Limited and VOD Releases: Hero or Zero?

February 28, 2020

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising is easily the biggest limited release on this week’s chart. Also, its reviews are really good. Hopefully it won’t be the only box office hit on this week’s list, but I fear it could be. There are several films like Blood On Her Name, Saint Frances, and more with impressive Tomatometer Scores, but less impressive average ratings, so maybe they are better fits for the home market.

10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up - Reviews
Video on Demand
A romantic comedy about two cynics falling in love. There is only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, which would normally not be enough to be included in the main list, but there’s only one secondary VOD release this week, so I thought I would include it here. Also, it’s one review is positive, so that’s a hopeful sign.

Blood On Her Name - Reviews
Video on Demand
A neo-noir thriller about a woman covering up an accidental killing. The film’s Tomatometer Score is 100% positive, but the average rating is just over 7 out of 10. Additionally, it is playing on VOD and it will almost certainly find nearly all of its audience on the home market rather than in theaters.

Burden - Reviews
This is a message movie about tolerance, which is important. However, it delivers this message in a way that hurts both the film as entertainment and the impact of the message.

Disappearance at Clifton Hill - Reviews
Video on Demand
This film’s reviews are on the border between being merely good and good enough to survive limited release. It is also playing on VOD, so its box office chances are nearly zero. It is worth a VOD rental, if you want to check out a new film, but don’t want to leave your home.

Greed - Reviews
This is a black comedy with a lot of social satire. That’s a really hard genre to get right, so I’m not surprised the reviews are mixed. I am a little disappointed, as I was looking forward to seeing the movie. I’ll probably try and watch it on the home market.

Guns Akimbo - Reviews
Video on Demand
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. I didn’t think it would be great, but I thought it would be interesting and Daniel Radcliffe tends to give intriguing performances, even in weaker films. However, the director had a meltdown on twitter and that really soured my interest in the film. I was going to write a summary, but it was too long, so I will just link to one instead.

The Jesus Rolls - Reviews
This unnecessary sequel is so bad it might taint the reputation of the original. Good news: It is very likely not enough people will see it to have an impact.

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising - Reviews
My Hero Academia is one of the few anime franchises that has some measure of mainstream popularity here. The film earned more than $2 million during its Wednesday debut, which is already enough to make it one of the biggest anime releases here. How long it will stay in theaters will depend on if non-anime fans are curious enough to check it out and if they like it as much as the average critic did.

Saint Frances - Reviews
Kelly O’Sullivan wrote and stars in this film about a 30-something woman having trouble finding her place in life. The film’s Tomatometer Score is over 90% positive, but the average score is just over 7 out of 10, so I don’t think it will thrive in limited release.

Straight Up - Reviews
A gay man in his 20s afraid of dying alone decides to be in a straight relationship to avoid that fate. The film’s Tomatometer Score is over 90% positive, but the average score is just under 7 out of 10, so I don’t think it will thrive in limited release. It's one of those weeks.

Wendy - Reviews
Searchlight Pictures burns off yet another film made before the Disney merger and like so many other films they made, this one is earning poor reviews. I don’t expect it to go anywhere at the box office.

The Whistlers - Reviews
A cop helps his job security by also being a criminal. He and his partner plan a perfect heist, but no plan is perfect. The reviews are excellent and the writer / director, Corneliu Porumboiu, does have a growing reputation with art house crowds.

A White, White Day - Reviews
A cop begins to think his late wife was having an affair when she died and is determined to prove if his suspicions are true. The film’s reviews are 100% positive and it could find an audience on the art house circuit, but don’t expect it to expand in any significant way.

- Theater Counts

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Burden, The Jesus Rolls, Guns Akimbo, Straight Up, Clifton Hill, Saint Frances, Hvítur, Hvítur Dagur, Blood On Her Name, Wendy, La Gomera, Greed, 10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up, Boku no Hīrō Akademia The Movie Hīrōzu: Raijingu, My Hero Academia, Daniel Radcliffe, Corneliu Porumboiu, Kelly O’Sullivan