This weekend

Key release   No major releases

Also released

• Bad Moms – Entertainment Films

Comedy starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Jay Hernandez, Jada Pinkett Smith and Christina Applegate and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (writers of The Hangover Trilogy). Buzz has been strong especially with its red band trailer and the raunchy footage was well received at CinemaCon in April and CineEurope in June

This year How to Be Single and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 performed well taking £5.87m and £3.81m with no competition until the arrival of Bridget Jones’s Baby on September 16^th could do similar. Female comedies have performed well in recent years five years ago was surprisingly strong.

Bridesmaids	24th June 2011	£3.44m
The Heat	31st July 2012	£2.51m
Bad Teacher	17th March 2011	£1.96m
How to Be Single	19th February 2016	£1.87m
Trainwreck	14th August 2015	£0.92m
The Help	28th October 2011	£0.89m

 

Mila Kunis previously starred in three successful comedies 2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall (£2.12m), 2011’s Friends with Benefits (£1.94m) and 2012’s Ted (£9.32m) but was more the co-star than star while in the US the cast is more of ensemble Mila Kunis leads the film in the UK.

While Kristen Bell for voicing Frozen and Zootropolis; Jada Pinkett Smith for TV series Gotham and Christina Applegate as Veronica Corningstone from Anchorman and Kelly Bundy from Married with Children 80’s TV comedy.

• Julieta – Pathe

20^th film directed by Pedro Almodóvar opened in Spain in April receiving positive reviews and had its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival; received its UK premiere at Somerset House on August 10^th.

Was originally to be called Silencio but was changed to Julieta to avoid confusion with Martin Scorsese’s Silence. It was originally going to be Pedro Almodóvar English-language film debut, with American actress Meryl Streep in the lead role but was uncomfortable to write and shoot the film in English.

In recent years’ foreign language films have suffered at the box office in the UK but Pedro Almodóvar films have had regular success with his 1988 film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown becoming a West End show.

• Purge: The Election Year – Universal

Third part of the social science fiction action exploitative horror film. In the US film opened well on Friday but dropped off quickly which is likely to happen in the UK.

Was delayed from July 15^th after police massacre in Dallas on Thursday which was reportedly “Inspired” by the film The Purge. Over the years have been cases of copycat killers were inspired by films including A Clockwork Orange and Childs Play 3 inspiring James Bulger killers which led 20th Century Fox cancel UK theatrical release of The Good Son. 

The Purge opened May 31st 2013 with £1,019,877 taking £3.36m

The Purge: Anarchy opened 25th July 2014 with £1,165,143 taking £4.43m

• War Dogs – Warner Bros

American biographical crime war comedy based on the Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson starring Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas, J. B. Blanc and Bradley Cooper and directed by Todd Phillips his first film since The Hangover Part II and Part III released in 2011 and 2013. Was originally set for release in April delayed likely due to similar themed Whiskey Tango Foxtrot before moving to late August release date where films go to die even though it’s a Bank Holiday weekend.

Apart from The Hangover trilogy Todd Phillips had success with Road trip, Old School and Stansky & Hutch but more recently School for Scoundrels and Due Date disappointed; Jonah Hill and Miles Teller came to the UK to promote the film recently.

• Mechanic: Resurrection – Lionsgate

Sequel to the 2011 film Mechanic starring stars Jason Statham, Tommy Lee Jones, Jessica Alba and Michelle Yeoh and directed by directed by Dennis Gansel.

Similar to War Dogs, Mechanic: Resurrection has been delayed several times from January foe London Has Fallen then April for The Criminal before the dead zone of the end of the summer holidays. That said everyone loves a bit of Statham silliness and the original had a decent opening of £921,554 in January 2011 and similar opening could be expected for the sequel.

• Popstars: Never Stop Never Stopping – Universal

Musical comedy mockumentary starring Andy Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Imogen Poots, Joan Cusack and Maya Rudolph, directed by Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone and produced by Judd Apatow.

After receiving positive reviews in the US was expected to open with $7m in June instead took almost half $4.6m opening in 8^th. Opening only a few months after musical flop Jem and the Holograms which opened with $1.3m in October 2015.

While the trailers for Jem and the Holograms were slated the Popstars: Never Stop Never Stopping were received positively as the film.

In February Universal gave Jem and the Holograms a pointless theatrical release taking only £8,869 from 106 screens and Popstars: Never Stop Never Stopping is likely to do similarly unless they are hoping the return of The X Factor might get audiences interested.

15 years ago Universal co-produced with MGM (released in the UK via 20^th Century Fox) Josie and the Pussycats which is a very fun silly underrated spoof comedy but even with a strong marketing campaign it only managed to open with £37,662 in August 2001.

The problem in recent years has been are far too many films being released theatrically as digital has made it far easier to release films theatrically. To quote Jurassic Park Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Of course the reason for its theatrical release is for the Sky TV deal but if distributors would cut back on the films released and look into VOD for some of their smaller harder to target films it would free up more screens for the films that deserve screen time?

Out next week

Key release    No major releases

Also released

• Sausage Party – Sony Pictures

3D animated features ensemble voice cast Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Edward Norton and Salma Hayek.

As seen in the Sony Hacking emails Seth Rogen comedies are hated by Sony Pictures UK and UK audiences aren’t too keen with them either.

The Sausage Party is again written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg This is The End opened with £1.3m in June 2014, the Interview £281,916 in February 2015 and The Night Before £272,000.

While there are many grown up comedies on TV The Simpsons, Family Guy and American Dad the 1999 South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut is the most successful adult animated film opening with £1.49m in August 1999 taking £6.3m. Have been few adult animation films neither 2016’s Anomalisa and 1992’s Cool World were successful at the box office.

Strange date to open film as the underage teens who might enjoy a swearing hot-dog will of starting going back to school the day before the film opens.

The first weekend of September is when studios often dump their films last year No Escape, Me and Earl, Transporter Refuelled and American Ultra and in 2014 Sex Tape, Before I Go to Sleep, The Hundred Foot Journey and The Guest but as Sony UK dislike Seth Rogen comedies that’s probably the reason why.

The idea food doesn’t know its food isn’t originally idea was spoofed by The Simpsons five years ago with the short Condiments from Mixar which was nominated for Best Short film against Bart Simpson’s Angry Dad short and in January 2015 sketch by UCB Comedy.

• Morgan – Fox

Sci-fi thriller starring Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook, Michelle Yeoh, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Paul Giamatti and directed by Luke Scott his directorial debut. Luke Scott is the son of Ridley previously was second unit director on Exodus: Gods of Egypt and The Martian and he appeared in Ridley’s first film 1977’s The Duelists.

Kate Mara had her breakthrough role in TV series House of Cards as Zoe Barnes but has yet to have the similar success of her sister Rooney, last year she stared in Fantastic Four and The Martian compared to The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Carol and currently a voice in Kubo and the Two Strings for her sister.

The script written by Seth W Owen was on the 2014 Black List of Best Unproduced Screenplays.

Trailers have a feel of Ex Machina as with humanoid robot Ava, Morgan is a child created in laboratory with super-human qualities striking out at humans.

• Café Society – Warner Bros

Romantic comedy written and directed by Woody Allen starring Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll and Ken Stott.

Received its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival receiving positive reviews.

Warner Bros have been releasing Woody Allen films in the UK since 2009’s Whatever Works having mixed success his biggest being 2013’s Blue Jasmine with £833,798 and 2011’s Midnight in Paris opening with £495,709. His last two films haven’t done as well Magic in the Moonlight opened with £270,000 in 2014 and Irrational Man with £197,188 in 2015.

During John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight August 15^th show while ranting about Donald Trump he said “Anyone who wants to give their money to a Manhattan narcissist whose interests begin and end with the plight of white people, keep in mind that Woody Allen’s ‘Cafe Society’ is getting decent reviews right now,” Oliver joked. “Not great, but decent. It’s one of the ‘fine’ ones.”

• Equity – Sony Pictures

Financial thriller drama directed by Meera Menon premiered at Sundance Film Festival described as the She-wolves of Wall Street proving the women of Wall Street can be just as cold-heartedly corrupt as the boys; will only get a very limited release  

Out in two weeks

Key release

• Ben Hur – Paramount Pictures

Historical epic action drama fifth adaption of the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace following 1907 silent film, 1925 silent film, Academy Award-winning 1959 film and 2003 animated film over its production it has been described as a re-adaptation, reimagining, and new interpretation of the novel.  Stars Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell, Nazanin Boniadi, Haluk Bilginer and Rodrigo Santoro and directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Keith Clarke and John Ridley (who also wrote screenplay for Oscar winning 12 Years A Slave).

The film generated controversy when filmmakers put Ben Hur back in the closet probably due to wanting to target Christian audiences as faith based films have performed strongly in recent years in the US, in doing maybe alienated mainstream audiences aware of the Ben-Hur/Messala relationship. Was similar to Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus 1960 epic famously had a scene with Laurence Oliver cut from its original release because of its suggestions of gay homosexuality which was put back into the film for its 1991 restoration.

In April 2014 Paramount Pictures and MGM announced they would co-produce the film as Paramount’s biblical epic Noah was hitting cinemas taking $362m worldwide against a budget of $125m was a similar co-production with New Regency which was an unusual film for Paramount to finance as aren’t known for taking risks.

Was originally set for release in February but was delayed to August in March which was a strange date for an epic action film which are more suited to early summer or Fall release. Mid-August is seen as the dumping ground by studios shown by the poor reviews is expected to be one of the biggest flops of the summer.  

Biblical/epic movies are normally released March- May or Nov/Dec as Paramount had so few films in 2016 its original February date would have been far more suitable. Or as their next release isn’t until October 21^st a mid- September US opening day and date would have been a far more suitable.

 

Also released

• Hell or High Water – Studiocanal

Crime drama directed by David Mackenzie (Young Adult and most recently Starred Up) written by Taylor Sheridan, script was winner of the 2012 Black List; starring Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Ben Foster.

Premiered at Cannes Film Festival receiving acclaim from critics with many describing it as the best film of the year so far; Variety described it as 2016 version of a 1970s movie while some have also described it as a modern day western and current America about poverty and insecurity and the feeling there’s no way out of it; but do audiences want to see movies that reflect their depressing lives even if it is a fantastic film? As many probably will prefer escapism from that world for two hours in the cinema and is why audiences can’t have good things as when they are made audiences don’t go to see them.

What is surprising with Hell or High Water and Captain Fantastic both opening wide when a platform release might be more suitable. Problem is there are several much higher profile films being released in the weeks ahead is always the concern if a film doesn’t find its audience on limited release won’t get a chance going wider.

After months of underwhelming sequels and reboots in the summer the start of the winter school term sees studios release their more interesting titles which are now squeezed in 10 weeks of September/October and early November before Christmas season starts up with the launch of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Similar to summer this means there is often cannibalization between these films as are often targeting similar audiences but whereas during the summer audiences would see many audiences in the autumn are more selective. 

Second weekend of September has been a strong launch date for films recently, Legend last year, Pride in 2014, Rush in 2013 as talent would travel to the UK after premiering their films at Venice and Deauville Film Festivals.

While Hell or High Water is currently being heralded as the best film of the year it is questionable if will still be on Academy minds in December with current Oscar favourites Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, The Birth of a Nation, Live by Night, Manchester By the Sea, Fences, Rules Don’t Apply, Sully, Loving, The Queen of Katwe many of these will premiere at Toronto and Venice and will discover if real contenders.

Many of these will likely be included in the London Film Festival announced on September 1^st; can be predicted by the recent shifting of many films release dates. But is London Film Festival a help of hindrance for many distributors often doubling up with premieres either pushing release forward against many others or as with Goosebumps last year Free Fire this year premieres at LFF in October only to be released over four months later. A United Kingdom opens the London Film Festival opening in November when many other the films that screen at the London Film Festival open. 

While smaller films don’t generate media coverage will lose vital theatrical revenue which will cost the indie distributors more. Of course its lovely to have a West End premiere but only if its beneficial to the distributor; were discussions about this in Sony hacking emails when Captain Phillips had been in festival in 2014 and Sony executives were wondering if Fury should be too.

• Kubo and the Two Strings – Universal Pictures

3D stop-motion animated fantasy adventure film produced by Laika their fourth film for Focus Features previously making Coraline in 2009, ParaNorman in 2014 and The Boxtrolls in 2014 previously made Corpse Bride for Warner Bros in 2005. Featuring the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, George Takei, and Matthew McConaughey and directed by Travis Knight his directorial debut.

Has received very positive reviews with many describing it as a masterpiece and the best animated film of the year so far. Received its world premiere last month at the Jerusalem Film Festival and was also screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 13;

Laika previous releases

Coraline –   8^th May 2009 – opened with £2.4m (included previews)

ParaNorman –  September 14^th 2012 – opened with £1.4m

The Boxtrolls – September 12^th 2014 – opened with £2m

Universal released both ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls in September box performed well but box office is limited to weekend had it opened two weeks earlier would have given it the lucrative Bank Holiday weekend of course would had tougher competition.

While 2016 has been a disappointing year for live action films has been an incredible year for animation Kung Fu Panda 3, Zootropolis, The Angry Birds Movie, Finding Dory, The Secret Life of Pets, Sausage Party with Storks, Trolls and Moana still to be released only disappointments Anomalisa and Ice Age 5.

Incredibly 2017 has even more animated films with Sing, Monster Trucks, The Lego Batman Movie, The Boss Baby, Smurfs: The lost Village, Captain Underpants, Cars 3, Despicable Me 3, Emoji Movie: Express Yourself, Ninjago, My Little Pony, The Star, Coco and The Story of Ferdinand.

• Don’t Breathe – Sony Pictures

Horror directed by Fede Alvarez who previously directed the 2013 Evil Dead reboot starring stars Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, and Stephen Lang; produced by Ghost House Pictures founded by Sam Raimi in 2002 making low budget genre films biggest success with The Grudge remake in 2004.

Received its premiere in March at South by Southwest receiving positive reviews Variety described it as “a muscular exercise in brutal, relentless peril that should please genre fans”.

Studios are always trying to find new way to promote their films on social media for Don’t Breathe created Snapchat’s first 360-degree advert featuring a 10 second video ad which allows users to swipe up to see the full 90 second video; first ran in US Aug 9^th will also run in the UK and Australia.

Sony previously used Snapchat to promote Ghostbusters with a selfie-lens while 20^th Century Fox and Warner Bros used Snapchat Lenses for X-Men: Apocalypse and Batman Vs Superman.

Sony Pictures held a digital promotion for the film in July inviting social media influences where they walked through a recreation of the film’s set using night-vision goggles and GoPro cameras with the aim of finding money hidden in different locations.

Have been many horror films released in 2016 studios love them as are normally low budget and have a big fan-base; after being trailered before Lights Out, The Purge Election Year and Morgan, Don’t Breathe is likely to have a similar front-loaded opening especially with the return of the Blair Witch, next weekend.

2016 has already had Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (£0.78m), The Forest (£0.92m), The Boy (£2.38m), The Other Side Of the Door (£0.6m), Hush, Friends Request (£1.36m), The Darkness, The Conjuring 2 (£10.71m), Nerve (£0.7m) with differing levels of success at the box office.

With Blair Witch, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Rings, The Girl with All the Gifts, The By Bye Man and Keep Watching still to be released in 2016.

• Captain Fantastic – eOne

Drama starring Viggo Mortensen and directed by Matt Ross; received its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival screening in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival with a 10-minute standing ovation (Matt Ross winning best director) received UK premiere last month at Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House.

Received very positive films including from Variety saying “Boasting half a dozen impressive youth performances alongside a leading role that takes full advantage of Mortensen’s own sensitive, back-to-nature spirit, Captain Fantastic easily ranks among the most polished and relatable of this year’s Sundance offerings”.

US – Opening Friday

• Don’t Breathe – Sony Pictures

 Horrors have performed very well this year and Don’t Breathe has been generating strong social media buzz since receiving positive reviews at premiere at South By Southwest in March.

Directed by Fede Alvarez who previous directed the reboot of Evil Dead in 2013 which opened with $25.7m; last week of August and first week of September are very slow at the box office but generic films like Don’t Breathe have ok openings last year No Escape $8m and As Above So Below $8.6m in 2014 with Don’t Breathe likely to have a similar sized opening.

• Mechanic: Resurrection – Lionsgate

 Jason Statham has had much success in recent years during the late August/Labour Day weekend with WAR $9.8m, The Expendables trilogy, Death Race $12.6m and Crank $10.4m while the original Mechanic film opened with $11.4m in 2011 and will be looking for a similar sized opening for the reboot but opened against similar generic film Don’t Breathe they might cannibalize each other. 

 

• Hands of Stone – Weinstein

 Biographical sports film about Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán; directed Jonathan Jakubowicz and stars Édgar Ramírez, Robert De Niro, Usher, Ruben Blades, Ellen Barkin and John Turturro.

Was made in 2014 The Weinstein Company acquired US rights in 2015 with a guaranteed 2,000 screen release; premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May 2016; must be a dump by Weinstein Co forced to give it a wide release expected to open with under $5m. 

 Opening on limited release

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• Southside with You – Roadside Attractions

 Romantic comedy stars Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter as a young Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson focusing on the couple’s first date on an evening in 1989; premiered at Sundance Film Festival receiving positive reviews where Roadshow Attractions and Miramax acquired US rights.

•  The Sea of Trees – A24

 Drama mystery film directed by Gus Van Sant starring Matthew McConaughey, Ken Watanabe, Naomi Watts, Katie Aselton, and Jordan Gavaris.

Was announced in 2013 sold at Cannes Film Festival 2014 where eOne acquired UK rights filmed also that year and screened at Cannes Films Festival in 2015 receiving poor reviews with many describing it as Gus Van Sant’s worst film.

•  The Hollars – Sony Classics

 Comedy-drama film directed by John Krasinski starring an ensemble John Krasinski, Sharlto Copley, Charlie Day, Richard Jenkins, Anna Kendrick and Margo Martindale; received its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January (were Sony Classics acquired US rights) receiving mixed reviews.

•  Complete Unknown – IFC

 Drama mystery thriller starring Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates and Danny Glover; received world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival receiving positive reviews. Amazon Studios acquired US rights.