The year 2017 featured a range of promotional freebies and limited-time offers, with a notable focus on entertainment and fan merchandise. Among these, the "Alien Day" event on April 26th, 2017, was a significant promotional occasion for the Alien franchise, offering a variety of exclusive products, collectibles, and fan-focused activities. While many of the offers were purchase-based or limited to specific locations, the event highlighted how brands and retailers create dedicated opportunities for enthusiasts. This article details the free and promotional offers available to UK consumers during this period, with a focus on the Alien Day event and related promotions.
Alien Day 2017: Promotional Activities and Fan Events
Alien Day 2017, held on April 26th, was a 24-hour global celebration tied to the planet LV-426 from the Alien franchise and coincided with the upcoming release of Alien: Covenant. The event, organised by 20th Century Fox, aimed to build anticipation through a series of fan-focused activities, product launches, and special reveals. According to the source data, the festivities included a live streaming event, an interactive trivia game, worldwide screenings, new product launches, and special reveals. A key component of the celebration was a fan art contest, where submissions could be transformed into a limited-edition t-shirt premium. This shirt was made available with the purchase of the Alien: Covenant Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD exclusively at Walmart stores and Walmart.com. The event also encouraged fans to create their own ways to celebrate the franchise.
For UK consumers, specific cinema screenings were organised. A special screening of Prometheus and the original Alien was scheduled at Odeon, Vue, and Cineworld theatres across the UK. These screenings were part of the broader Alien Day activities intended to engage the fan community.
Exclusive Merchandise and Collectibles
A major aspect of Alien Day 2017 was the release of limited-edition merchandise from various brands. These items were primarily available for purchase rather than as free samples, but they represented exclusive promotional opportunities for collectors.
- Mondo offered a 4xLP vinyl box set of Jerry Goldsmith’s score for the original Alien film, featuring artwork by Tyler Stout. The set was priced at $450 and was limited to 2000 units. Mondo also released T-shirts, enamel pins, and an Alien poster.
- NECA released an Alien Day exclusive action figure, a tribute to the classic Kenner Private Vasquez figure that was never released in the US in the 1990s.
- PPW Toys created a nesting doll set, described as a niche item for dedicated fans.
- Super 7 participated with a 3.75-inch ReAction Figure Blind Box.
- Dark Horse Comics launched the first issue of a new Alien comic book series, Aliens: Dead Orbit, on Alien Day.
- Eaglemoss was noted for producing various Alien figure statues, with a review of the Scar Predator figure mentioned in the context.
For UK consumers, a specific print offer was available. Empire magazine published its first Virtual Reality-themed issue, which included a cardboard VR set for smartphones. This magazine was limited to 10,000 copies and was available at select Sainsbury’s stores across the UK.
Additionally, 20th Century Fox partnered with Madame Tussauds to announce a "terrifying arrival" at one of their locations in the summer, though specific details were not provided in the source material.
Broader 2017 Promotional Freebies and Offers
Beyond the Alien Day event, 2017 offered a diverse array of freebies and promotional deals across various sectors, though these were not exclusively related to the Alien franchise. These offers often required specific actions, such as visiting participating locations or presenting proof of eligibility.
National Coffee Day Freebies
On September 29, 2017, several brands participated in National Coffee Day with free or discounted coffee offers. These promotions were available at national chains and regional retailers, typically requiring specific redemption methods. * Cinnabon provided a free 12 oz coffee to all customers. * Chick-fil-A (in Garner) offered a free small hot or iced coffee, limited to one per person. * Dunkin' Donuts offered a free Medium Hot Coffee with the purchase of a Medium or Larger Hot Coffee at participating locations.
Military Appreciation Offers
Various restaurants and retailers offered free meals and discounts to military personnel, veterans, and their families, typically requiring proof of service. * Restaurant Free Meals: Applebee's, CiCi's Pizza, Hooters (with beverage purchase), Little Caesars Pizza, Outback Steakhouse, Red Robin, Texas Roadhouse, Bonefish Grill, and Wife Saver offered complimentary meals. * Other Restaurant Offers: Dunkin' Donuts offered a free donut, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt offered a free 6-oz. frozen yogurt, Red Lobster offered a free appetizer or dessert with dinner purchase, and Starbucks offered a free tall brewed coffee. * Retail Discounts: Target offered 10% off for all military personnel, veterans, and their families. Outback Steakhouse also offered a 20% off the check from November 12-16.
Tax Day 2017 Deals
Tax Day 2017 (April 18) saw various restaurants and retailers offering free food items and discounts. These offers were generally valid on or around that date. * Cinnabon offered two free Classic Bites without a coupon. * Great American Cookies provided a free Birthday Cake Cookie to all customers. * Hot Dog on a Stick offered one free Original Turkey Dog to all customers. * Cheese’s offered two large 1-topping pizzas for $22. * Hungry Howie’s offered a medium one-topping pizza for 18 cents with the purchase of a large one-topping pizza at regular menu price.
Audio and Digital Freebies
In December 2017, Mindful-Audio released a free library of field recordings for users who had purchased libraries from them previously. This library, available until January 31st, included new nature, wildlife, vehicle, and aircraft recordings collected from various locations including England, Romania, Sweden, Wales, Scotland, and Senegal. Additionally, a March 2017 playlist titled "March 2017 Freebies" was released by Strictly Nuskool Blog on SoundCloud.
Comic-Con Freebies
At San Diego Comic-Con 2017, Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) provided official SDCC 2017 bags to fans upon checking in at the show. These bags featured 20 bold designs and included a hidden surprise: an exclusive DC Super Hero pin. This marked the eighth consecutive year that Warner Bros. partnered with Comic-Con to produce the official bags. The documentation noted that freebies at the convention extended beyond promotional posters and that attendees often prioritised collecting free swag alongside pre-ordered exclusives.
Conclusion
Alien Day 2017 served as a comprehensive promotional campaign for the Alien franchise, offering UK fans specific opportunities through cinema screenings, exclusive merchandise releases, and interactive contests. While many of the high-value collectibles were purchase-based, the event demonstrated how brands create engagement through limited-edition products and fan-centric activities. Beyond this franchise-specific event, 2017 provided a wider landscape of promotional freebies across food, retail, and digital categories, often tied to specific dates, locations, or eligibility criteria. For consumers, these offers required awareness of terms and conditions, such as proof of purchase or military service, and were typically available for a limited time. The variety of offers, from free coffee and meals to exclusive vinyl and comic books, illustrates the diverse strategies used by brands to attract and reward customers.