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Parents' Guide to

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Funny, insightful docu reveals product placement tricks.

Movie PG-13 2011 88 minutes
POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Smledoc
Smledoc Adult
June 28, 2012
age 12+

Funny, smart documentary

Very interesting look at consumerism in America. Funny and smart - it can bring up an interesting conversation with your pre-teen/teen about how and why we buy "things".
bill colins
bill colins Adult
September 8, 2011
age 12+

well done

Fantastic concept, well presented and entertaining. A must watch as an eye opener for kids and adults alike. This was a great reminder of the times we live in. It provides kids with an understanding how movies are reliant on the product placement to even be viable and how much they actually pay to get there. Great conversation starter with good debate as the movie progressed.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD, documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame) examines how pervasive product placement truly is by making a movie funded entirely by corporate sponsors. He takes viewers from pitch meeting to branding sessions to strategy conferences in his attempt to sign as many firms as he can to back his project and see it marketed heavily to the public. Along the way, he asks questions about how product placement affects entertainment: Can you still be creative? Can you still make the movie you want to make?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (7 ):

A fascinating, whimsical whirlwind of a ride, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold nevertheless does serious business. It lifts the curtain off of the mystery that is product placement and partnerships and encourages viewers to question the system. In one scene, Spurlock consults an analyst to see what his "brand personality" is. He's told that he's "mindful" and "playful," a description that fits not just Spurlock the filmmaker, but this movie.

It's discomfiting: Even as we watch everyone involved -- Spurlock, the advertisers, other directors -- discuss the inner workings of Hollywood, we're keenly aware that Spurlock is part of it as well. He is, after all, trying to get his documentary made. So as he drives home his point, he's selling a product, too. Then again, perhaps discomfort is just what we need when we discover that our entertainment is no longer simply that.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about product placement. Were you aware of the practice before this film? If so, did you know how pervasive it was? If not, how does finding out about it affect your views about entertainment?

  • How does it make you feel to know that companies have been targeting you through the movies and TV shows you watch?

  • Should product placement be banned, or is it the cost of doing business? How can people become savvier about the practice?

Movie Details

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