The Christmas offensive has begun and studios are scrambling to score big bucks as Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, which gives Friday releases a five-day extended weekend. Which movie will be the next "The Greatest Showman" ?
Warner Bros is offering its latest DC Comics flick, James Wan's "Aquaman", which critics are saying is pretty good, though not great. The film has already scored $13.7 million from advanced previews and it might end up raking in over $120 million for the five-day timeframe.
Paramount has released its "Transformers" spinoff "Bumblebee", which has received great reviews from critics (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and it looks primed to revigorate the dying franchise. The film has brought in $2.85 million from previews, which could amount to a $20-30 million weekend.
Disney brings out the big guns with "Mary Poppins Returns", the perfect nostalgia vehicle, finely calibrated to suck the money right out of your wallets. Reviews have been generous, but not overly enthusiastic. As for its box-office prospects, the film opened on December 19, which gives it a really long seven-day run until Christmas, making weekend predictions trickier. Pundits expect it to gross around $30 million over the weekend and $60 million for the seven-day timeframe. However, it's fair to assume that this musical behemoth will be around for some time, and will probably be making a lot more money in the long run.
Universal's "Welcome to Marwen" starring Steve Carell is the holiday season's odd duck. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film is a biopic inspired by the award-winning 2010 documentary "Marwencol" about artist and photographer Mark Hogancamp, who built an intimate fantasy world in his backyard that helped him rebuild his life after a devastating attack wiped away all his memories. The real-life story is inspirational, no doubt about that, but Zemeckis' blend of live-action drama and CGI fantasy adventure left critics scratching their heads. Apparently the film is a disjointed mess and audiences seem to agree. The film is expected to rake in around $7 million for the five-day extended weekend. While it only cost $39 million to produce, it's still bad news for Universal.
And finally, we have the Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy "Second Act", a light flick for the holidays that relies heavily on its leading lady's charisma. As expected the film received mixed-to-negative reviews, and equal disdain from moviegoers. The weekend debut is expected to go as low as $5 million.
Warner Bros is offering its latest DC Comics flick, James Wan's "Aquaman", which critics are saying is pretty good, though not great. The film has already scored $13.7 million from advanced previews and it might end up raking in over $120 million for the five-day timeframe.
Paramount has released its "Transformers" spinoff "Bumblebee", which has received great reviews from critics (94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and it looks primed to revigorate the dying franchise. The film has brought in $2.85 million from previews, which could amount to a $20-30 million weekend.
Disney brings out the big guns with "Mary Poppins Returns", the perfect nostalgia vehicle, finely calibrated to suck the money right out of your wallets. Reviews have been generous, but not overly enthusiastic. As for its box-office prospects, the film opened on December 19, which gives it a really long seven-day run until Christmas, making weekend predictions trickier. Pundits expect it to gross around $30 million over the weekend and $60 million for the seven-day timeframe. However, it's fair to assume that this musical behemoth will be around for some time, and will probably be making a lot more money in the long run.
Universal's "Welcome to Marwen" starring Steve Carell is the holiday season's odd duck. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film is a biopic inspired by the award-winning 2010 documentary "Marwencol" about artist and photographer Mark Hogancamp, who built an intimate fantasy world in his backyard that helped him rebuild his life after a devastating attack wiped away all his memories. The real-life story is inspirational, no doubt about that, but Zemeckis' blend of live-action drama and CGI fantasy adventure left critics scratching their heads. Apparently the film is a disjointed mess and audiences seem to agree. The film is expected to rake in around $7 million for the five-day extended weekend. While it only cost $39 million to produce, it's still bad news for Universal.
And finally, we have the Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy "Second Act", a light flick for the holidays that relies heavily on its leading lady's charisma. As expected the film received mixed-to-negative reviews, and equal disdain from moviegoers. The weekend debut is expected to go as low as $5 million.
Synopses, details, critical/audience reception, trailers, and more after the jump.
AQUAMAN
Official Synopsis
From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, "Aquaman," starring Jason Momoa in the title role. The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime--one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be... a king.
Film Details
- Director: James Wan
- Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Running Time: 143 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 63% (157 fresh, 91 rotten, score: 6.0/10)
- Metacritic: 55 out of 100 (21 positive, 21 mixed, 6 negative).
Audience Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: 86% (4.3/5 rating from 17,253 users)
- Metacritic: 7.9/10 (106 positive, 19 mixed, 12 negative).
- IMDb: 7.8/10 (44,401 votes)
BUMBLEBEE
Official Synopsis
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.
Film Details
- Director: Travis Knight
- Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Cena, Jason Drucker, Pamela Adlon, John Ortiz
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Running Time: 113 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 94% (139 fresh, 9 rotten, score: 7.1/10)
- Metacritic: 66 out of 100 (25 positive, 10 mixed, 1 negative).
Audience Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: 81% (4.1/5 rating from 2,378 users)
- Metacritic: 7.2/10 (23 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative).
- IMDb: 7.3/10 (5,432 votes)
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
Official Synopsis
Directed and produced by Rob Marshall, "Mary Poppins Returns" also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer and Julie Walters with Colin Firth and Meryl Streep. The film, which introduces three new Banks children, played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson, also features Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury. The film is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers' additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep). The film is produced by Marshall, John DeLuca and Marc Platt. The screenplay is by David Magee based on The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman writing all new songs and Shaiman composing an original score.
Film Details
- Director: Rob Marshall
- Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke
- Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
- Running Time: 130 min.
- Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements and brief action
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 77% (165 fresh, 48 rotten, score: 7.3/10)
- Metacritic: 65 out of 100 (33 positive, 16 mixed, 2 negative).
Audience Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72% (3.8/5 rating from 1,989 users)
- Metacritic: 6.3/10 (12 positive, 2 mixed, 6 negative).
- IMDb: 7.6/10 (2,611 votes)
WELCOME TO MARWEN
Official Synopsis
When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation--a testament to the most powerful women he knows--through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.
Film Details
- Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Starring: Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger, Eiza Gonzalez, Janelle Monae, Matt O'Leary, Merritt Wever,
- Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
- Running Time: 116 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence, some disturbing images, brief suggestive content, thematic material and language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 24% (17 fresh, 53 rotten, score: 4.7/10)
- Metacritic: 40 out of 100 (6 positive, 15 mixed, 12 negative).
Audience Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: 55% (3.2/5 rating from 600 users)
- Metacritic: 8.8/10 (4 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative).
- IMDb: 5.5/10 (233 votes)
SECOND ACT
Official Synopsis
Second Act is a comedy in the vein of Working Girl and Maid In Manhattan. Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until, that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a Second Act.
Film Details
- Director: Peter Segal
- Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini, Treat Williams, Milo Ventimiglia, Annaleigh Ashford, Charlyne Yi
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Running Time: 103 min.
- Rating: PG-13 for some crude sexual references, and language
Critical Reception
- Rottentomatoes: 45% (18 fresh, 22 rotten, score: 4.8/10)
- Metacritic: 49 out of 100 ( positive, mixed, negative).
Audience Reception
- Rotten Tomatoes: 60% (3.7/5 rating from 213 users)
- Metacritic: 2.3/10 (1 positive, 1 mixed, 6 negative).
- IMDb: 5.8/10 (656 votes)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please keep the comments as civilised as possible, and refrain from spamming. All comments will be moderated. Thank you !