Mainstream hollywood films follow specific standards and techniques. They have a clear plot line where each scene is progressing towards a goal. This is combined with together with music to create certain emotional reactions from the audience, you can also tell if the film is mainstream by the stardom of the cast members.
The romantic comedy or the “chick flick” is a good example of mainstream hollywood films. The norm for these types of films usually have the A list star as the lead with a less popular actress as her best friend. Pretty Woman and The Notebook are two perfect examples of mainstream hollywood. They both have A list lead characters that initially have some problem or issue that prevent them from getting the dream man, there are also some form of an obstacle where they make it seem like the couple will forever parted ways but what is a chick flick without some form of happy big romantic ending?
The Twilight series has also shown how much money can be made by using the same plot line of overcoming obstacles for the girl to get the guy. The first film Twilight made $35.7 million just on opening day alone. The second film New Moon gained the biggest midnight opening in the USA and Canada; but the third film Eclipse grossed $709 million worldwide making it the fourth highest opening weekend in domestic history.
Terri Schwartz states that The Twilight series may be hollywood’s most successful film franchise just because “they’re so dirt cheap to make.”
http://voices.yahoo.com/guide-hollywoods-mainstream-movie-529616.html
http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2010/07/06/twilight-successful/
Cinema and Society 2012 