TikTok is influencing cinema like never before! Discover how the app manipulates your choices and boosts box-office success. Are you really in control of your decisions?

Cinema has long been shaped by reviews, trailers and word of mouth. But today, TikTok influences cinema in a completely new way. Do you think you can choose your films with complete freedom? Think again! TikTok's algorithm manipulates your decisions, encouraging you to go see films in theaters or on streaming thanks to its viral trends.

According to a recent study, One in three Internet users discovers a film thanks to TikTok, and 47 % of users discovered a movie currently in theaters through the app. TikTok is influencing cinema by transforming the way we choose the movies we watch, and studios have understood this. So how does this revolution work? Why are TikTok trends dictating the success of movies? We explain everything to you!

TikTok influences cinema: the new marketing tool for studios

Traditional trailers have lost their impact in the face of TikTok, which focuses on a short, punchy and viral format. Now, TikTok is influencing cinema by highlighting striking excerpts, trends around films and interactions with actors.

The example of the Count of Monte Cristo with Pierre Niney perfectly illustrates this phenomenon. Thanks to his active presence on TikTok, the actor managed to capture the public's attention and generate real excitement around the film. Result? A box office boosted by the virality of the application.

A study also reveals that 36 % users bought a movie ticket after watching a clip on TikTok. This figure confirms that TikTok influences cinema to the point of directly converting interest into ticket sales.

TikTok Trends That Manipulate You Into Going To The Movies

TikTok doesn't just show you movie clips: it creates a need in you, an irresistible desire to see a whole movie. How? By relying on powerful psychological mechanisms:

  • Viral trends : a challenge or a cult scene goes viral, and everyone talks about it. Impossible to escape it!

  • Reaction videos : Seeing someone cry, laugh or be shocked by a movie makes you want to experience the same emotion.

  • Making-of and interviews : when an actor shares anecdotes from filming, you feel an attachment to the film even before you've seen it.

So.., TikTok influences cinema by playing on your emotions and turning curiosity into action. The study shows that 40 % users were influenced by a TikTok trend to go see a movie.

TikTok is influencing cinema by making certain genres more popular

Not all films enjoy the same popularity on TikTok. Some genres are particularly suited to the virality of the social network:

Type of film Popularity on TikTok
Romance Very popular, ideal for emotional videos and trends about movie couples
Animation Explodes thanks to trends around cute characters and catchy music
Horror Sparks scary reaction videos, which quickly go viral

So.., TikTok influences cinema by highlighting certain types of films more than others, thus changing our consumption habits of the 7th art.

TikTok goes even further: cinema tickets can be purchased directly in the app

Aware of its power over the film industry, TikTok has launched "Spotlight", a feature that allows to buy movie tickets without leaving the app. No need to search for a booking site, just one click is enough.

This innovation confirms that TikTok influences cinema by controlling the entire chain: from the discovery of the film to the purchase of the ticket. For the studios, it is a golden opportunity. For the spectators, new proof that TikTok controls their entertainment decisions.

TikTok influences cinema: are we all manipulated?

The numbers don't lie: TikTok influences cinema more than ever. With one in three users discovering a film on the application, and viral trends capable of propelling a film to the top of the box office, TikTok has become a key player in the film industry.

So, the next time you go to see a movie at the cinema, ask yourself this question: Did you really choose it…or did TikTok decide for you?

ValueYourNetworkan expert in influence marketing since 2016, has been supporting brands and entertainment industries in their digital strategies. Thanks to our innovative campaigns and our expertise in social networks, we maximize your visibility and your commitment. Find out how we can propel your projects by contacting us!