New in Theaters January 1: The Hateful Eight
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/31/15 at 06:47 AM CT
Out with the old in with the new (year). Thanks to Star Wars - they overall box office for 2015 has hit $11 billion for the first time, ever. I have a feeling this first weekend in 2016 (and probably most of the month) is going to be ruled by The Force Awakens. A lot of that has to do with the fact that there isn't going to be a lot of action at the box office for a few weeks. Case in point - …
Gods of Egypt, Zootopia, Jane Got a Gun, Regression and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/30/15 at 06:41 AM CT
The holidays aren't slowing down the ratings march, as we have four major releases getting their due this week including a special effects spectacle, a family-friendly animated title, an oft-delayed western and a dark, part-horror, part-mystery thriller. All told, not a bad update to close the year. Don't worry, I'll be back next year too - when I'm sure there will be plenty more to rant and …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 29-January 4
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/29/15 at 04:35 AM CT
Happy New Year:
THIS WEEK'S RELEASES:
"Bone Tomahawk" (2014): Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins, David Arquette, Sid Haig. When a group of cannibal savages kidnaps settlers from the small town of Bright Hope, an unlikely team of gunslingers, led by Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell), sets out to bring them home. But their enemy is more ruthless than anyone could …
Weekend Box Office: The Force Awakens Many More Records, Daddy's Home a Strong Second
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/27/15 at 09:34 PM CT
There was little doubt that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was going to be a Christmas monster when it continued to break daily records leading up to the holiday weekend. But there were plenty of newcomers this weekend as well. And in both wide and limited release, there were plenty of other reasons to happy with the releases. Hollywood must be cheering as well, as Star Wars, and the impressive …
New in Theaters Christmas: Daddy's Home, Concussion, Joy, The Big Short, Point Break
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/24/15 at 06:41 AM CT
Almost Merry Christmas time here - and what is Hollywood giving us this joyous holiday? The gift of abundance as there are five major movies (four new, one wide expansion) coming out this Friday - plus a couple of big limited releases sure to be making a splash in the coming weeks. But even with all these new, and mostly good, releases, it will still be Star Wars: The Force Awakens that will win …
Daddy's Home, God's Not Dead 2 and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/23/15 at 06:40 AM CT
Just before the Christmas holiday, we celebrate one of the last updates of the year. While nowhere near as packed as last week's rather large update, there are a few good updates, including a movie hitting theaters this Friday, a sequel to an inspirational hit and another early-year military-based film that looks to join the likes of American Sniper and The Hurt Locker in its quest for an …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 22-December 28
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/22/15 at 03:07 AM CT
Hollywood pretty much shuts down between Christmas and the New Year, and since the studios still rule the DVD and Blu-ray worlds, the new releases are few and far between. From the big screen this week is "War Room," about the trials and tribulations of a seemingly perfect family who look to fix their problems with the help of Miss Clara, an older, wiser woman and her faith; and "Pan," a prequel …
Weekend Box Office: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Breaks (Nearly) All the Records
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/20/15 at 07:44 PM CT
The hype and the hope have been building for months and the question remained - how would Disney's take on the Star Wars legacy stack up? If you go by sheer numbers, the answer is: "The Force will be with you... always." With a record-breaking weekend, amazing critical and audience response and packed theaters worldwide, I would say this franchise is in very good hands for years to come. Against …
New in Theaters December 18: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Sisters, Chipmunks: The Road Chip
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/17/15 at 06:46 AM CT
For four weeks now, The Hungers Games - Mockingjay Part 2 has managed to keep its grip on top of the box office, despite the efforts of films like Creed and Krampus. It has also been a relatively quiet couple of weekends, the whole of December, really. And the big reason? Why - that would be the most anticipated film of the year - the one expected to break every conceivable record (it may or may …
Collide, Me Before You, Barbershop 3, Norm of the North and More in This Week's MPAA Rating Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/16/15 at 11:25 AM CT
Perhaps I was too hasty lamenting the lack of big names in last week's update. I guess they were just holding back, as this week sees a whole lot of new releases, from animated titles to comedies to drama - a little something for everyone. Granted, my mind is mostly on how awesome the new Star Wars movies is going to be on Thursday, but I'll do my best to stay focused on the task at hand. One …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 15-December 21
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/15/15 at 01:37 AM CT
THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
"Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation": Tom Cruise and crew are back in another "Mission: Impossible" movie -- and despite the on-screen weariness of the lead actor -- Cruise seemed like he just wasn't there for most of the film -- the summer tentpole took in close to $200 million, keeping the franchise alive for probably another sequel. This time around the IM …
Weekend Box Office: Hunger Games On Top for Fourth Straight Weekend, In the Heart of the Sea Drowns
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/13/15 at 09:23 PM CT
With Star Wars anticipation reaching critical levels, it seems audiences weren't much in the mood to check out anything new at the box office. In fact, the weekend could only scrape together $68.7 million - which was the lowest-grossing weekend stretching back to 1998, when Star Trek: Insurrection played. But have no fear, as next weekend it going to see several records broken and we'll see if …
New in Theaters December 11: In the Heart of the Sea
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/10/15 at 06:45 AM CT
Thanks to some strong holdover and surprisingly strong start from Christmas horror film Krampus, December got off to a good start. Much like last weekend, there is only one new film making its nationwide debut - but it certainly is a whale of a film (puns aren't my strong suit). The latest from Ron Howard looks to corral the adult crowd away from The Hunger Games and Creed. The other big …
Macbeth and More in This Week's MPAA Rating Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/09/15 at 10:42 AM CT
Last week provided us with a veritable avalanche of post-Thanksgiving day updates. Sadly, it seems they ran their course as this week we have one limited release film and absolutely nothing else of note. Some movies might make it in limited release, others will probably go the streaming route - and that means there's not a lot to talk about. Granted, I pretty much have nothing on my mind other …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 8-December 14
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/08/15 at 12:18 AM CT
THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
Kinji Fukasaku ("Battle Royale") gave the world Japan's answer to "The Godfather" with "Battles Without Honor and Humanity" (1973), a violent yakuza saga that has influenced filmmakers from Quentin Tarantino to Takashi Miike. Made within just two years, the five-film series brought a new kind of realism and ferocity to the crime genre in Japan, revitalizing the industry …
Weekend Box Office: Mockingjay - Part 2 Threepeats as Krampus Shows Up a Strong Second
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/06/15 at 07:46 PM CT
It was a winning weekend for Hollywood after a few stumbles recently, the weekend was up nearly 23% over the same weekend last year as the top 12 brought in just under $90 million. The post-Thanksgiving weekend is usually one of the quieter release dates of the year, and while this weekend didn't break from that tradition, but it was surprising thanks to an unexpected surge from a …
New in Theaters December 04: Krampus
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/03/15 at 06:45 AM CT
While Thanksgiving didn't provide us with any record-breaking fireworks, it was still a great weekend thanks to the combined might of The Hunger Games, Pixar and Creed. And I have a feeling that the sense of familiarity is going to be overwhelming. There is only one new wide release coming out, and because it's a Christmas-themed horror film, I have a sneaking suspicion the audience is going to …
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Dirty Grandpa, The Hateful Eight and More in This Week's MPAA Bulletin
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/02/15 at 11:13 AM CT
Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, it looks like Hollywood is still being really generous. There is a simply massive influx of ratings this time around, including my most anticipated movie of the year - along with several other high profile films coming out in the near future. This includes the latest from Tarantino and the Coen Brothers as well as the latest rude and crude comedy that …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 1-December 7
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/01/15 at 01:48 AM CT
THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
The last few years have seen a resurgence of the documentary as a bearer of truth and beauty; this year alone has given us “Best of Enemies," "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief," "Iris," "The Wolfpack," "Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine," "Citizenfour" and "Sinatra: All or Nothing at All." Add to that list "Amy," the incredible story of …
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