View Full Version : Movies as promotional material for firearms
The thread on "Lethal Weapon" kinda got me thinking: a few (maybe a lot) folks went out and bought a particular firearm because they saw it featured prominently in a movie or TV show. "Lethal Weapon" probably helped boost Beretta 92 sales to some extent.
Personally, I went out and bought a SPAS-12 shotgun after "The Terminator" hit theatres in 1984 (I was 24 then, what the heck). A big, heavy, and not so practical shotgun that was actually fun to shoot, very well built, and (in the semi-auto mode) the softest recoiling shotgun I've ever fired.
In the 1970's - for those of you old enough to remember - everyone went out and bought an AR-15 after the TV show "S.W.A.T." premiered in 1975. Of course, all the bad guys in that show seemed to be armed with M1 carbines, but I don't know if that influenced sales at all.
I read somewhere that the SIG P-226 made it's big screen debut in "Rambo: First Blood Part II", but I don't recall what scene it was in.
OK, who else will admit to being swayed by the movies in regard to a firearms purchase? Admittedly, it's probably not advisable to let Hollywood pick your weaponry.
militarymoron
07-28-11, 22:10
i picked up a colt SP1 with 16" barrel and collapsible stock after seeing 'Platoon'.
SeriousStudent
07-28-11, 22:15
The most obvious one that leaps to mind is the S&W Model 29 in .44 Magnum after "Dirty Harry" was released.
And no, I was not one of the people that bought one.
"Saving Private Ryan" and "Band Of Brothers" probably got a lot of folks interested in M1 Garands and M1 carbines.
It's not a movie, but I became rather interested in the FG-42 after playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Before that, I'd never heard of the gun at all. Now it's my holy grail, if I ever win the lottery.
SeriousStudent
07-28-11, 22:59
It's not a movie, but I became rather interested in the FG-42 after playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Before that, I'd never heard of the gun at all. Now it's my holy grail, if I ever win the lottery.
That's funny, it made me buy a chainsaw......:D
The thread on "Lethal Weapon" kinda got me thinking: a few (maybe a lot) folks went out and bought a particular firearm because they saw it featured prominently in a movie or TV show. "Lethal Weapon" probably helped boost Beretta 92 sales to some extent.
Personally, I went out and bought a SPAS-12 shotgun after "The Terminator" hit theatres in 1984 (I was 24 then, what the heck). A big, heavy, and not so practical shotgun that was actually fun to shoot, very well built, and (in the semi-auto mode) the softest recoiling shotgun I've ever fired.
In the 1970's - for those of you old enough to remember - everyone went out and bought an AR-15 after the TV show "S.W.A.T." premiered in 1975. Of course, all the bad guys in that show seemed to be armed with M1 carbines, but I don't know if that influenced sales at all.
I read somewhere that the SIG P-226 made it's big screen debut in "Rambo: First Blood Part II", but I don't recall what scene it was in.
OK, who else will admit to being swayed by the movies in regard to a firearms purchase? Admittedly, it's probably not advisable to let Hollywood pick your weaponry.
There are two primary influences on my firearms collection: My father and my favorite movies and TV shows.
"Saving Private Ryan" and "Band Of Brothers" probably got a lot of folks interested in M1 Garands and M1 carbines.
And 1911's too , I think .
This movie could fire up the market for M1 Garands , M1 Carbines and 1911s :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNsksG5_mo
71 - Into the Fire
Another clip from " 71 - Into the Fire " :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf3kysh1K-4&feature=mfu_order&list=UL
Looks like the first 8 1/2 minutes of the movie .
ill admit it.
i bought a 92, but it was from diehard not LW. :D
and always wanted a 1911, because magnum PI had one. (still working on the Ferrari)
ill admit it.
i bought a 92, but it was from diehard not LW. :D
and always wanted a 1911, because magnum PI had one. (still working on the Ferrari)
That really might have been the greatest intro of any 80s TV show.
...and let's not forget our buddy Jack Bauer:
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/24_-_Season_1
That really might have been the greatest intro of any 80s TV show.
i don't know... dukes of hazzard and knight rider, are up high on the list too.
always wanted a T/A, and a bow and arrow.:ph34r:
i don't know... dukes of hazzard and knight rider, are up high on the list too.
always wanted a T/A, and a bow and arrow.:ph34r:
Excuse me a moment while I go ahead and revoke your credibility license.
:laugh:
The_War_Wagon
07-29-11, 16:41
Not a 1: 1 perfect correlation, BUT...
My first pistol, was a S&W 1006 - inspired by LOTS of Dirty Harry movies, and his love of the S&W (albeit, a slightly different model :p ).
Stainless Mini-14 with matching factory folder when I was 16 courtesy of my Dad and the A-Team!
Dennis.
Excuse me a moment while I go ahead and revoke your credibility license.
:laugh:
lol, never had one!:p
For a long time growing up, the MP5 was the epitome of "cool gun" for me, largely thanks to our buddy John McClane and his Teutonic terrorist associates.
Moose-Knuckle
07-29-11, 23:43
Red Dawn made me into an Kalashnikov junkie.
Then there's one of Arnie's greatest hits, and a personal favorite of mine from the 1980's. Some guys turn this movie into a drinking game (take a drink every time Arnold kills someone):
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Commando
Cagemonkey
07-30-11, 13:17
I think Miami Vice helped make revolvers obsolete in the minds of the average novice gun enthusiast. Every one wanted a BREN 10.
Moose-Knuckle
07-30-11, 14:30
For any serious film student you cannot over look the Micheal Mann films. IMHO they are the "best" firearm related movies; The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, Collateral, Miami Vice (the movie), and Public Enemies.
A side note about Miami Vice the TV show Micheal Mann was it's executive producer so he had a heavy influence on the firearms utilized and action sequences.
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