This weekend
Major release
In the Heart of the Sea – Warner Bros
Biographical adventure based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s 2000 non-fiction book directed by Ron Howard starring stars Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw and Brendan Gleeson.
After being pushed back in January from March to December for the reason film would be suited in a winter slot rather than spring. But opening a week after The Force Awakens won’t get to be seen in the big screens in multiplexes to see the epic action sequences this is a film to be seen in 3D and IMAX but unlikely many will get to see it in the later; early reviews have been mixed being compared to Life of Pi opened December 23rd 2012 with £2.59m; had its UK premiere a couple of weeks ago in London. After flopping in the US unlikely to do much better in the UK.
Cineworld Cinemas held their secret screening last week with many crazily believe it would be The Force Awakens with many walking not seeing it.
Also released
Daddy’s Home – Paramount
Comedy re-teaming Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg with The Other Guys director Sean Anders; trailer was well received at CinemaCon in April; receiving its UK premiere on December 9th having its Irish premier on December 6th with Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell both attending. Reviews have been mixed but with limited other choices out there should open better than Sisters. Cinemagoers can only watch Star Wars The Force Awakens a certain amount of times and with the choice of sales or cinema over the next two weeks cinema is very lucrative.
Out next week
Major release
The Danish Girl – Universal Pictures
Biographical drama starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander and Ben Whishaw directed by Tom Hooper; had its world premiere at Venice Film Festival receiving positive reviews Redmayne and Vikander performances both received Golden Globe nominations last week and they will likely be turned into Oscar and BAFTA nominations with Vikander more likely to win; received UK premiere Universal held early December UK premieres successfully previously for their early January releases Les Misérables in 2012 and The Theory of Everything.
Also released
Joy – 20th Century Fox
Biographical film about Joy Mangano, who invented the Miracle Mop; Jennifer Lawrence reteams with her Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle co-stars Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper and director David O. Russell
Early reviews have been mixed; Jenny Lawrence received Best Actress Golden Globes nomination with the film getting a Best Picture Comedy or Musical (as The Martian) both films have comedic moments but neither would be described as comedies as fellow nominees Spy and Trainwrecked.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Event Cinema screening of the latest Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock will be broadcast on BBC1 the same time it’s showing in cinemas. Even though you can watch it for free on TV cinemas are adding a surcharge on regular ticket prices with some charging more than double.
At Any Price – Studiocanal
Drama starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron premiered at Venice Film Festival in 2012 was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and released in US April 2013 receiving mixed reviews after taking only $380,594 surprising it wasn’t released straight to DVD in the UK rather than being left on the shelf for over 18 months as The Company You Keep was also.
Sleeping with Other People – Icon
Romantic comedy starring Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Amanda Peet and Adam Scott, premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January; had a limited release in the US in September
Out in two weeks
Major release
The Hateful Eight – Entertainment
Western written and directed by Quentin Tarantino staring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern. It was original going to be made in November 2013 but as cancelled after script was leaked.
It’s the first film since 1966’s Khartoum to be shot in Ultra Panavision 70 while it will be released in 100 screens in US in 70mm will only opening in a couple of cinemas including Odeon Leicester Square where it held its European premiere on December10th; Reviews have been positive but Academy screener was uploaded yesterday online and has been download up to 600,000 times with discs being sold across the world.
Opening Friday in the US
All these films open in the shadows of Star Wars The Force Awakens likely hold well in its second weekend but these films are targeting other audiences that will attract non fans.
Joy – 20th Century Fox
Latest David O Russell film and third film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. Previous films opened on limited release Joy is David O Russell’s first film to open wide since 1999’s Three Kings opening with $15.8m.
Pointbreak – Warner
Remake of the 1991 action thriller starred Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves this time starring Édgar Ramírez, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer and Ray Winstone.
Been many remakes of 80s films in recent years but this broke the camel’s back for many cinemagoers building on all the hatred of remakes. When the first trailer was released in May was massive backlash on social media but Fast and Furious films are basically similar films to Pointbreak but they got away with fan outrage as they had a different title.
Was originally set for release July 31st but pushed back to December 25th when Mission Impossible Rogue Nation was brought forward. Opening in China on December 4th the first Hollywood film ever to open first in China opening with $22.7m dropping only 14% in its second weekend.
The original film is great to watch but with its cheesy dialogue isn’t any different to the many other films that have had recent remakes.
Original opened July 12 1991 with $8.5m (opened same weekend as JJ Abrams and Harrison Ford’s first film together Regarding Henry opening with $6.1m) 24 years later the remake is unlikely to open much better.
Daddy’s Home – Paramount
Comedy starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in a comedy version of 1998’s Stepmom drama that starred Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts. Wahlberg plays a similar character as he did in Steve Carell comedy Date Night but is biological dad who is ripped and cool while Ferrell is lame stepdad.
The second film they have starred together previously in 2010’sThe Other Guys which opened strongly $35.5m. Reviews have been mixed at best will be competing against Sisters
Concussion – Sony
Biographical sports medical drama based on the 2009 GQ exposé Game Brain by Jeanne Marie Laskas. Starring Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Albert Brooks and directed by Peter Landesman.
In Sony hacking emails was revealed they altered script and marketing to make it more of a whistle blower story, rather than a condemnation of the league. This was probably also done to make film more accessible to a wider audience and international audiences. Film has received mixed reviews and Will Smith has received a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination for his performance.
After disappointing performance of his previous film Focus in February opening with $18.6m taking $53.8m and After Earth before this have to go back to 2006 for The Pursuit of Happyness for his last big opening for a non-mega-movie. The film he also received a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination.
Expansion
The Big Short – Paramount
Biographical comedy-drama based on the book by Michael Lewis starring Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt and directed by Adam McKay; has received positive reviews from critics performed strongly on limited release will it be able to hold its own against all the other major releases expanding this weekend.
Martin Lewis previous books The Blind Side and Moneyball were both box office and Academy Award winners; Blind Side opened with $34.1m in November 2009 and Moneyball opened with $19.5m in September 2011.
Opening on limited release
The Hateful Eight – Weinstein
Eighth Quentin Tarantino will open exclusively in 70mm in 100 screens across the US with an extending edition featuring a 4-minute overture. Will then be released nationwide on December 31st in digital with a slightly shorter version. It’s Quentin Tarantino first film since 2012’s Django Unchained that opening with $30.1m
The Revenant – 20th Century Fox
Biographical western thriller drama based on Michael Punke’s 2002 novel directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, and Domhnall Gleeson.
Has received positive reviews blogger Jeffery Wells caused controversy saying the film wasn’t for girls in early review. Was also a report by Drudge Report Leonardo DiCaprio was raped by a bear during filming story went viral and 20th Century Fox denied it as the ear involved was digitally created called Judy.
Having been always the bridesmaid never the bride The Revenant many have said this is the year Leonardo DiCaprio will finally win Best Actor Oscar his biggest competition is with Michael Fassbender’s Steve Jobs the role Leonardo DiCaprio dropped out of to do this film; Opens on 4 screens before expanding January 8th nationwide.
Similar to The Hateful Eight Academy screener has been uploaded online and downloaded over 200,000 times since Monday.
This time of the year these screeners always leak online but the only film that won’t is Star Wars The Force Awakens as Disney aren’t distributing screeners making members see the films in cinemas like cinemagoers. Never makes sense that Academy and BAFTA are voting for Best Film awards so they should see the film as they are meant to be seen with an audience in a cinema.