Lego Movie: Regulation

Key British institutions: BBFC and BFI

Why are films regulated by certification?

The Lego movie (2014)

Warner Bros 

•The Lego Movie (2014) illustrates the concept of tent-pole film production. Tent-pole = A major motion picture which is expected to generate major income for a studio. This can be redistributed and used to support and fund other releases. This tent-pole supports the whole tent. 

•The film is a production from a major, global studio. It illustrates its conglomerates, in this case Warner Bros. 

•Its success was of major importance to the studio in terms of funding other projects – such as merchandise, other films with Dan Lin (producer)

•The film is also an example of how a global studio, Warner Bros, releases a film in a specific national territory, the UK. 

•There are questions of ownership and purpose of the film e.g. tension between Lego and Warner Bros both using the film to promote their own products through use of iconic characters e.g. Batman, Superman and numerous Lego toy models.