IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Coyote v. Acme (1990)

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Theme 1 – Family‑friendly appeal and kids’ enjoyment

“I took my 7‑ and 10‑year old and they enjoyed it, especially the 10yo.” – hundt
“My kids (9 yr old girl, 11 y/o girl, 13 y/o boy) said it was the best movie they have ever seen.” – xrd

Theme 2 – Divided opinions on the movie’s humor and quality

“It's just not as funny as it looks… felt repetitive and stale.” – glimshe
“We loved it.” – steve_gh
“It was a blast.” – fortyseven

Theme 3 – Frustration with excessive pre‑movie advertisements

“I got in the theater ten minutes early… they started showing ads for popcorn and soda… Total ads: thirty three minutes.” – AnimalMuppet
“It's not the trailers most people are mad about, but ads for products that they stick before the trailers even.” – qingcharles

🚀 Project Ideas

PreShowPlanner: Real‑Time Theater Ad Timer

Summary

  • Crowdsourced database of actual ad/run‑time lengths per theater, showtime, and film, so users know exactly when the movie will start.
  • Core value proposition: Eliminates the frustration of unpredictable, lengthy ad blocks by giving moviegoers a reliable start‑time estimate and a countdown timer.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Frequent moviegoers, families, and anyone annoyed by long pre‑show ads
Core Feature User‑reported ad duration logging + real‑time countdown to movie start (integrates with theater showtimes via public APIs)
Tech Stack Mobile app (React Native / Flutter), backend (Node.js + PostgreSQL), optional theater API integrations (e.g., MovieTickets.com, Fandango)
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: affiliate ticket commissions + premium ad‑free version ($2.99/mo)

Notes

  • HN users complained about “thirty three minutes of ads” (AnimalMuppet) and wished for less annoying, more diverse ads (Paul_Clayton); PreShowPlanner directly addresses the uncertainty and wasted time.
  • By providing accurate start times, users can plan arrival, reduce wasted time, and theaters could use the data to improve ad scheduling.
  • Potential for discussion: Could theaters adopt the data to optimize ad load, leading to better user experience and higher concession sales.

KidCartoonPrimer: Pre‑Movie Character Warm‑Up

Summary

  • Curated, short (5‑10 min) video playlists of classic Looney Tunes and related cartoons designed to quickly familiarize kids with characters before seeing films like Coyote vs. Acme.
  • Core value proposition: Increases kids’ enjoyment and engagement by giving them the necessary background without requiring hours of YouTube searching.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Parents with children aged 5‑12 planning to watch newer Looney Tunes‑related movies
Core Feature One‑click “Play Primer” button that streams a licensed, age‑appropriate montage of key characters and signature gags
Tech Stack Web app (React + Video.js), backend (Python/FastAPI), video storage via CDN (AWS CloudFront or similar)
Difficulty Low
Monetization Revenue-ready: subscription ($4.99/mo) or pay‑per‑primer ($0.99) with optional ad‑supported free tier

Notes

  • Commenters noted that kids unfamiliar with the cartoons still enjoyed the movie after watching a few Looney Tunes compilations beforehand (hundt, laddershoe); KidCartoonPrimer makes that preparation effortless.
  • Parents expressed desire for a quick way to get kids up to speed; the primer saves time and guarantees exposure to essential characters.
  • Could spark discussion about fair use, licensing with Warner Bros., and partnership opportunities with streaming platforms.

AdCreativeSwap: Marketplace for Entertaining Theater Ads

Summary

  • Platform where advertisers commission short, entertaining, brand‑aligned skits or mini‑games (15‑60 sec) from independent creators, which theaters can schedule in place of generic product ads.
  • Core value proposition: Transforms annoying ad blocks into engaging, varied content that audiences actually enjoy, reducing ad fatigue and improving brand recall.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Advertisers seeking better theater engagement, indie creators/video makers, theaters looking to differentiate their pre‑show experience
Core Feature Marketplace for submitting, reviewing, licensing, and scheduling creative ad creatives; includes analytics on audience reaction (via optional theater app ratings)
Tech Stack Marketplace web app (Vue.js/Nuxt), creator portal, ad‑serving API (Node.js + Redis), theater scheduling UI (embedded widget)
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: transaction fee (15% per licensed ad) + optional premium listing for creators

Notes

  • Paul_Clayton suggested ads could be “diverse and even moderately entertaining” to be less annoying; AdCreativeSwap provides exactly that.
  • Users complained about repetitive product ads and long blocks; swapping in fresh, humorous skits could make the pre‑show a highlight rather than a gripe.
  • Potential for discussion: theaters could experiment with ad‑length vs. entertainment trade‑offs, leading to better audience satisfaction and possibly higher concession sales.

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