A new horror movie is coming out next week, and the studio found a creative way to let people know about … sending background actors to live baseball games, front and center.
We’re talking about Paramount’s latest offering, “Smile,” which drops next Friday … and amid a lot of “Don’t Worry Darling” chatter, it seems the mountain execs were trying to find a way to break through the noise and stand out … and they chose MLB broadcasts to do it.
The absolute balls on this security guard to confront a literal demon pic.twitter.com/39o7is11PU
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 24, 2022
@JomboyMedia
Several marquee matchups aired on big-time TV stations Friday — including Dodgers vs. Cardinals, Mets vs. A’s and Yankees vs. Sox. In all of them, there was at least one person prominently positioned behind home plate that held a super creepy smile the entire time.
It was perhaps most notable during the Mets game, where a woman in a highlight green shirt (with the word SMILE written across) was standing and smiling awkwardly … that is, until a security guard told her to park it.
blue shirt hasnt moved for 40 mins pic.twitter.com/Rh4Kcz5gtx
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 24, 2022
@JomboyMedia
Another guy in green was also spotted at the Dodgers game, sitting in silence and holding a creepy smile for much of the game. Some of them stood up at times, but mostly sat still and just held the pose … completely committed to the gag.
Another man, this time in blue, was seen at the Yankees game … and he got up occasionally — with viewers at home certainly taking notice and noting it was freaking them out.
They are at the dodgers game too lol pic.twitter.com/VDUulR01e5
— ari (@arinatan2) September 24, 2022
@arinatan2
Unclear if there were more actors at other games, but these are the ones that people paid close attention to. Of course, this is good old-fashioned viral marketing … and it would appear it worked, ’cause the stunt is getting some media coverage.
“Smile” is going up against Billy Eichner‘s rom-com, “Bros,” next week … not to mention any spillover from ‘DWD’ and other recent horror releases like “Barbarian” and “Pearl.” Plus, “Avatar” is back in theaters, and it already seems to be doing well — so tough competition.
Paramount’s smiling through it all though, especially at the ballpark!