Limited and VOD Releases: Death of Limited Releases

March 9, 2018

The Death of Stalin

It is one of the worst times of year to release a film in limited release, as the Oscars are still taking up a lot of space and it is too soon for summer to boost the box office numbers. That said, while there are not a lot of limited releases on this week’s list, there are some that might actually have a real shot at box office success. The Death of Stalin has the loudest buzz and the reviews are outstanding. Meanwhile, both Claire’s Camera and Thoroughbreds could be surprise hits.

1:54 - Reviews
A Canadian movie about a high school student, who was a champion runner when he was 12, but he quit the sport when his mother died. Now he is being bullied and decides to go back into the sport to challenge his bully.

3 Storeys - Reviews
This film is set in an apartment building in Mumbai and tells three stories about the residents there. There are only three reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, which would normally not be enough to be included on this list. However, this is actually better than most Indian films get and all three are positive, so that’s a hopeful sign.

Claire’s Camera - Reviews
The latest from director Sang-soo Hong. The film’s Tomatometer Score is 80% positive, which is actually below average for the director. The director’s track record and the star power gives the film a solid shot at success, at least for a limited release film. I don’t expect it to find mainstream success.

The Death of Stalin - Reviews
A black comedy about the immediate aftermath of the death of Stalin. Apparently director / co-writer Armando Iannucci toned down the real life events to make them more believable. The reviews are among the best of the weekend, while its buzz is louder than most limited releases can dream of. Perhaps it will top the theater average chart over the weekend.

The Forgiven - Reviews
Forest Whitaker stars as Desmond Tutu, who worked as part of a redemption program. He is called into a maximum security prison to meet with a brutal murderer who is now looking for redemption. The reviews are terrible, so its box office chances are nearly zero.

Girls vs. Gangsters - Reviews
A sequel to Girls, which opened in July of 2014. This one still has no reviews, but Chinese films have been doing well in limited release lately, so I thought it was worth mentioning. On the other hand, it is a comedy and comedies rarely translate into other cultures / languages.

Leaning into the Wind - Reviews
A biography documentary about artist Andy Goldsworthy. It follows him as he travels around the world being inspired by the locations. The reviews are 100% positive, so it should do well for a documentary.

The Leisure Seeker - Reviews
Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland star as a couple who travel in their RV from their home in Boston to Key West, the home of Hemmingway. It’s a great cast, but the reviews are weak. Maybe the star power will be enough for its opening weekend, but that’s as optimistic as I can get.

Thoroughbreds - Reviews
Two high school students girls, Lily and Amanda, reunite after several years apart. Lily’s home like is hard, because she hates her step-father, so Amanda suggests they plan a way to get rid of him forever. The reviews are good, as is the buzz, so it could do well in limited release.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Eat Me - No Reviews - Video on Demand
There is only one secondary VOD release and it has no reviews, so I have nothing to say.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, The Leisure Seeker, 1:54, The Forgiven, Leaning into the Wind, The Death of Stalin, La caméra de Claire, Thoroughbreds, Gui Mi 2, Eat Me, 3 Storeys, Forest Whitaker, Eric Bana, Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Paul Sparks, Sang-soo Hong, Armando Iannucci, Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Andy Goldsworthy