12 Films That Had Surprising Commercial Consequences

3. Stinking Bishop Says Thanks To Wallace And Gromit

wallacegromit There aren't many films that can be said to have had a positive impact on the sales of cheese (although, surely, Richard Curtis must've done his bit). And yet the 2005 animated film Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit has done fromage the ultimate favour. There's a scene in which Wallace is knocked unconscious after a fall, leaving Gromit to revive him by wafting a Stinking Bishop above his face. It's worth pointing out at this stage that Stinking Bishop is an English and, unsurprisingly, rather pungent variety of cheese. Real-life reports of the cheese's restorative powers are, as yet, unsubstantiated- yet it certainly does the trick here. And, what's more, sales of Stinking Bishop rocketed by an incredible 500%. As free publicity goes, it's an opportunity not to be sniffed at.
Contributor
Contributor

Yorkshireman (hence the surname). Often spotted sacrificing sleep and sanity for the annual Leeds International Film Festival. For a sample of (fairly) recent film reviews, please visit whatsnottoblog.wordpress.com.