Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 21
Universal Releases 'Other Mommy' Trailer After $264 Million 'The Odyssey' Screenings Spark Scare Backlash
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 21

Universal Releases 'Other Mommy' Trailer After $264 Million 'The Odyssey' Screenings Spark Scare Backlash

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 21

Summary

  • Universal on Tuesday put the 'Other Mommy' trailer online after its theatrical placement before 'The Odyssey' startled audiences and triggered a wave of social-media complaints.
  • A sudden jump scare lands seconds after Jessica Chastain’s character comes home to her daughter, catching viewers off guard after an opening that resembles a gentle family scene.
  • Posts on TikTok and other platforms said the horror preview felt inappropriate before a non-horror epic, though others argued the reaction showed the campaign was working.
  • 'The Odyssey' had drawn moviegoers back to theaters with a $264 million global haul last weekend, giving the trailer unusually broad exposure because both films are from Universal.

Insights

Did Universal's jump-scare trailer cross an ethical line, or is it simply brilliant marketing?
Is audience outrage over a trailer a genuine grievance or part of the marketing plan?