This weekend

Major release

• Dad’s Army – Universal

Comedy based on the classic 1960’s BBC comedy starring Billy Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones, Michael Gambon, Daniel Mays and Bill Paterson directed by Oliver Parker; received world premiere 26^th January getting mixed reviews from critics.

Box office for the film was surprisingly opened the same time as The Force Awakens last October but unlike Star Wars no cinema has been quick to announce record breaking sales. The trailer was screened last month with The Force Awakens with audiences complaining of the historical errors claiming in 1944 Britain was on the verge of losing the war in 1944.

Films based on TV shows had mixed success at the box office and critically from success of The Inbetweeners and Paddington to many failures including The Avengers in 1998 and The Bad Education Movie last year. We also get to see the Absolutely Fabulous movie this year but problem with many of these adaptions work well as 25 minute comedies but don’t when are extended into feature length even though extended Christmas episodes are always successful.

No one expected Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie to be success it was opening with £4.3m in June 2014.

The film will of course be compared to the original TV series which attracted audiences of 18 million is still making audiences laugh almost 50 years later now on BBC2. When I saw trailer reminded me of the terrible Steve Martin 1996 remake of classic 50s TV show Sgt Bilko.

The question is what is the audience for Dads Army if they are trying to attract a younger audience they are more likely to prefer seeing Zoolander 2 having previews Sat/Sun as reviews have called it silly rather than funny will fans of the TV show really be interested?

Also released

• Goosebumps – Sony

3D live-action/computer-animated film starring Jack Black based on children’s book series of same name by R. L. Stine; has been in development since 1998 originally with Tim Burton attached but was then acquired by Columbia Pictures in 2008 and in 2013 Jack Black signed up; reviews have been positive took a decent $79m in US opening last October Sony already announced plans for a sequel. Received UK premiere at London Film Festival opening in February in time for half-term holidays; had previews January 30^th/31^st taking £968,437 helping it top the box office next weekend.

• Pointbreak – Warner Bros

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 31^st but pushed back to December 25^th when Mission Impossible Rogue Nation was brought forward. Opening in China on December 4^th 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; was released in November 1991. Film was originally acquired by Lionsgate for international similar to John Wick but Warner Bros

• Trumbo – eOne

Biographical drama about the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo who was jailed and blacklisted in 1947 for the political beliefs. starring Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, John Goodman and Helen Mirren and directed by Jay Roach; had its premiere at Toronto Film Festival receiving 5 minute standing ovation. Since received mostly positive reviews Bryan Cranston was nominated for Best Actor recently for BAFTAs and Oscars.

It’s incredible House Un-American Activities Committee were still investigating Americans until 1975; it was a shocking period of history with McCarthyism witch-hunts that destroyed people’s lives putting many people on the black list. It was thanks to people like Dalton Trumbo who wrote many screenplays under pseudonyms including Oscar winners Roman Holiday and The Brave One and Kirk Douglas who asked him to rewrite screenplay to Spartacus along with director Otto Preminger who wanted him to re-write Exodus.

In 1991 was fictional drama about the Hollywood blacklist and McCarthyism Guilty by Suspicion starring Robert De Niro and Annette Benning.

Out next week

Major release

• Deadpool – 20^th Century Fox

Spinoff to X-Men film series Deadpool had a cameo in 2009’s X-Men Origins producers decided to instead reboot the character but it would be part of the shared X-Men universe. In 2012 test footage of Ryan Reynolds was shot before studio cancelled the film but after the footage was leaked online and fans went crazy the studio announced in September 2014 a February 2016 release date.

All through production it was seen as a fan comic book movie rather than going for a PG-13 audience t was to be R rated which fans loved but many recently now campaigned for PG-13 version.

The first trailer premiered at last year’s Comic-Con receiving a standing ovation was described as the first comic book movie that talks to the fan audience in their own language saying it was faithful to its source material. Which of course is great for fans but might alienate non fans as it might not be as accessible as other Marvel films.

In December was a viral marketing campaign The 12 Days of Deadpool counting down to the release of a second trailer released on Christmas Day.

Fans who wear expecting to see footage on January 18^th were surprised to see the whole film and raved about it on social media; there is currently an embargo for press.

Last Thursday Deadpool cast came to London to promote the film. T.J. Miller said there a director’s cut planned which will be even more raw than the theatrical version. Ryan Reynolds confirmed on the Graham Norton Show on Friday it had received a 15 certificate.

It is currently tracking to open with up to $60m in the US but as Deadpool isn’t as known as other Marvel characters in UK. With the likely 15 certificate an opening similar to last year’s Kingsman: The Secret Service £4.23m is more likely than the huge £6m+ opening of most Marvel films.

The marketing has been fantastic and unique for a comic-book movie but the question is how it will play to non-fans especially over a very busy weekend of new releases. Opens on Wednesday to give it a 5 day opening which won’t be as lucrative as Zoolander 2’s Sat/Sun previews.

Also released

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Lionsgate

Comedy horror based on 2009 novel of the same name by Seth Grahame-Smith parodying the 1813 British novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Starring Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Douglas Booth, Matt Smith, Charles Dance and Lena Headey. First trailer was released last November which was well received; early reviews have been positive with great young cast and has a similar tone of Shaun of the Dead. As last year with 50 Shades of Grey is a very different kind of experience many might have expected to have for Valentine’s Day weekend; has its UK premiere February 1^st.

• Zoolander 2 – Paramount

15 years’ after the first film was released which was well received critically but disappointed at the box office before finding a life on DVD.  Started development in 2008 was interviewed by Johnathan Ross in 2009 saying he was working on the script saying similar to Jay Leno in 2010. In 2011 the script was complete but took another 3 years before production to begin. Announcing the film onto the world at Paris Fashion Week in February 2015 walking the runway.

Are similarities with Anchorman and Zoolander both comedies underperformed at box office but had huge success afterwards. You would then expect both to have sequels made quickly but both had big gaps.

The big question is how will it perform first film opened in November 2001 with £676,518 similar to Anchorman’s in September 2004 with £555,864 while Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues opened December 2013 with £4,536,812; has UK premiere on February 4th and New York premiere on February 8^th.

The film premiered last week in Australia is an embargo for reviews but the few on social media have called it a very stupid silly film with even more cameos than Entourage which was what most expected. Opening against Deadpool Paramount will boost its opening with previews on February 6^th/7^th will likely hurt Dad’s Army.

• Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip – 20^th Century Fox

Fourth film of the film franchise launched in 2007 based on the 1950s animated series based on a novelty record in 1958.

Alvin and the Chipmunks opened December 2007 £1.43m

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel opened December 2009

• A Bigger Splash – Studiocanal

Erotic thriller starring Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes and Dakota Johnson after premiering at last year’s Venice Film Festival and UK premiere a London Film Festival in October receiving positive reviews after Fox Searchlight acquired US rights dating it in May.

• Concussion – Sony

biographical sports medical drama film based on the 2009 GQ exposé Game Brain starring Will Smith stars Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Albert Brooks. Received positive reviews praising the performances from the leads. Will Smith will be coming to the UK to promote but his recent announced Oscar boycott will likely overshadow the film. Without Oscar nominations it will be a very hard sell to UK audiences made even tougher opening over a very busy weekend of new releases;

• Iron Giant: Signature Edition – Warner

Re-release of the classic animated scifi film based on the 1968 book by Ted Hughes; directed by Brad Bird his directorial debut with voices of stars Christopher McDonald, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick, Jr. John Mahoney and Vin Diesel.

After receiving critical acclaim from critics and audiences it disappointed at the box office many saw the lack of media tie-ins one of the reasons for its failure which are now a major part of a films marketing campaign. Its release was likely hurt as was released a couple of weeks after co-chairman Bob Daly and Terry Semel resigned at Warner Bros after many flops including Wild, Wild West.

The Iron Giant found much love on DVD similar to Shawshank Redemption and both in the years after release are still favourites of critics and film fans. The Signature Edition include two minutes of footage missing from original film due to budget restraints.

• The Green Inferno – eOne

Cannibal horror film directed by Eli Roth inspired by Italian cannibal films of the 70s and 80s; started shooting in October 2012 was due to premiere at Toronto Film Festival in 2013 but was pulled due to financial difficulties.

Finally released in US last September in two different versions a cut R version and an uncut NC-17 version. Received negative reviews from critics apart from novelist Steven King who tweeted film is “like a glorious throwback to the drive-in movies of my youth: bloody, gripping, hard to watch, but you can’t look away”; limited release theatrically before being released on DVD on February 22^nd.

• Jem And the Holograms – Universal Pictures

Musical fantasy film based on the 1980s animated television series; first trailer was released in May 2015 receiving negative reaction from fans and critics with many saying had little in common with the animated series.

After flopping in the US last October having the worst opening of a wide release in 2015 and fourth worst ever openings for a film opening on over 2,000 screens and being completely unknown in the UK seems crazy to release it theatrically in the UK. The film is very similar to Josie and the Pussycats opened in UK in August 2001 with £37,662 15 years later its unlikely Jem would do much better. But so many films these days are given theatrically releases to qualify them for the lucrative Sky TV deal.

• TED 2016 Opening Night – By Experience

For the first time ever TED opening night will be screening in cinemas in the UK, US and Australia; be hosted by TED curator Chris Anderson. TED has become a conference for world-renowned thinkers, artists and storytellers to share their ideas about the greatest dreams we are capable of dreaming.

(apart from these 9 are another 10 smaller releases opening this weekend; why so many distributors choose to release their films makes little sense apart from it being half-tem week)

Out in two weeks

Major release

• The Finest Hours -Disney

Historical disaster drama film on the true story of the Pendleton rescue mission attempt in 1952 by Coast Guard ships starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck and Eric Bana. After receiving mixed reviews in the US and disappointing at the US box office these films rarely perform well outside the US.

The failure of The Finest Hours will just mean Disney will concentrate even more on their plans to release Marvel and Star Wars films infinitely.

 Also released

• How to Be Single – Warner Bros

Romantic comedy starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, and Leslie Mann based on  novel by Liz Tuccillo; UK premiere on February 9^th with previews on February 14^th.

New Line have made many female focused ensemble films in recent years including He’s Just Not That into You opened with £1.9m in 2009, My Sisters Keeper opened with £922,947 in 2009, Valentine’s Day with £3,732,393 in 2010, New Year’s Eve with £1,285,552 in 2011.

• Freeheld – eOne

Drama starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carell and Michael Shannon based on a 2007 short documentary of the same name. Received mixed reviews will have a limited theatrical release day and ate with VOD before being released on February 22^nd on DVD.

• The Boy – Entertainment

Supernatural horror received mixed reviews disappointed at US box office last month unlikely to do much better in the UK.

• Fifty Shades of Black – Vertigo

Marlon Wayans has had mixed success over the years making parody films biggest success were the five Scary Movie films also made Dance Flick and A Haunted House one joke spoofs as Fifty Shades of Black; received negative reviews and unlikely to spark much interest in the UK.

Opening Friday

• Hail, Caesar! – Universal Pictures

Mystery comedy film written, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen their first film since 2013’s Inside Llewyn Davis; starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and Channing Tatum. Has its international premiere opening Berlin International Film Festival on 11^th February; First trailer was released in October.

Was screened several weeks go to press but with an embargo still in-place rumors are its very disappointing which will be quite a shock with so much talent on and off screen involved.

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Screen Gems

Jane Austen and Zombies what not to like?

• The Choice – Lionsgate

Romantic drama based on Nicholas Sparks 2007 novel starring Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Maggie Grace, Tom Welling, and Tom Wilkinson. Films based on Nicholas Sparks novels have had mixed success in recent years generate huge social media coverage but box office doesn’t match up. Nicholas Sparks last adaption The Longest Ride opened last April with $13.1m.

• Regression – Weinstein

Psychological thriller directed by Alejandro Amenábar starring stars Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson and David Thewlis; had its world premiere on Friday at San Sebastian Film Festival opened last October in the UK receiving negative reviews from critics has been delayed many times in the US.