Limited and VOD Releases: Limited Releases are Asking for a Favor

November 22, 2018

Roma

Thanksgiving is a great weekend for wide releases, but a terrible one for limited releases. That said, while there are almost no films on this week’s list, two of them are earning Award-worthy reviews: The Favourite and Roma. However, Roma is playing on Netflix, so its box office chances are nearly zero.

Becoming Astrid - Reviews
 A biopic about Astrid Lingren, who wrote the Pippi Longstocking books. Its Tomatometer Score is 90% positive, but its average rating is just 6.8 out of 10, so while nearly all critics like it, few love it.

Clyde Cooper - Reviews
 Video on Demand
Jordi Vilasuso plays the titular Clyde Cooper, a private eye tracking downing a missing girl. There’s only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s negative. Additionally, it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are zero.

The Favourite - Reviews
 A costume drama about Queen Anne, whose relationship with Lady Sarah changes when a new servant girl arrives. The first of four films on this week’s list that is earning a Tomatometer Score above 95% positive. This also has the most star power and the loudest commercial buzz, so I suspect it will be the biggest box office hit on this week’s list.

Invisible Hands - Reviews
 A documentary about the use of child labor, including children who are the victims of human trafficking. There is only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is positive. I doubt it will find an audience in theaters, but it was very likely made as part of an advocacy campaign, so they are not interested in making money.

Roma - Reviews
 Video on Demand
The latest film from Alfonso Cuarón about a domestic worker working in a middle-class neighborhood in Mexico City. This is one of four films on this week’s list that is earning a Tomatometer Score in the high 90% range and it is earning significant Awards Season Buzz. However, it is playing on Netflix, so its box office chances are nearly zero.

Shoplifters - Reviews
 A Japanese film about a family of shoplifters who take on a young girl, despite barely being able to survive as it is. The film’s reviews are nearly 100% positive and average score is 8.9 out of 10, which is award-worthy. That said, foreign-language films rarely thrive in limited release.

The World Before Your Feet - Reviews
 A documentary about Matt Green, who over several years walked all 8,000 miles of roads and pathways in New York City. The film’s reviews are 100% positive and documentaries have done well this year, so it could be a hit in limited release.

Write When You Get Work - Reviews
 A romantic comedy set in New York City. There are only seven reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and the reviews are barely more than 70% positive, which is very likely not enough to thrive in limited release.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Like I said at the top, it is a slow week and I included all releases above, even ones that would normally be secondary VOD releases.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Roma, The Favourite, Unga Astrid, Write When You Get Work, Manbiki kazoku, Clyde Cooper, Invisible Hands, The World Before Your Feet, Olivia Colman, Alfonso Cuarón, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Jordi Vilasuso, Alba August, Matt Green