High concept is a type of artistic work that can be easilypitched with a succinctly stated premise.[1] It can be contrasted withlow concept, which is more concerned withcharacter development and other subtleties that are not as easily summarized. The origin of the term is disputed.[2]
High-concept narratives are typically characterized by an overarching "what if?" scenario that catalyzes the following events. Many summerblockbuster movies are built on a high-concept idea, such as "what if we could clone dinosaurs?" as inJurassic Park.
High-concept narratives differ fromanalogous narratives. In the case of the latter, a high-concept story may be employed to allow commentary on an implicitsubtext. A prime example of this might beGeorge Orwell'sNineteen Eighty-Four, which asks, "What if we lived in a future oftotalitarian government?" while simultaneously generating social comment and critique aimed at Orwell's own (real-world) contemporary society. Similarly,Gene Roddenberry'ssci-fi seriesStar Trek went beyond the high-concept storytelling of a futuriststarship crew, by addressing 20th centurysocial issues in a hypothetical anddefamiliarizing context.Planet of the Apes (1968) likewise engages in social commentary regarding race relations and other topics from modern human society via the lens of the ape civilization, in part as a response by screenplay co-writerRod Serling to his experiences ofanti-Semitism.[3]
The term is often applied to films that are pitched and developed almost entirely upon an engaging premise with broad appeal, rather than standing upon complex character study,cinematography, or other strengths that relate more to the artistic execution of a production. Extreme examples of high-concept films areSnakes on a Plane andSharknado, which describe their entire premises in their titles.
A movie described as being "high-concept" is considered easy to sell to a wide audience because it delivers upon an easy-to-grasp idea.[4] This simple narrative can often be summed up with a single iconic image, such as the theme park logo fromJurassic Park. Along with having well-definedgenre andaesthetics, high-concept films have marketing guidelines known as "the look, the hook and the book".[5]
Thelook of the film is simply how visually appealing it is to the public, usually before its release.Jurassic Park would show the world dinosaurs as they had never been seen before.
Thehook is the story the film is trying to sell to its audience. Everyone wanted to know how dinosaurs could walk the Earth again after being extinct for 65 million years and how they would coexist with people.
Thebook can be labeled as all the merchandise made to help promote the film. The merchandise inJurassic Park was destined to sell well, with people wanting theT-shirts andlunch boxes that were shown for sale within the movie itself, with similar merchandise later to be sold atUniversal Studios in the gift shop connected to theJurassic Park ride.
High-concept television series and movies often rely on pre-sold properties such asmovie stars to build audience anticipation, and they might use cross-promotionaladvertising campaigns with links to asoundtrack,music videos, and licensed merchandise such asDVD box sets. They commonly applymarket andtest screening feedback to alter the narrative (or even, as in the case ofSnakes on a Plane,the dialogue) to ensure maximum popularity. Some commercialblockbuster movies are built as star vehicles for successfulmusic and sports personalities to enter the movie business. In such commercial vehicles, where the onscreen activity is less important than the marketability of the product brand, a high-concept narrative is often used as a "safe" option to avoid the risk of alienating audiences with convoluted or overly taxing plot exposition.
^Rosenbaum, Jonathan (June 4, 1998)."The Audience is Us".Chicago Reader. RetrievedApril 14, 2021.Undeniably provocative and reasonably entertaining, The Truman Show is one of those high-concept movies whose concept is both clever and dumb.
^Volmers, Eric (September 1, 2015)."Disney star's rags-to-riches story a true underdog tale".Calgary Herald. RetrievedJuly 28, 2023.The high-concept series about a talking dog who reports on all shenanigans and drama of his blended family through a blog...
^Berman, Judy (September 1, 2022)."The Year's Wildest TV Tech Thriller Is a Cartoon".TIME. RetrievedMay 10, 2025....Pantheon, a gripping, cerebral, remarkably high-concept animated sci-fi series premiering Sept. 1 on AMC+...
