Oscar Predictions – Wicked: For Good

Ahead of its Friday release, the embargo has lapsed for the eagerly awaited sequel Wicked: For Good and we are seeing just how popular or unpopular it is with critics. Jon M. Chu returns to direct alongside the cast of Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

Based on the Broadway phenomenon, Good is expected to generate massive box office dollars. Will it be able to match or exceed the Oscar performance of its predecessor from last year? At the 97th Academy Awards, Wicked picked up 10 nominations – Best Picture, Actress (Erivo), Supporting Actress (Grande), Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, Sound, and Visual Effects. It won for Costume Design and Production Design.

We’ll get into all those in a second, but let’s start with the headline. As one of the final pieces to this grand awards puzzle, Good‘s reviews aren’t as strong as part 1’s. 2024’s original had 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic. At the time of publication, RT for Good is 71% with Metacritic at 61.

In short, that makes its prospects murkier in most categories starting with BP. On Sunday when I posted my latest update, I dropped the follow-up from 6th to 8th in that race. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it slide further in my next update and I certainly don’t expect it to go up. Anywhere from 8-10 seems reasonable with the possibility that it could miss the cut. A Directing nod for Chu appears out of reach.

Since April when I did my first projections, I’ve had Erivo and Grande getting back to back noms as the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good. That’s likely to continue though I’m less confident that they’re both slam dunk inclusions. Actress is crowded and Erivo faces tough competition. I think Grande in Supporting Actress is safer. She was probably runner-up for the victory last year when she fell short to Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez. Grande has been ranked 1st for months on this blog and I still believe she could make the podium walk. The mixed overall reaction opens up victory narratives for others, including Teyana Taylor in One Battle After Another, Elle Fanning or Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass in Sentimental Value, and maybe even Amy Madigan for Weapons (though I’ve yet to predict her).

As for the tech races, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design are close to shoo-in noms. I’m a little less assured about Sound and Visual Effects and far less so for Film Editing and Original Score.

Then there’s categories where the second helping of Wicked could pop up where Wicked did not. That includes original song. Universal is submitting “The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home” for the tune derby. I included both in my quintet on Sunday. Some critical reaction indicates the new songs (in other words – not in the Broadway show) are not standouts. I still think one gets in (“Bubble”) but you never know.

The 98th Academy Awards marks the first year for the Best Casting prize. Had this existed last year, Wicked would have had 11 mentions instead of 10. Like most other races mentioned above, For Good making this list of five (or ten in BP) in tenuous.

Bottom line – the range of nominations for Wicked: For Good could be anywhere from 3 to maybe matching the 10 of Wicked in a best case scenario. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

November 21-23 Box Office Predictions

Wicked: For Good sweeps in to rule the box office and it could compete for 2025’s biggest domestic opening. We also have Finnish action sequel Sisu: Road to Revenge and Japan set dramedy Rental Family making their debuts and you can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newcomers here:

The second part of Wicked is expected to easily swoosh past the $112 million opening of part 1 last year. The real question is whether it eclipses the $162 million start of A Minecraft Movie which currently holds the record for the year. I have falling just behind.

Sisu: Road to Revenge should manage to top the $3.3 million out of the gate that its predecessor achieved in 2023, but perhaps not by much. My mid single digits projection puts it in fifth.

Rental Family with Oscar winner Brendan Fraser hasn’t been able to generate much buzz despite mostly solid reviews. I have it struggling in sixth place.

Holdovers should populate slots 2-4. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t scored a surprise #1 showing (more on that below). If it drops in range with Now You See Me 2 from nine years ago, it could fall below $10 million for the runner-up spot. The second weekend of The Running Man and third frame of Predator: Badlands could see similar numbers battling for third.

Here’s how I have it shaking out:

1. Wicked: For Good

Predicted Gross: $158.1 million

2. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t

Predicted Gross: $9.4 million

3. The Running Man

Predicted Gross: $6.7 million

4. Predator: Badlands

Predicted Gross: $5.9 million

5. Sisu: Road to Revenge

Predicted Gross: $4 million

6. Rental Family

Predicted Gross: $2.9 million

Box Office Results (November 14-16)

As mentioned, threequel Now You See Me: Now You Don’t easily ruled the charts with a better than anticipated $21 million compared to my $17.1 million prediction. While it’s the lowest opening of the franchise (falling under the original’s $29 million and part two’s $22 million), the #1 posting was an unexpected development.

That’s because many prognosticators, including me, figured The Running Man with Glen Powell might manage bragging rights. Yet the sci-fi remake took in only $16.4 million for second, under my $19.6 million estimate.

Another projection I missed is that I thought Predator: Badlands wouldn’t experience the hefty sophomore decline of other pics in the franchise. However, it plummeted 68% to $12.7 million. I was far more generous at $18.2 million. The two-week tally is still an impressive $66 million.

Regretting You was fourth with $3.7 million and I was higher at $5 million. The four-week take is $44 million.

Black Phone 2 rounded out the top five and I incorrectly didn’t have it there. In its fifth week, it earned $2.6 million to bring its total to $74 million.

Keeper from Osgood Perkins was right behind in sixth with $2.5 million (I said $3.2 million). The horror flick couldn’t attract its intended audience.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

98th Academy Awards Predictions: November 16th Edition

My first update in two weeks showcases stability in the major races as there’s no changes in Picture, Director, or the four acting races. However, within the categories, there is movement worth noting. Frankenstein is now up to 7th and, for the first time, I would be surprised if it’s not nominated.

The only significant movie not yet seen is Avatar: Fire and Ash. As we await screening word-of-mouth, I still have it in the BP ten at ninth. If it does not end up making the cut (unlike its two predecessors), keep an eye on The Secret Agent. I have it rising to its highest perch in 12th with lead Wagner Moura now third for Best Actor.

On the eve of its Friday premiere, Wicked: For Good slips from 6th to 8th in BP while Ariana Grande continues to top the Supporting Actress rankings. The actual review embargo lifts tomorrow and that could shift Wicked‘s placement in numerous competitions.

You can read all the movement below, including my projection that Netflix’s Train Dreams is on track for an Adapted Screenplay nod (taking out Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery).

Best Picture

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (Previous Ranking: 1) (Even)

2. Hamnet (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (E)

5. Sentimental Value (PR: 5) (E)

6. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Frankenstein (PR: 9) (+2)

8. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (-2)

9. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Jay Kelly (PR: 8) (-2)

Other Possibilities:

11. Bugonia (PR: 11) (E)

12. The Secret Agent (PR: 14) (+2)

13. No Other Choice (PR: 12) (-1)

14. Train Dreams (PR: Not Ranked)

15. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

A House of Dynamite

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Best Director

Predicted Nominees:

1. Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Chloé Zhao, Hamnet (PR: 2) (E)

3. Ryan Coogler, Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value (PR: 6) (E)

7. Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein (PR: 7) (E)

8. Kieber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent (PR: Not Ranked)

9. Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice (PR: 9) (E)

10. Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good (PR: 8) (-2)

Dropped Out:

Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly

Best Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (PR: 1) (E)

2. Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value (PR: 2) (E)

3. Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (E)

4. Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Emma Stone, Bugonia (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Jennifer Lawrence, Die, My Love (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Tessa Thompson, Hedda (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Julia Roberts, After the Hunt

Best Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme (PR: 1) (E)

2. Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon (PR: 3) (-1)

5. George Clooney, Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Jeremy Allen White, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Jesse Plemons, Bugonia (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Daniel Day-Lewis, Anemone (PR: 10) (E)

Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value (PR: 3) (E)

4. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass, Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (E)

5. Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Odessa A’Zion, Marty Supreme (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Amy Madigan, Weapons (PR: 7) (E)

8. Regina Hall, One Battle After Another (PR: 6) (-2)

9. Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 9) (E)

10. Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners (PR: 10) (E)

Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sean Penn, One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Paul Mescal, Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another (PR: 4) (E)

5. Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein (PR: 6) (E)

7. Delroy Lindo, Sinners (PR: 7) (E)

8. Andrew Scott, Blue Moon (PR: 10) (+2)

9. Jeremy Strong, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Jonathan Bailey, Wicked: For Good (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Secret Agent (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Blue Moon (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Sorry, Baby (PR: 8) (E)

9. Is This Thing On? (PR: 9) (E)

10. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

A House of Dynamite

Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Hamnet (PR: 2) (E)

3. Bugonia (PR: 3) (E)

4. No Other Choice (PR: 4) (E)

5. Train Dreams (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Frankenstein (PR: 7) (E)

8. Wicked: For Good (PR: 8) (E)

9. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 9) (E)

10. Hedda (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

The Life of Chuck

Best International Feature Film

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)

2. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 2) (E)

3. The Secret Agent (PR: 3) (E)

4. No Other Choice (PR: 4) (E)

5. The Voice of Hind Rajab (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Sirât (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Left-Handed Girl (PR: 6) (-1)

8. The President’s Cake (PR: 8) (E)

9. The Love That Remains (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Sound of Falling (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Animated Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. KPop Demon Hunters (PR: 1) (E)

2. Zootopia 2 (PR: 2) (E)

3. Arco (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Elio (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Scarlet (PR: 7) (+1)

7. A Magnificent Life (PR: 6) (-1)

8. In Your Dreams (PR: 8) (E)

9. Ne Zha 2 (PR: 9) (E)

10. Animal Farm (PR: 10) (E)

Best Documentary Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Perfect Neighbor (PR: 1) (E)

2. 2000 Meters to Andrivka (PR: 2) (E)

3. Cover-Up (PR: 3) (E)

4. Apocalypse in the Tropics (PR: 7) (+3)

5. Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Alabama Solution (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Mr. Nobody Against Putin (PR: 4) (-3)

8. Seeds (PR: 5) (-3)

9. The Tale of Silyan (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Deaf President Now! (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Cutting Through Rocks

The Eyes of Ghana

Best Casting

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Hamnet (PR: 5) (-2)

8. Sentimental Value (PR: 8) (E)

9. Frankenstein (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Rental Family (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

A House of Dynamite

Best Cinematography

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Frankenstein (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Hamnet (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Train Dreams (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (-1)

7. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 10) (+3)

8. Jay Kelly (PR: 7) (-1)

9. F1 (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 8) (-2)

Dropped Out:

Bugonia

Best Costume Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)

2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Hamnet (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Marty Supreme (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 5) (-1)

7. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 8) (+1)

8. One Battle After Another (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Hedda (PR: 7) (-2)

10. Snow White (PR: 10) (E)

Best Film Editing

Predicted Nominees:

1. One Battle After Another (PR: 1) (E)

2. Sinners (PR: 2) (E)

3. Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (E)

4. Hamnet (PR: 4) (E)

5. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Sentimental Value (PR: 9) (+3)

7. F1 (PR: 7) (E)

8. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (-3)

9. No Other Choice (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 10) (E)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Predicted Nominees:

1. Frankenstein (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Smashing Machine (PR: 4) (E)

5. 28 Years Later (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. One Battle After Another (PR: 9) (+3)

7. Wolf Man (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Weapons (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 6) (-3)

10. Bugonia (PR: 10) (E)

Best Original Score

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. One Battle After Another (PR: 2) (E)

3. Hamnet (PR: 3) (E)

4. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Frankenstein (PR: 6) (E)

7. Wicked: For Good (PR: 7) (E)

8. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Bugonia (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Hedda (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Sentimental Value

A House of Dynamite

Best Original Song

Predicted Nominees:

1. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (PR: 2) (+1)

2. “I Lied to You” from Sinners (PR: 4) (+2)

3. “The Girl in the Bubble” from Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (-2)

4. “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (PR: 5) (+1)

5. “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (-2)

Other Possibilities:

6. “Clothed by the Sun” from The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 6) (E)

7. “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (PR: 9) (+2)

8. “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from Come See Me in the Good Light (PR: Not Ranked)

9. “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” from Sinners (PR: 7) (-2)

10. “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest (PR: 8) (-2)

Dropped Out:

“Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Production Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Frankenstein (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)

4. Hamnet (PR: 4) (E)

5. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Marty Supreme (PR: 6) (E)

7. One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (E)

8. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: 8) (E)

9. Bugonia (PR: Not Ranked)

10. The Phoenician Scheme (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Blue Moon

Best Sound

Predicted Nominees:

1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)

2. F1 (PR: 4) (+2)

3. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 3) (E)

4. One Battle After Another (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 9) (+4)

Other Possibilities:

6. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (-4)

7. Frankenstein (PR: 7) (E)

8. Warfare (PR: 8) (E)

9. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 6) (-3)

10. The Testament of Ann Lee (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Marty Supreme

Best Visual Effects

Predicted Nominees:

1. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 1) (E)

2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 2) (E)

3. Superman (PR: 3) (E)

4. F1 (PR: 4) (E)

5. Frankenstein (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 7) (+1)

7. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Tron: Ares (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Mickey 17 (PR: 8) (-1)

10. How to Train Your Dragon (PR: 10) (E)

That means I have these movies generating these numbers of nominations:

13 Nominations

One Battle After Another

12 Nominations

Sinners

11 Nominations

Wicked: For Good

10 Nominations

Hamnet

9 Nominations

Marty Supreme

7 Nominations

Sentimental Value

6 Nominations

Frankenstein, Jay Kelly

4 Nominations

Avatar: Fire and Ash, It Was Just an Accident

2 Nominations

F1, KPop Demon Hunters, No Other Choice, The Secret Agent, Train Dreams

1 Nomination

28 Years Later, 2000 Meters to Andrivka, Apocalypse in the Tropics, Arco, Blue Moon, Bugonia, Cover-Up, Diane Warren: Relentless, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, The Perfect Neighbor, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, The Smashing Machine, Superman, The Testament of Ann Lee, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Zootopia 2

Oscar Predictions: Arco

The animated futuristic fantasy Arco is out in limited fashion domestically this weekend for an Oscar qualifying run before a nationwide expansion early next year. From filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu, the Neon title premiered at Cannes in May with a voice cast including Margot Ringard Oldra, Oscar Tresanini, Swann Arlaud, and Alma Jodorowsky. The English dub’s faces behind the mic include Romy Fay, Juliano Krue Valdi, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Mark Ruffalo, Andy Samberg, and Natalie Portman (who also produces).

Critics have been consistently complimentary with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75 Metacritic. Those numbers should be enough for this to make the Best Animated Feature quintet where I’ve had it predicted for some time. A win narrative is trickier as it is probably behind cultural phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters and the forthcoming Zootopia 2 (which has encouraging WOM and the Disney marketing muscle). My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Tale of Silyan

Six years after her feature Honeyland was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature, Tamara Kotevska will try to achieve the same with follow-up The Tale of Silyan. The Macedonian production marks the filmmaker’s first solo effort as Ljubomir Stefanov was her partner on previous works.

Centered on a farmer nursing an injured stork back to life, Silyan played the Venice Film Festival and was picked up by National Geographic domestically. Reviews are impressive with 100% on RT and an 84 Metacritic. A limited (and Oscar qualifying) run arrives November 28th followed by a Disney+ release. Macedonia has already announced it as their selection for the international competition.

The combo of Nat Geo and the Mouse House campaigning could bode well for its prospects. I’ve yet to list this in either IFF or Doc Feature as a possibility, but that might change with my next update. I do feel it has a stronger shot in the latter as IFF is plenty crowded already. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Rental Family Box Office Prediction

Three years after a comeback role in The Whale that won him an Oscar, Brendan Fraser headlines the dramedy Rental Family on November 21st. Hikari directs the apparent crowdpleaser that played the Toronto Film Festival in September. Costars include Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

The Japan set Searchlight release sits at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. The 66 on Metacritic is a bit more telling. Family was seen by prognosticators as a potential Oscar contender. Its festival debut tamped down those expectations. Awards buzz might’ve helped its box office prospects.

Premiering on approximately 1600 screens, Rental may only see low single digits for starters and hope that word-of-mouth keeps its declines low in subsequent weekends.

Rental Family opening weekend prediction: $2.9 million

For my Wicked: For Good prediction, click here:

For my Sisu: Road to Revenge prediction, click here:

Sisu: Road to Revenge Box Office Prediction

Writer-director Jalmari Helander reunites with leading man Jorma Tommila for the Finnish action sequel Sisu: Road to Revenge on November 21st. Following up on the 2023 original which performed decently stateside, Stephen Lang and Richard Brake costar in the Sony distributed World War II era shoot-em-up.

Back in April of 2023, Sisu opened to $3.3 million on just over 1000 screens and ended with $7.3 million in its domestic coffers. The follow-up is slated to double the venue count at approximately 2000. That should mean a higher gross though the per screen average might be lower. Mid single digits is the probable result.

Sisu: Road to Revenge opening weekend prediction: $4 million

For my Wicked: For Good prediction, click here:

For my Rental Family prediction, click here:

Wicked: For Good Box Office Prediction

Wicked: For Good sweeps into theaters November 21st and it should eclipse what part one accomplished out of the gate last year. Jon M. Chu returns directing the second half of the saga based on the hugely popular Stephen Schwartz/Winnie Holzman Broadway play. The stage musical, of course, draws its inspiration from the written works of L. Frank Baum and 1939’s iconic The Wizard of Oz. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are back headlining along with supporting players Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

Last November, Wicked drew critical kudos, 10 Oscar nominations, and a $112 million domestic opening on its way to $473 million overall stateside. The goodwill left over is expected to mean a larger debut upfront. The Universal release could contend for 2025’s largest premiere thus far. In order to accomplish that feat, it would need to surpass the $162 million that A Minecraft Movie brought in. That is certainly within Good‘s range and I wouldn’t be surprised if it manages the record. I’m putting it a bit below Minecraft‘s figure though it should play well throughout the holidays.

Wicked: For Good opening weekend prediction: $158.1 million

For my Sisu: Road to Revenge prediction, click here:

For my Rental Family prediction, click here:

Oscar Predictions: H Is for Hawk

H Is for Hawk is based on an acclaimed 2014 memoir by Helen MacDonald with Claire Foy playing the author. Philippa Lowthorne directs the drama with a supporting cast including Brendan Gleeson, Denise Gough, Sam Spruell, and Lindsay Duncan. Slated for domestic distribution by Roadside Attractions in December, Hawk has already played the Telluride and London festivals.

Rotten Tomatoes is at 82% based on the few reviews out. While write-ups for the film are more on the positive with reservations side, Foy is being lauded. The Emmy winner for The Crown likely came very close to an Academy nom in Supporting Actress for 2018’s First Man. However, Roadside is not known for attracting awards voters in their campaigns. I’ve yet to have Foy in my top 10 possibilities for lead Actress. Unless precursors surprisingly start including her, don’t expect that to change. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Running Man

The Running Man is tracking to open atop the box office this weekend with Glen Powell in the title role. The futuristic action thriller remakes the 1987 original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, itself was based on a 1982 Stephen King novel. Edgar Wright directs with a supporting cast including William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin.

Reviews aren’t as encouraging as what greeted last weekend’s Predator: Badlands (another effort with roots in Ah-nuld 80s releases). Rotten Tomatoes is at 66% with 59 on Metacritic. Like Badlands, the only awards race worth mentioning for Running is Visual Effects. Nothing from the early reaction indicates it has any realistic shot at contending there. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…