Limited and VOD Releases: There are Some Fabulous Movies to Watch This Week

July 22, 2016

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

It’s a short week for limited releases with just ten films on this week’s list, and that includes a few secondary VOD releases. The biggest release is Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, but it’s not earning the best reviews on this week’s list. Don’t Think Twice could do well enough on the theater average chart that it expands significantly. However, it might be the only film on this week’s list that manages that feat.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie - Reviews
Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley are back, but they are no longer as hip as they once were. In an attempt to get hip, or at least pretend to be hip, they accidentally kill Kate Moss and are now on the run. Absolutely Fabulous began on TV in 1992 and was instantly seen as a classic. However, the revived series and the more recent specials were not as warmly received. This film is earning 67% positive reviews, which is good for a comedy, but not good enough for a limited release. It is also playing in over 300 theaters, which will likely be too many.

The Childhood of a Leader - Reviews
Video on Demand
The film is set during and just after World War I and focuses on a young boy who grows up in this tumultuous time and learns to manipulate the adults around him. The film’s reviews are stellar and the star power here should be enough to help it survive limited release. However, I think it won’t be able to truly escape the art house circuit.

Don’t Think Twice - Reviews
A member of an improv troupe gets their big break on a TV show and the rest of the members react in different ways. Some think their big break is right around the corner. Others begin to realize that not all of them will be famous. This movie has 100% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes at the moment and the cast is full of very funny actors, so it could thrive in limited release. Don’t Think Twice opens tonight in several theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.

Madaari - No Reviews
Irrfan Khan plays a man who kidnaps the son of a government official to get to the truth about the government corruption that led to the man-made disaster which killed his family. It’s an Indian film, so there’s no surprise that there are no reviews. On the other hand, Irrfan Khan is a major star and he can pull in audiences all by himself.

The Seventh Fire - Reviews
A documentary about a Native American reservation in Minnesota and the violent drug trade that has sprung up in the area. The reviews are award-worthy and it has the backing of Terrence Malick, which could help its chances at the box office. The Seventh Fire opens tonight in one theater in New York City with more showings in other cities in the coming weeks / months. Check out the official site for more details.

Summertime - Reviews
A woman travels from her parents' farm in the French countryside to Paris. There she meets Carol, a feminist involved in the political movement of the time. The pair begin an affair that changes both of their lives. The film’s reviews are amazing and French films frequently find audiences in limited release here. Summertime opens tonight in six theaters, half of which are in the Los Angeles area, with more screenings to come over the following weeks. Check out the official site for more details.

Train to Busan - Reviews
A South Korea film about the zombie apocalypse. We follow a group that is traveling by train to a resort town they hear has survived and could be their last chance. The film is earning 100% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, while we’ve seen a few recent South Korean films do well in limited release. I’m cautiously optimistic about the film’s chances.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Beta Test - Reviews - Video on Demand
Don’t Worry Baby - Reviews - Video On Demand
Quitters - Reviews - Video on Demand
Don’t Worry Baby is the only secondary VOD release earning better than 50% positive reviews, while Quitters looks like it would be an okay rental.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, La belle saison, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Don’t Think Twice, The Seventh Fire, Don’t Worry Baby, The Childhood of a Leader, Busanhaeng, Madaari, Beta Test, Joanna Lumley, Terrence Malick, Kate Moss, Jennifer Saunders, Irrfan Khan, Cécile de France, Izia Higelin