Limited and VOD Releases: Run to the Theaters
August 23, 2019
There are several releases on this week’s list earning amazing reviews, including Brittany Runs a Marathon, which has the best shot at attracting a mainstream audience. On the other hand, Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles and Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool could do well on the art house scene.
American Factory - Reviews
Battling Butler - Reviews
Brittany Runs a Marathon - Reviews
The Demons - Reviews
Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles - Reviews
Give Me Liberty - Reviews
Jawline - Reviews
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool - Reviews
This is Not Berlin - Reviews
Tone-Deaf - Reviews
Vita & Virginia - Reviews
Tigers Are Not Afraid - Reviews
ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas - No Reviews
Secondary VOD Releases:
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This is a documentary about a Chinese billionaire, who starts a new factory in Ohio. It focuses on the clash between the Chinese culture and the American workers. It could be a hit at the box office, at least compared to most documentaries, due to its timely nature and its impressive reviews.
Seven Chances - Reviews
Two Buster Keaton films getting re-releases this week. The latter is the far superior film, but both are worth checking out.
This is the biggest release on this week’s list, at least in terms of buzz. The film stars Jillian Bell and is inspired by a true story of a woman who turned to jogging to turn her life around. The reviews are very strong and I think this one has a chance of earning some measure of mainstream success. However, it will have to thrive during its opening weekend to do that and that’s never an easy task. I am cautiously optimistic.
Genesis - Reviews
A double-shot of semi-autobiographical films by Philippe Lesage. Genesis is earning significantly better reviews, but if you are interested in one of them, you are probably interested in both.
A documentary about the musical Fiddler on the Roof. There’s a large crossover appeal between art house films and broadway musicals, so this could to rather well at the box office, at least for a documentary.
A medical driver and an ALS patient spend a day together after a political protest derails their route. The reviews suggest it has a shot at success in art house theaters, but I don’t think it will do well enough to expand significantly.
Video on Demand
A documentary about Austyn Tester, a teenage influencer. The reviews are 100% positive, but I’m not sure there are enough people interested in the subject to go to the theaters to watch the film. It is playing on Hulu, so it should perform better there.
A documentary about legendary jazz musician Miles Davis. The film’s reviews are amazing and we’re due for a breakout documentary hit. In fact, we are so overdue that I’m not longer overly optimistic about the genre’s chances.
A coming of age film set in Mexico City in the year 1986. The reviews should be an asset, but there are a lot of films on this week’s list with similar or better reviews.
Video on Demand
A psychological horror film that is earning terrible reviews and it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are close to zero.
A real life story about the affair between diplomat, Vita Sackville-West, and author, Virginia Woolf. The two leads give great performances, but they can’t save the movie as a whole.
This film is earning some of the best reviews of the weekend and it could find an audience in limited release. It is likely too grim to expand significantly, on the other hand. After all, it is about a group of orphans in Mexico whose parents were murdered by drug cartels. There’s also a supernatural element to the movie that has been compared to Guillermo del Toro and that’s high praise indeed.
Hot Air - Reviews - Video on Demand
Jacob’s Ladder - Reviews - Video on Demand
Parallel Chords - No Reviews - Video on Demand
The three secondary VOD releases this week have a combined 1 positive review. To be fair, Parallel Chords has no reviews, so it is the safest bet.
Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Les Démons, Vuelven, Hot Air, Jacob’s Ladder, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Vita & Virginia, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Tone-Deaf, Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles, American Factory, Genèse, Jawline, Esto no es Berlín, Give Me Liberty, ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, Battling Butler, Seven Chances, Parallel Chords, Buster Keaton, Gemma Arterton, Guillermo del Toro, Elizabeth Debicki, Jillian Bell, Philippe Lesage, Chris Galust, Lauren Spencer