Limited and VOD Releases: Jackie Hopes O stands for Oscar

December 2, 2016

Jackie

There are not a lot of limited releases on this week’s list. Things to Come is earning the best reviews, but it is a foreign-language film and that will limit its box office potential. Believe is the biggest in terms of theater count, but it’s a faith-based film and there’s a chance it will open well below the Mendoza Line. On the other hand, Jackie has the best box office potential and Natalie Portman could win an Oscar for her performance.

Believe - Reviews
This is the biggest release of the week, at least in terms of theater count, as it is playing in 639 theaters. Normally this would be way too many for a limited release, but it is also a faith-based film and these are notoriously unpredictable. This film could open in the top ten with $3 million, or it could crash earning less than $500,000.

Best and Most Beautiful Things - Reviews
A documentary about Michelle Smith, a 20-year old woman who is legally blind and diagnosed with autism. She doesn’t let this hold her back. The film is getting excellent reviews and if you want to see a documentary with a more uplifting tone, this one is worth checking out.

Duelist - Reviews
A former officer in the Russian military, Yakovlev, now works as a duelist. He is hired to stand in for noblemen who are challenged to a duel. He finds himself mixed up in a conspiracy. The film has high production values, but the overall reviews are merely mixed. That’s not good enough to thrive in limited release.

The Eyes of My Mother - Reviews
Video on Demand
A young girl has a traumatic experience that has a profound impact on her as she grows up. This is a psychological horror film and these rarely do well in limited release. Also, its reviews are good, but likely not good enough for limited release. Fortunately, it is playing on VOD and it should perform a lot better there.

Jackie - Reviews
The biggest release of the week, it stars Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy and the film focuses on the week after the assassination of JFK. The film’s reviews are nearly 90% positive and Natalie Portman is considered a favorite to earn an Oscar nomination for her performance. A good start at the box office would go a long way to help her Oscar chances.

Man Down - Reviews
Shia LaBeouf stars as a returning soldier trying to find his estranged son. The film had more advance buzz than most limited releases get, but the reviews are terrible.

Old Stone - Reviews
A taxi cab driver has to deal with a drunk passenger and this distracts him enough to cause an accident. When neither the police or an ambulance arrive, he takes the victim to the hospital so, he’s responsible for the man’s medical bills. This act of kindness might cost him everything he’s worked for. The film’s reviews are among the best of the new releases and it could do well in limited release. It is a foreign-language film, so its odds of expanding significantly are very limited.

SiREN - Reviews
A bachelor party goes awry when the groom and the best man head to a club that happens to have a supernatural twist to it. The reviews are good, but not great, while it is the wrong genre for limited release. Furthermore, it hits VOD on Tuesday. The film has almost no chance at box office success.

Things to Come - Reviews
Isabelle Huppert is having a hell of a year with her performance in this film and in Elle. Her performance in this film isn’t as powerful as her performance in Elle is, but this movie is more... palatable to the average moviegoer. The 100% positive reviews should help it find an audience on the art house circuit. However, the foreign-language aspect will prevent it from expanding significantly.

Videofilia - Reviews
It’s the first day of summer vacation and one teenager spends her day doing drugs and cybersexing when she meets an amateur pornographer and they go on an adventure. This is Peru’s official selection for the Best Foreign-Language Oscar, but its reviews are mixed so it will very likely not make the short list.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Blood Brothers - Reviews - Video on Demand
Bodyguards: Secret Lives From the Watchtower - No Reviews - Video on Demand
A Girl Like Grace - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Pet - Reviews - Video on Demand
Pocket Listing - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Run the Tide - Reviews - Video on Demand
There are six secondary VOD releases this week. None are earning overall positive reviews. Half have no reviews. Pet is the best of a weak selection.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Elle, L'avenir, The Eyes of My Mother, Man Down, Pet, A Girl Like Grace, The Duelist, Jackie, Believe, SiREN, Pocket Listing, Best and Most Beautiful Things, Bodyguards: Secret Lives From the Watchtower, Run the Tide, Lao shi, Videofilia: y otros síndromes virales, Blood Brothers, Isabelle Huppert, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Michelle Smith