Everyone loves movies but we all love them for different reasons. Some people go to the movies to escape reality while others go to learn more about it.

There are also those of us who go to the movies to laugh and those of us who go to cry. Some of us love movies that scare us while others amongst us prefer feel-good films with happy endings.

The target audience for a movie is the group of people who are most likely to enjoy it. If you’re a filmmaker, it’s important to know who your target audience is so that you can make the movie that they will love.

In this article, we’ll study the target audience for movies at a broad level. But we will also see how and why different audiences are attracted to different genres of movies.

Stay tuned!

Who is the Target Audience for Movies?

So who is the target audience for movies? The easy answer to this question is to say – everyone! Because everyone loves movies. But such a broad answer does not help us truly understand what drives this market. Why do people like movies? What do they get out of them? These are the questions that are important from a marketing standpoint.

Target Audience for Movies
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So when we divide the audience for movies based on the reasons why people are drawn to watch a movie, we can dive this audience into the following segments which we can then study one at a time:

  1. People who want to be entertained
  2. People who looking for a brief escape from their daily worries
  3. People who want to learn something new
  4. People who want to feel different emotions
  5. People who enjoy a good story
  6. People who like suspense
  7. People who like action and excitement
  8. People who like their favorite books enacted into films
  9. People who love fantasy
  10. People who simply want to socialize

Different target audiences are attracted to different genres of movies. So a movie that appeals to the audience who wants to be entertained will be very different from a movie that appeals to the audience who wants to learn. Let’s take a look at each of these target audiences in turn and see what kinds of movies they prefer.

#1. People Who Want to Be Entertained

This target audience for movies looks for films that are fun and entertaining. They like to watch a movie that will make them laugh, cry or feel any strong emotion. For them, the plot or storyline of the movie is less important than the way it makes them feel.

Some of the genres that are popular with this target audience are:

  • Comedies (including Romantic comedies)
  • Dramas
  • Musicals
  • Historical dramas
  • Animated movies

#2. People Looking for an Escape from their Daily Stresses

This audience turns to movies for a brief respite from their daily lives. They look to be transported to a different world where they can forget their problems for a couple of hours.

To disconnect from their daily lives for a few hours, they often turn to:

#3. People Who Want to Learn Something New

Movies can be a great source of education. They can teach us about other cultures, historical events, and different points of view.

This target audience for movies looks for movies that will broaden their horizons and help them see the world in a different light.

Movies that are popular with this target audience include:

#4. People Who Want to Feel Different Emotions

Many people look for a safe environment in which they can experience emotions that they don’t usually feel in their everyday lives. They want to feel fear, anger, love, or sadness without actually having to experience the real-life consequences of these emotions.

This audience is drawn to movies like:

#5. People who enjoy a good story

This group of people enjoys a good story regardless of whether it is told in a book, a movie or a play. They are drawn to well-developed plots and interesting characters.

This audience looks for a well-written and well-acted story. They like being transported into the lives of the characters on the screen and like to feel what they are feeling.

Movies that are popular with people looking for a good story include:

  • Dramas
  • Comedies
  • Romantic comedies
  • Historical dramas
  • Animated movies
  • Fantasy movies

#6. People who like suspense

Some people simply enjoy feeling suspenseful and scared while watching a movie. They like not knowing what is going to happen next and being on the edge of their seat throughout the film.

This target audience for movies loves suspenseful movies with a lot of twists and turns. They are often drawn to horror movies but don’t necessarily want to be scared out of their wits.

Some of the other genres that are popular with this target audience include:

#7. People who like action and excitement

Like the target audience that enjoys suspense, this group also likes to be on the edge of their seat. But rather than feeling scared, they want to feel exhilarated and excited.

This audience looks for movies that will get their hearts racing. They like car chases, explosions, and fight scenes. They are often drawn to movies with a lot of action and adventure.

Types of movies that are popular with this audience include:

#8. People who like their favorite books enacted into films

Seeing your favorite book come to life on the big screen is an amazing experience for many people. This target audience for movies loves being transported into the world of their favorite characters and watching the story unfold in front of them.

Some classic examples of books turned into famous films include The Harry Potter series, The, Chronicles of Narnia, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Hunger Games.

#9. People who love fantasy

Many people love fantasy in all its forms. They may love to read fantasy novels, watch fantasy movies, or play fantasy video games.

This audience loves to escape into fantastical worlds where anything is possible. They want to see amazing creatures, brave heroes, and magical powers. Some of the most popular fantasy movies include The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars. They are also attracted to superhero movies where the impossible becomes reality.

A part of the attraction of fantasy is that it allows people to explore different cultures and worlds that don’t really exist. It also gives people a chance to explore their own imaginations. And in doing so they can escape the problems and stresses of their everyday lives.

#10. People who simply want to socialize

And finally, this audience simply watches a movie as a way to socialize with their friends and family. They want to go out, have a good time, eat some popcorn and make going to the movies a full evening event.

This audience is looking for a fun night out rather than an Oscar-worthy film. They are often more interested in the latest blockbuster than in independent or art films. And they are more likely to go see a movie that their friends are talking about rather than one that has been getting great reviews.

Conclusion

As you can see the target audience for movies is very, very broad and includes almost everyone. But segmenting this audience is important to movie studios because they need to know who they are making the movie for.

It’s also important to the marketing plans of any business that wants to target the movie-going audience with products or services that appeal to this audience.