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Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video are home to many great homebrew features, but they're also full to the brim with some terrible programming. Many of these movies are in the realms of former direct-to-video movies, and just as many feature some major old-school stars from back in the day.
Dubbed "Geezer Teasers," these films don't really have said stars in major roles. Instead, their brief presence in the flicks is part of what makes these cheap movies so profitable. These cheap and quick paydays aren't just for the studios, with stars like Bruce Willis making some major money for very little filming, so what is a Geezer Teaser?
What Are Geezer Teasers?
As their name might suggest, "Geezer Teasers," as they're pejoratively called, are movies in which older stars are prominently featured on the posters or DVD/Blu-Ray covers. Many times, they also get top billing in the films, though this, along with the advertising in general, is decidedly false. Said stars will have very little screen time and influence on the plot, with some of their roles being veritable cameos. This is all a part of getting the movies funded and ensuring that they're ultimately profitable.
The king of the Geezer Teaser is none other than producer Randall Emmett, who was spotlighted in a now-infamous article from Vulture. Having worked with stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, Bruce Willis and Steven Seagal, a few of his filmmaking colleagues include none other than Martin Scorsese. In fact, Emmett got a producer credit on the Netflix movie The Irishman, which Scorsese directed.
Despite this, Emmett is still seen as a sort of schlock czar, the likes of whom inspired Turtle on Entourage. Emmett would cut his teeth on films such as Seagal's Out for a Kill, which made his particular brand of filmmaking a proven success. In the case of action films, the movies would be shot for cheaper a price in other countries, with funding coming from diverse sources, including those of less than savory finances who simply want to "get into" the film business.
The result is that movies made on budgets of just around $10 million can easily make at least $20 million or more. This is through both traditional means such as DVD/Blu-Ray sales, as well as selling the film to streaming services. Generating interest in these flicks are former action stars who once ruled the box office. Seagal, Willis and others star in the movies, but more often than not, they're simply side characters whose role is essentially just there to generate cash flow from investors. This allows them to make these types of movies very quickly, with the likes of Willis taking strategic advantage of this.
Why Has Bruce Willis Made So Many Geezer Teasers?
Willis has made numerous Geezer Teasers with EFO Films. In 2021, Willis had eight films of poor quality, and he's not as prominent in any of them as he would seem from the trailers and box covers. For instance, his collective screen time in the movies Hard Kill and Extraction is less than 20 minutes all together. There's as little presence of the legendary action star as possible, which makes sense given the shooting parameters.
Due to his then-current shooting contracts, Willis would have all of his footage for these films shot in around two days, with the actor being able to work no more than eight hours. Thus, if the script had to be changed to accommodate scenes which couldn't be shot, so be it. Given that he'll still make pretty good money for one day (or less) of work, it's no wonder that he's been in so many Geezer Teasers in such a small amount of time. Add in the fact that none of the press touring of more mainstream films is necessary, and it's a recipe for easy continued wealth. Geezer Teasers are certainly a profitable venture for anyone involved, so they'll likely continue to fill the ranks of streaming services, for better or worse. Whether this will help some of their hemorrhaging viewership remains to be seen.