Limited and VOD Releases: Some Smart Choices for Moviegoers
June 2, 2017
A few films on this week’s list are earning really good reviews, including Past Life, Handsome Devil, and Band Aid. On the other hand, 3 Idiotas is the widest release of the week and the one with the best shot at earning some mainstream success.
3 Idiotas - Reviews
Band Aid - Reviews
Churchill - Reviews
Dean - Reviews
The Exception - Reviews
God of War - Reviews
Handsome Devil - Reviews
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait - Reviews
Past Life - Reviews
Vincent n Roxxy - Reviews
Secondary VOD Releases:
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This is a Mexican film that is a remake of a Bollywood film called 3 Idiots, which I previously reviewed. This film’s reviews are not as strong as the original’s are, but the Pantelion Films label has had a lot of success marketing to Hispanic audiences in the States. The film opens in 349 tonight and could grab a spot in the top ten this weekend.
Zoe Lister-Jones and Adam Pally star as a couple going through a rough patch. Their therapist suggests they try to reconnect by focusing on their mutual love of music. So they turn each of their fights into songs and start a band. The reviews are strong enough that it could thrive in limited release, but there is a lot of competition this week.
I’m going to call this Busted Oscar Bait. It’s a film based on a real life story, one that gives its main actor a really juicy role. However, the overall story is really weak and that’s killing the reviews. Perhaps the star power will help the film during its opening weekend, but even if it does start strong, it won’t last.
Demetri Martin makes his directorial debut playing a young man whose mother dies and he and his father don’t handle it particularly well. The reviews are good, but not great, and limited releases usually need great reviews to thrive.
Video on Demand
A World War II movie about a spy trying to determine if an exiled German officer is being watched by spies. The reviews are good, but perhaps not good enough for limited release. Furthermore, it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are even weaker. That said, it is certainly worth $6 for a rental.
This film doesn’t have a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but the ones it has are 100% positive so far. However, the film isn’t doing well in its native China and I see no reason it will do better here.
A coming-of-age story about two students at a boarding school who are forced to be roommates. They instantly hate each other, until their English teacher helps them connect. The reviews are great, so the film could do well in limited release. There are a lot of films coming out this week, on the other hand.
A biographical documentary about artist / filmmaker Julian Schnabel. Its reviews are mixed, which is usually fatal for a limited release.
A Israeli-Polish co-production about two Israeli sisters in the 1970s. They try to learn what their father did in Poland during World War II. The film is earning great reviews and Israeli films do have some built-in audience here. On the other hand, foreign-language films rarely do well enough to expand significantly.
Video on Demand
A man saves a woman from a killer and the pair have to go on the run as a result. The movie has more star power than most limited releases have, but the reviews are mixed and it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are close to zero.
All About the Money - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Be Afraid - Reviews - Video on Demand
Family Mission: The T.J. Lobraico Story - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Opening Night - Reviews - Video on Demand
Two of the four secondary VOD releases have no reviews and the other two have three combined. Opening Night’s only review is positive, so that’s a good sign.
Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, The Exception, Dean, Handsome Devil, Churchill, Band Aid, Past Life, 3 Idiotas, Vincent n Roxxy, Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait, Family Mission: The T.J. Lobraico Story, God of War, Opening Night, Be Afraid, All About the Money, Brian Cox, Kevin Kline, Zoe Lister-Jones, Demetri Martin, Adam Pally