high-concept

Adjective

high-concept

1. (derogatory, sometimes) Of a work such as a book, film, or television programme: based on an appealing and easily communicable idea; also, of or relating to such a work.
   • A high concept show has something that somebody could recognize in the title and would want to see. […] Elvis Presley and pills are the highest concept you could get. There are three people who are so high concept that you can live off them – Elvis, Jackie Onassis and Liz Taylor.1979 October 2, Joan Hanauer, quoting Paul L. Klein, “Exec sees ‘concepts’ as key to ratings battle”, in Mort Pye, editor, The Star-Ledger, volume 66, number 218, Newark, N.J.: S[amuel] I[rving]...
   • One might argue that Groundhog Day is a "high-concept" film. […] For many, a high-concept film is distinguished by its ease of summary. As Steven Spielberg puts it, "If a person can tell me the idea in 25 words or less, it's going to make a pretty good movie. I like ideas, especially movie ideas...1999, Kristin Thompson, “Groundhog Day”, in Storytelling in the New Hollywood: Understanding Classical Narrative Technique, Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 153

   Antonyms:

   low-concept

2. (proscribed, sometimes) Based on an idea or theme, especially one regarded as highly artistic or intellectual.
   • I’m not too sure about that new molecular gastronomy restaurant. It seems too high-concept and snooty for me.
   • We've heard of high-concept books and high-concept plays and high-concept television shows and high-concept record albums and high-concept paintings and high-concept advertising campaigns and, of course, high-concept motion pictures. This is a high-concept magazine article. Why? Because it can be...1987 October, Rachel Urquhart, “Naked City: Buzzwords of the Stars”, in Spy: The New York Monthly, New York, N.Y.: Spy Publishing Partners, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 28, column 2