Here at Major Spoilers, we try to walk as fine a line as possible on the subject of revealing important plot points. My personal working theory is not to reveal spoilery bits of the current season of a TV show or the current issue of a comic book, but movies (like, say, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’) are more complicated. Those who have seen the movie are already reviewing it, making a complex task for those who wish to avoid spoilers on plots or characters, but the film is not yet inwide release. It can be a tough call as to when you can make your opinions on a new movie publicly known, leading to today’s cinematically revealing query…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) has already seen jerks trying to weaponize their early viewing knowledge to ruin others‘ experiences, which is a real mega-bastard move, asking: At what point does it become acceptable to openly discuss spoilers about a movie like ‘The Force Awakens?’
8 Comments
Two weeks.
Much like my actual thumbs (and fingers, which are double jointed), my rule of thumb is rather flexible. I usually say “Wait until the DVD is released”, but that only really counts for the really HUGE spoilers. Smaller stuff I say give a month after a film is released just as a courtesy to those with busy lives and families or those with a lack of income who wait for the movies to arrive at the cheaper theaters.
But like many things, it isn’t a set in stone rule. Depending on the franchise, the genre and other things, you could slash the wait time down anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
I personally try waiting for the DVD release before blabbing any spoilers, but that is just my choice.
It’s acceptable at any time, but while the movie is still in cinemas at least, you ought to warn of spoilers, or if in conversation, check that the other participants are okay with spoilers. I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule on it, and for movies where a big twist might spoil things, checking with other people/marking spoilers is probably a good idea however long it’s been.
I’d say after New Years. Especially since some areas are sold out of tickets through new years eve!
Between two weeks and thirty days depending on how wide the release is.
2 weeks but I give the person a chance to run and hide when I start to talk spoilers
When it is no longer playing in theaters.
Two weeks is enough time for most people to see a movie in the theaters.
I don’t think sites like this will be a problem. It’s the major magazines and news sites that want the sales or page views.