# Why do they keep on making those god damn TEEN MOVIES????? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136 "2002-06-03T12:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/1 "2002-06-03T12:46:00Z")
I went out with my friends on friday night, and instead of watching something that remotely has a plot (attack of the clones) I watched ‘Not another teen movie’ Even though I liked ‘American pie’ and ‘Scary movie’ Why do they keep producing these brainless teen comedies and sequels that I wouldn’t wipe my ass with!! They all look the same, nearly all have the same sort of plot (boy bullies nerd, nerd kicks bullys ass, Girl bullies girl-who is really attarctive but doesn’t know it eg.shes all that)It was drawn out, no plot, just loads of tiresome repeated jokes. Randy Quaid hang your head in shame. Melissa joan hart looked knackered! Sorry if I ranted on a bit. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/2 "2002-06-03T12:49:02Z")
Because they make money for the studio. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/3 "2002-06-03T12:52:40Z")
And teens obviously like them. How old are you? If the answer is “not a teen”, then why are you complaining about a movie not really made for you in the first place (kind of like complaining about a Disney cartoon because it’s not more similar to _Unfaithful_ or _American Beauty_) ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/4 "2002-06-03T12:55:11Z")
Agreed. If you don’t like 'em, don’t watch 'em. I sure as hell don’t. If you want a good “teen movie”, try _Ghost World_. ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/5 "2002-06-03T13:29:37Z")
Good point. I was ranting cause I was forced to watch it not because I wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/6 "2002-06-03T13:31:38Z")
You did catch that _Not Another Teen Movie_ was a paraody of teen movies? That was why it had every plot cliche in the book. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/7 "2002-06-03T13:46:55Z")
Oh, here we go. I throw a snowball, it starts an avalanche. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/8 "2002-06-03T19:49:38Z")
I saw _Not Another Teen Movie_ recently and enjoyed it. Sure, it was mindless and juvenile, but I laughed several times in the first half. The second half dragged, though. I heard it was directed by the same guy who does the comedy shorts for the MTV movie awards, which I also find funny. To answer the OP, because teens like them. (IANATA) ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/9 "2002-06-03T19:52:34Z")
I liked NATM as well, and not just because the girl from Power Rangers was the exchange student! ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/10 "2002-06-03T19:58:19Z")
I liked NATM as well, and not just because the girl from Power Rangers was the exchange student! ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/11 "2002-06-03T20:18:43Z")
Per what **plnnr** said, isn’t it true that Dimension Films, which produces a lot of teen movies, especially teenie horror movies, is also run by the Weinsteins (Harvey and Bob), who by virtue of their producing positions at Miramax are responsible for bringing us many foreign and independent-like films we wouldn’t see anywhere else? I believe the revenues from Dimension productions help pay for the costs of Miramax’s cinematic ventures. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/12 "2002-06-03T20:36:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brondicon \* > \*\*Per what **plnnr** said, isn’t it true that Dimension Films, which produces a lot of teen movies, especially teenie horror movies, is also run by the Weinsteins (Harvey and Bob), who by virtue of their producing positions at Miramax are responsible for bringing us many foreign and independent-like films we wouldn’t see anywhere else? I believe the revenues from Dimension productions help pay for the costs of Miramax’s cinematic ventures. \*\* Pointless trivia: The first film produced by Miramax was [The Burning](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0082118), a cheap Friday the 13th knock off featuring Jason Alexander (with hair) as the pimp-daddy of the summer camp. It was pretty cheesy. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/13 "2002-06-03T21:33:49Z")
**brondicon** , you’ve summarized the business relationship pretty well, though I should clarify that Miramax is not as unprofitable as you suggest, and doesn’t need Dimension’s teen fluff to subsidize it. Also, it’s worth knowing that Disney is Miramax’s parent corporation. (Dimension came about, IIRC, when Disney objected to Miramax’s release of Larry Clark’s inflammatory flick _Kids_ under their own banner; the Weinsteins created the new label as another degree of separation.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/14 "2002-06-03T22:11:18Z")
Oh, by the way, in response to the OP, there are lots of dumb teenager movies because there are lots of dumb teenagers. What the hell were **you** watching when you were 14? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/15 "2002-06-04T00:10:40Z")
It would be different if people would stop making teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/16 "2002-06-04T00:17:57Z")
It’s mainly because there’s a new crop of teenagers every year who haven’t seen the previous gawdawful movies. So every year the come out with a few more, basically just updating the slang and the haircuts. Hordes of newly-minted teenagers flock to those movies, then a couple of year later they are posting “why do they keep making these crappy movies??” on internet message boards, while that year’s crop of teenagers is beginning the cycle anew. ---
**Author:** ![Journeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/17 "2002-06-04T02:30:18Z")
Well, I’m a teen, and I think they’re unbelievably stupid. However, I’m in the minority. The simple fact is that by and large, those are the films that teens apparently buy tickets to. If it makes money, it’ll get redressed and resold to death, until such time as it stops being profitable. I sympathize. Ordinarily I simply deprive such films of my money, but being forced to sit through one is unfortunate. ---
**Author:** ![Montezuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@Montezuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montezuma)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/18 "2002-06-04T17:19:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manduck \* > \*\*It’s mainly because there’s a new crop of teenagers every year who haven’t seen the previous gawdawful movies. So every year the come out with a few more, basically just updating the slang and the haircuts. Hordes of newly-minted teenagers flock to those movies, then a couple of year later they are posting “why do they keep making these crappy movies??” on internet message boards, while that year’s crop of teenagers is beginning the cycle anew. \*\* Ha! But so true. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/19 "2002-06-04T22:08:29Z")
Teenagers have long been an important target audience for moviemakers, for several reasons. First, teens aren’t as sedentary as adults. If a movie comes out that appeals to a teenager, he’ll run out to see it the opening weekend. An adult, on the other hand, is likely to say, “Wellll… I’d LIKE to see it… but maybe I’ll wait til it’s on video.” Second, IF teens like a movie, they’ll go back and see it again. Maybe a third or fourth time. Adults rarely go back to see a movie again, even if they love it. So, it’s not surprising that Hollywood gears a lot of movies to a segment of the population that’s eager to go to the movies, and that’s inclined to go back and see its favorite films repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136/20 "2002-06-04T22:26:33Z")
I watched _Not Another Teen Movie_ and I thought it was funny. And as Zebra pointed out, a parody of a genre is supposed to have cliches; that’s the whole point. Maybe your problem was that you saw a rough cut of the movie; the version I watched had all of Melissa Joan Hart’s scenes edited out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-keep-on-making-those-god-damn-teen-movies/112136.md?page=2)