to it.
The New Frontiersman Watchmen site
In addition to these, by clicking on the images on the lower right at the site above you can also find your way to the following:
- The New Frontiersman Twitter page
- The New Frontiersman Friendfeed page
- The New Frontiersman Flickr page
All the “New Frontiersman” sites are approaching the film as if it were real, much like the majority of TDK viral sites did. It’s all pretty cool and just adds to the fun and anticipation of the film. Check them out and let us know if you find any “Easter Eggs” or come across new sites.
Watchmen opens on March 6, 2009 in regular theaters and IMAX.
Hat tip: ComicBookMovie.com
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Finally! Now that the headache of litigation is over, we can enjoy the beginning of the real advertising campaign! I love stuff like this.
I like viral stuff but I don’t think it makes any difference box-office wise. TDK in my opinion would of made the same money not having those viral ads. It’s just a way for the hardcore fans (who will already see the film) to spend there time.
It’s like the Lost Experience, which really began the widespread internet viral marketing – again, that was just for the hardcore fans though to enjoy one of their favourite forms of entertainment in a different medium during the off-season or in prep for the next season. It doesn’t bring non-fans, non-moviegoers or people who don’t know the Watchmen in.
I love viral marketing. I don’t think it helps out too much at the box office, but it is still pretty cool.
I’m excited about this. Hopefully there will be some really cool interactive things similar to what they did with the Dark Knight.
Really I think viral marketing helps opening weekend box office for movies – beyond that the film has to stand on its own merits.
Vic
Great websites, already took a look at a few. Def looking forward to this movie!