This weekend
Major release
- The Huntsman Winter’s War – Universal Pictures
Prequel to 2012’s Snow White and the Huntsman Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Nick Frost and Sam Claflin all return and are joined by Emily Blunt, Rob Brydon and Jessica Chastain and is directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan making his directing debut.
After Snow White and the Huntsman a sequel was planned but after director Rupert Sanders cheated on his wife with Kristen Stewart the sequel was shelved and the spinoff not to star Stewart.
Away from playing Thor Chris Hemsworth last success was the first film most recently starred in the Heart of the Sea disappointing at the box office and will next star as the receptionist in Ghostbusters before returning back to Thor again.
The first trailer was released in November the second in February.
Snow White and the Huntsman opened May Spring Bank holiday weekend 2012 with £3.59m including £976,000 from two days of previews including Monday and Tuesday box office took £5.58m opening second to Prometheus which opened with £6.24m.
Release was brought forward two weeks to open ahead of The Jungle Book and gain a lucrative week of Easter holidays box office. Opening Monday April 4th to give it a seven-day weekend.
Chris Hemsworth and Jessica Chastain came to the US last week promote the film.
It used to be international would release films for a date best after release since day and date has become the norm open sometimes a few weeks before US as Avengers Age of Ultron, Spectre, Grimsby, Allegiant and Zootopia but unless film is well received as the later will impact poorly on its US performance. Disney opened Zootropolis early international in March successfully and open The Jungle Book this weekend after great reviews won’t have any negative impact on the US opening the following weekend.
After receiving average reviews opening international will likely do more damage to its box office as did with those other films. The first film took $25m in the UK compared with $155m in US.
Opened on Monday in third place behind Zootropolis and Batman Vs Superman dropping to fourth on Tuesday and fifth on Wednesday the negative reviews mixed with poor buzz have made it DOA before its weekend box office. The Huntsman was expected to top chart this weekend after having a 7 day opening weekend but could we see Zootropolis go top chart instead?
Also released
- Midnight Special -eOne
Sci-Fi film written and directed by Jeff Nichols starring Adam Driver, Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, and Joel Edgerton. Started shooting in January 2014 was originally dated for release December 2014 before being moved to November 2015 and then to its March date.
It is Jeff Nichols’s first film since 2012’s Mud the film that helped launch Matthew McConaughey’s McConaissance opening in May 2013 with £239,037.
The film feels like a John Carpenter (Starman) and Steven Spielberg-esque road movie (The Sugarland Express, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T)
Many have said how you feel about the film is dependent on if you have children. It’s about the bond a parent has with their child similar to Road to Perdition Tom Hanks went on the run with his son similarly Michael Shannon does in Midnight Special both fathers aren’t good people but they want to protect their sons.
Received its premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January and European premiere last month at Berlin receiving very positive reviews.
Similar to 10 Cloverfield Lane it is a film that is best seen when you know nothing about it both films marketing has teased the audience with what the film is without revealing spoilers that we have seen in Batman Vs Superman and Terminator Genisys. It’s weird how studios feel the necessity to reveal spoilers in mega-movies when is no need to but then can be far understated in what they reveal in these films where they know less is definitely more.
Film has been compared to Chronicle opened February 2012 with £2,193,072 and Super 8 opened August 2011 with £2,207,063
- The Man Who Knew Infinity – Warner Bros
Biographical drama about mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Stephen Fry Jeremy Northam star. Received its world premiere last year at Toronto Film Festival receiving mixed reviews.
After the success of The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything maths became cool at the cinema but doubtful The Man Who Knew Infinity will continue this trend.
- Hardcore Henry – Entertainment Films
Russian Sci-Fi action film starring stars Sharlto Copley, Danila Kozlovsky, Haley Bennett and Tim Roth. Received its premiere at last year’s Toronto Film Festival winning Grolsch People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award became part of a bidding war which STX Entertainment acquired worldwide rights.
Out next week
Major release
- The Jungle Book – Disney
Live action reimagining of Disney’s 1967 animated film. Featuring the voices of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken and directed by Jon Favreau.
The Jungle Book was last made into a live action film in 1994 starring Jason Scott Lee, Cary Elwes Boone, Lena Headey, Sam Neill, John Cleese and Jason Flemyng.
But we won’t have to wait that long for second version as a second Jungle Book adaption released next year subtitled Origins starring Rohan Chand, Andy Serkis, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander and Cate Blanchett and directed by Andy Serkis made by Warner Bros who delayed it yesterday to October 2018 but which time Disney will pr obably be releasing a sequel. Warner Bros announced their live action version first in 2012 with Alejandro González Iñárritu attached to direct but left to make Birdman and The Revenant allowing Disney to get their version released first.
Dubbing used to be amateurish in the past but recently with Kung Fu Panda 3 much more care was taken in the foreign dubs for China as Disney is also with The Jungle Book in India. Rather than using voice artists for Hindi with Nana Patekar, Priyanka Chopra, Irrfan and Om Puri and script re-written rather than using a rough translation of script. The film opens in India on April 8th a week before US and UK; UK premiere 13th April.
There was an issue of racial stereotyping which the 1967 animated film received ahead of last night’s LA premiere. Early reviews have been very positive saying its visually stunning in 3D needs to be seen in 3D. UK critics were equally as positive comparing the 3D to Avatar and Life of Pi and the need to see the film in 3D as Gravity and Hugo.
Also released
- Eye in the Sky – eOne
Thriller Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman his last acting role before he died in January. The film received its world premiere last September at Toronto Film Festival getting positive reviews; UK premiere April 11th.
- Criminal – Lionsgate
Action thriller starring Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman and Tommy Lee Jones their second film together after JFK in 1991; then Kevin Costner was box office gold after winning Oscar for Dance with Wolves and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves but in recent years apart from cameos in Man of Steel and Batman Vs Superman he has become box office poison with Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and 3 Days to Kill.
Positive for Criminal is the London shot film trailer played with box office surprise London Has Fallen so could help generate along with Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot both having small roles; receives its UK premiere April 7th.
- 28 Days Later – Secret Cinema
In 2014 Secret Cinema held Back to the Future taking £3.5m over a month of screenings last year Empire Strikes Back took £6.45m from 100 nights this year 28 Days Later with screenings from April 14th – May 29th with tickets £64.50.
The apocalyptic thriller starred Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. In October 2002 I supervised a 10-day, 8 city tour of UK for 28 Days Later with the cast, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in attendance.
Out in two weeks
Major release No major releases
Also released
- Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – Paramount
Biographical war dramedy directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy, Stupid Love and Focus) based on memoir The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker starring Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina and Billy Bob Thornton.
Received mixed reviews when it opened in the US last month after well received trailers had a disappointing opening. As Tina Fey previous films have underperformed in the UK Sisters only took £2.37m its unlikely Whiskey Tango Foxtrot will find an audience in the UK.
- Bastille Day – Studiocanal
Action thriller starring Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon and José Garcia directed by James Watkins (The Woman in Black); was originally set for release in February but was delayed after the terrorist attacks in Paris last year.
- Friend Request – Warner Bros
German social media horror thriller similar to last years Unfriended. Will make you think twice about accepting a friend’s request from someone you don’t know on social media as you could end up being cursed.
Unfriended had a very strong marketing campaign and buzz opening last May with a decent £1.34m before dropping fast. Unfriended was a modern remake of 90’s horror I Know What You Did Last Summer which had two sequels and a remake is currently in development at Sony Pictures.
- Jane Got A Gun – Lionsgate
Western starring Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Noah Emmerich, and Ewan McGregor and directed by Gavin O’Connor.
Over the years have been many films that were believed to be cursed with the making of Jane Got the Gun probably far more interesting than the film.
The script featured on the annual Black List of best unproduced screenplays. In May 2012 Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender was attached to star with Lynne Ramsay set to direct who had just made the critically acclaimed We Need to Talk About Kevin. Michael Fassbender left in March 2013 to make X-Men Days of Future Past a week after he left Lynne Ramsay left too Gavin O’Connor replacing her. Bradley Cooper was cast only to leave to make American Hustle
The casting and directing merry-go-round was only the start as original set for release in August 2014 pushed back several times partly due to Relativity Media filing for bankruptcy with Weinstein acquiring US rights. Originally Entertainment Films acquired UK rights before Lionsgate picked up UK rights.
Was due to open in France in November but after the Paris attacks it was delayed to January release in France. Opening in US January 29th with mixed reviews only grossed $865,572 Weinstein worst wide opening.
Its then surprising to see that its getting a UK release which is only likely to be a token release ahead of its DVD release.
- Miles Ahead – Icon
Biographical film of jazz musician Miles Davis directed and starring Don Cheadle closed the New York Film Festival last October receiving mixed reviews. Similar to I Saw the Light which opened last week Miles Ahead was seen as a potential award contender but delayed when they didn’t have a chance.
Coming Soon
- Captain America Civil War – Disney
Thirteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the eighth released by Disney as with Captain America’s sequel Winter Soldier features many Avengers many have calling it Avengers 2.5.
The ensemble cast includes Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Tom Holland, William Hurt and Daniel Brühl is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo who also directed Winter Soldier.
As with the recent Batman Vs Superman it sees The Avengers fighting each other Steve Rogers Vs Tony Stark and also sees the debut of the new Spider-Man
Has World premiere in LA on April 12th followed by screening at CinemaCon April 13th then premieres in Paris April 18th, Berlin April 21st and London on April 26th
First footage was screened at D23 in August 2015 receiving very positive reaction. First trailer was launched on Jimmy Kimmel on November 25th was viewed 61 million times in the first 24 hours beating the 34 million of Avengers Age of Ultron.
Was followed by a TV spot during the Superbowl in February.
The second trailer released in March viewed 95 million times in the first 24 hours viewed over 62 million times on YouTube and Facebook over first our days the second most viewed trailer after Star Wars The Force Awakens (64.6m). It has been viewed over 96 million times to date. An exclusive clip will be screened during the MTV Movie Awards on April 10th.
Even though many see it as Avengers 2.5 marketing has been a Captain America film so an opening close to Iron Man 3 is more expected than Avengers sized opening. There is the possibility that after Deadpool and Batman Vs Superman audiences might of tired of comic-book films. That said still have X-Men: Apocalypse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Suicide Squad and Doctor Strange still to come this year.
Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn said on Facebook earlier this year it was incredible and one of the best Marvel movies ever. As he is currently directing the Galaxy sequel his comments can be seen as similar positive comments several months for Batman Vs Superman.
Opening Friday in US
- The Boss – Universal Pictures
Comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates directed by Ben Falcone.
In recent years Melissa McCarthy films have grown in success at the box office staring in many low comedies sleeper hits from Bridesmaid in 2011, Identity Thief and The Heat 2013, Tammy in 2014 and Spy in 2015. Reviews have been negative but they also were for Tammy and Identity Thief and both opening well at the US box office. It is expected to top the box office ahead of Batman Vs Superman.
Her next role is starring in the Ghostbusters reboot opening in July which will be her first leading role in a mega-movie she previously had a small part in The Hangover III in 2013.
Spy opened May 2015 with $29.1m taking $110.8m
Tammy in July 2014 opened with $21.5m taking $84.5m
The Heat in June 2013 opened with $39.1m taking $159.6m
Identity Thief in February 2013 opened with $34.5m taking $134.5m
- Hardcore Henry – STX
Sci-fi action film is a first person action film shot almost entirely on the GoPro Hero 3 camera. Was originally called Hardcore retitled Hardcore Henry after receiving its premiere last year at the Toronto Film Festival where it received mixed reviews.
- Demolition – Fox Searchlight
Drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, and Chris Cooper and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (his previous films Wild and Dallas Buyers Club were both award contenders; opened the Toronto Film Festival last year receiving mixed reviews some calling it an American Beauty remake
cigarette burns and missed changeovers 