10. In 2023, the Sag-Aftra strikes put a halt to actors not only in performing but also in promoting their work. This meant no interviews, no YouTube videos, and most importantly, no gala premieres. The Oppenheimer premiere in London perfectly showcased the impact of these strikes. The event was rescheduled to an earlier time so that the cast could dress up, walk the red carpet, and promptly leave the cinema. It was a public display of solidarity or maybe they simply couldn’t bear sitting through 400 scenes of strangers praising J Robert Oppenheimer.
9. The 2023 film, Haunted Mansion, produced by Disney, may not have received the best reviews, but it did boast a star-studded ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Jared Leto, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Owen Wilson. In normal circumstances, this would have made for a glamorous premiere. However, due to the strikes, none of the actors attended. In response, Disney sent characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse to the premiere, portrayed by individuals in cosplay. The whole event appeared feeble and desperate, making it highly unlikely to be replicated anytime soon.
8. Mission: Impossible III, released in 2006, marked a turbulent time for Tom Cruise amidst his infamous wilderness years. Despite his controversies, Cruise decided to make a grand entrance at the Tribeca festival premiere of M:I 3. He arrived at the event via various means of transportation, including a motorcycle, speedboat, taxi, helicopter, sports car, and even the New York subway system. It was a flashy display to make a comeback from troubled times.
7. Will Smith, prior to recent controversies, was primarily known for an incident at the Men in Black 3 premiere in Moscow in 2012. While walking the red carpet, Ukrainian prankster Vitalii Sediuk attempted to kiss Smith. In response, Smith slapped him and scolded him as he moved away. This incident became the focus of media attention, overshadowing the film’s premiere.
6. Ari Aster’s enigmatic and unconventional film, Beau Is Afraid, did not expect to attract a commercial crowd. However, Mariah Carey made an unexpected appearance at its premiere, wandering the red carpet in her fashionable leather trousers. The choice was somewhat justified since Aster used one of her songs in a sex scene, which Carey approved after watching the scene on her phone. Yet, her opinion on the actual film remains unknown.
5. The British crime drama, Break, held its premiere in July 2020, proclaiming itself as the first film premiere since lockdown. However, the event was far from ideal. The red carpet was adorned with social distancing stickers, the party organizers went bankrupt shortly before the premiere, and it took place in a drive-in cinema in a car park at Brent Cross shopping center in London. At the time, it seemed as if all future premieres would follow a similar format.
4. The premiere of Gone with the Wind in 1939 was a grand affair at Loew’s Grand Theater in Atlanta. Thousands of fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the film’s stars during their seven-mile journey from the airport to the hotel. However, due to Georgia’s segregation laws, Hattie McDaniel, who later won an Oscar for her role, and all other black actors from the film were prohibited from attending. Despite efforts from producer David O Selznick and actor Clark Gable, McDaniel was unable to attend.
3. Kevin Smith’s film, Dogma, faced strong opposition during its premiere at the New York film festival in 1999. The Catholic League and the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property led a protest against the film, branding Smith a puppet manipulated by the devil. In response, Smith wrote his own placards and joined the protest outside the theater during a subsequent screening.
2. The premiere of Wally Pfister’s thriller, Transcendence, became an unexpected courtroom battle. Nancy Lekon, who stood trial for murder, used the premiere as an opportunity to subpoena Johnny Depp. Lekon claimed to have been in a rush to see Depp, her alleged boyfriend, and used it as her defense. The messy trial overshadowed the film’s premiere.
1. Prince’s second film, Under the Cherry Moon, had a unique premiere experience in 1986. Lisa Barber, the winner of an MTV Win a Date with Prince competition, had the privilege of attending the premiere in her hometown of Sheridan, Wyoming. She was allowed to invite 200 friends, however, the event was marred by a drug presence and Prince’s unpredictable behavior. Despite the chaos, the premiere went smoothly, which led Barber to remain unmarried, hoping for Prince’s return that never happened.