The Preview Reel: Game Night and Annihilation
Welcome to this week’s “Preview Reel” column, wherein we look at the week’s upcoming wide-release movies. Black Panther obliterated box-office records last weekend as it earned over $192 million during the three-day weekend, good enough for the second biggest superhero opening ever behind The Avengers (2012). That is insanely impressive, and the king of Wakanda is likely to continue his box-office reign for a while. However, there are two new challengers entering the box-office ring this weekend—the comedy Game Night and the sci-fi thriller Annihilation. Are either of these worthy of seeing instead of Black Panther again? Find out below.
Game Night
What we are excited about: It’s been a while since we have had a straight-forward comedy in theaters, and this could provide some good counter-programming to the movies we have been seeing lately. Apart from Black Panther, and the award nominated films, January and February have been slogs with not much in the way of laughs. With a talented cast that includes Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Jesse Plemons, Kyle Chandler, and Michael C. Hall, we’re hoping the cast can provide us with some much-needed laughs.
What we are worried about: While the premise might seem clever on the surface, we’re wondering if it can sustain an entire movie. It’s from the same writers as Horrible Bosses (2011), which was a very raunchy comedy with a clever premise that slowly rolled out of control. We’re not sure if following that same formula will work a second time, Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) is proof of that.
The Buzz: Most of the internet is still talking about Black Panther, and there is no question that it will retain the top spot. Game Night might make for a fun date night and good counter-programming to the Marvel blockbuster, so it should enjoy a decent opening weekend. There are no reviews up yet as of this writing, but that’s typical for a comedy. Look for an opening around $15 million.
Final Thoughts: If you have already seen Black Panther, or are looking for a laugh, Game Night might make for a fun night out at the movies.
Annihilation
What we are excited about: Alex Garland. The screenwriter of 28 Days Later… (2002) made his directorial debut three years ago with the exceptional Ex Machina (2014). The Academy Award®-winning film put Garland on the map as a director to watch out for, and he’s finally releasing his next project. The trailers are mysterious and vague, but we trust that it will pay off because of Garland’s previous work. With a cast that includes Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac, we’re hoping that Garland starts his directing career two for two.
What we are worried about: There is always a chance for a sophomore slump with Garland, and the trailers are maybe a little too mysterious. It seems like a movie that will have a plot twist two-thirds of the way through and completely change the overall quality of the film, for better or worse. We’re hoping it’s for the better, as was the case with Ex Machina, but a February release date is a little curious for a movie like this.
The Buzz: Although no official reviews have been published as of this writing, there has been a bunch of positive buzz surrounding the film. Initial reactions are saying it’s a mind-bending sci-fi mystery, we’re just not sure of its box-office prospects. With so much competition and too vague of promotional material, we think this movie will struggle to hit $12 million.
Final Thoughts: Like Ex Machina, we think this movie is going to be well-received, but won’t be a box-office smash.
Scott Davis
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