This week's review of new and changed movie release dates includes changes for The Girl Next Door, Catwoman and The Manchurian Candidate, along with a bunch of movements for limited releases. As usual, if you hear news, please send information to releases@the-numbers.com

Distant - New date: March 12, 2004 - Previously: February 27, 2004
New Yorker announces a last-minute slip of a couple of weeks.

How to Draw a Bunny - New date: March 12, 2004 - Previously: February 27, 2004
The first of several announcements for Palm Pictures this week.

Noi Albinoi New date: March 19, 2004 Previously: April 23, 2004
Palm Pictures have moved this one up a month or so. Mid-March was looking like it was going to be a very quiet month for limited releases, but these last three announcements have gone a long way to fill the gap.

The Girl Next Door - New date: April 9, 2004 - Previously: March 12, 2004
Fox takes Elisha Cuthbert's first lead-role away from a very competitive looking March 12 date to an equally competitive April 9. April is a slightly better box office month in general, so the move may be a wise one.

Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius - New date: April 30, 2004 - Previously: First announced date

The Mudge Boy - New date: May 7, 2004 - Previously: April 30, 2004

Seducing Doctor Lewis New date: June, 2004 Previously: First announcement
WellSpring's first shot at penciling in a release date for this movie.

Reconstruction - New date: July 14, 2004 - Previously: July 16, 2004
Another minor shuffle by Palm.

Catwoman - New date: July 23, 2004 - Previously: July 30, 2004
Halle Berry's big shot at moving into the A-list is moved forward a week to July 23. This moves it from going head-to-head with M. Night Shyamalan's The Village to going head-to-head with The Bourne Supremacy. However you look at it, July is a tough time to release a movie.

The Manchurian Candidate - New date: July 30, 2004 - Previously: "Fall"
Paramount grabs the July 30 spot freed up by Catwoman (or maybe Catwoman ran away from going head-to-head with The Manchurian Candidate?). Either way, this remake has class written all over it - Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep star in a Jonathan Demme movie...

Last Life in the Universe - New date: September 3, 2004 - Previously: August 27, 2004
A last piece of shuffling by Palm.

Flight of the Phoenix - New date: October 22, 2004 - Previously: November 12, 2004
Fox pull the actioner forward a few weeks. Given the increasing log-jam around Thanksgiving, this is probably a smart move, especially if they're confident the movie will have good legs.

Elektra - New date: February 18, 2005 - Previously: First announced date
An interesting move, putting this movie in the heart of one of the slowest months of the year. An early decision to dump it, or a bold gamble on picking up a strong opening against little competition? Only time will tell.

Bruce Nash bruce@the-numbers.com

Source: Variety and The Hollywood Stock Exchange
Date posted: 2004-02-27