After premiering at Telluride and Toronto last fall, the South African drama Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is in limited release stateside. It marks the directorial debut of actress Embeth Davidtz and is based on Alexandra Fuller’s 2001 memoir. Lexi Venter, Zikhona Bali, Fumani Shilubana, Rob Van Vuuren, Anina Reed, and Davidtz herself are in the ensemble.
With Sony Pictures Classics handling distribution, it will interesting to see if they mount a serious campaign for Best International Feature. The Rotten Tomatoes score is 93% with Metacritic at 74. South Africa saw two of its pictures nominated in the foreign country – Yesterday in 2004 and Tsotsi in 2005 (it won). Two decades have passed so getting this on voter radar screens could be a tall order. If Sony looks elsewhere, they could campaign lead Vinter for Best Young Performer at the BAFTAs. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…
The Fantastic Four: First Steps looks to set the box office ablaze when it opens July 25th. It is the 37th feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and fourth overall picture headlined by the superhero family that made their first comic book appearance nearly 65 years ago. Matt Shakman directs with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the title characters. Costars include Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson.
The first FF flick since Disney’s acquisition of Fox, it arrives a decade after the failure of the previous reboot starring Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan. This is not expected to flop with the MCU brand behind it and solid buzz building. All it needs to be the best Fantastic opening is topping 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘s $58 million. It should double that figure with room to spare.
The benchmark could be Superman‘s $125 million opening from last weekend. When this rolls around, Supes will be in its third weekend and fans could be ready for the next tentpole. Early tracking has this foursome right around the Man of Steel’s first frame. I’ll buy the hype, but say it falls a tad short.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps opening weekend prediction: $122.4 million
Two new franchise reboots will attempt to exceed expectations and post strong second and third place showings while two existing franchise reboots seek to stay 1-2. I Know What You Did Last Summer and Smurfs are the rookie contenders. We also have Ari Aster’s Eddington with Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal out and you can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the trio of newbies here:
I Know What You Did Last Summer continues the horror saga we witnessed in the late 90s. I think this has the potential to hit low 20s, but I’ll go along with projections in the mid to higher teens. My take puts it not far behind Jurassic World Rebirth for third place.
As for Smurfs, this reinvigoration of this franchise after eight years is not expected to yield impressive results. Like Summer, it could top general forecasts. However, I’m agreeing that low double digits to possibly low teens will be the result and that means fourth place.
I’m not expecting audiences to visit Eddington. The satire, despite some star power, is flying under the radar. As mentioned in my post, I don’t anticipate a desire from moviegoers to revisit the heyday of the COVID pandemic when this is set. My $3.4 million projection would leave it outside the top five and probably in seventh place.
There’s no real mystery what will place first and that would be James Gunn’s Superman in its sophomore outing. The only question is how much it drops in weekend #2. A number close to Thunderbolts* (56%) from earlier this summer would make sense. I doubt it plummets to the degree that 2013’s Man of Steel did at 65%. I’ll say mid to high 50s is the most likely result.
Here’s how I envision the high five shaking out:
1. Superman
Predicted Gross: $56.2 million
2. Jurassic World Rebirth
Predicted Gross: $19.1 million
3. I Know What You Did Last Summer
Predicted Gross: $17.7 million
4. Smurfs
Predicted Gross: $12.4 million
5. F1
Predicted Gross: $7.5 million
Box Office Results (July 11-13)
Superman, as predicted, blasted off with the third best opening of 2025 at $125 million. That’s a tad shy of my $128.6 million call. Generally in line with its anticipated range, it gets this iteration of the DC Universe off to a respectable start and the A- Cinemascore grade is decent as well.
Jurassic World Rebirth held better than I figured with $40.3 million in second compared to my $34.2 million estimate. The dino tale stands at $232 million after ten days and it should be safe to assume the franchise isn’t extinct.
F1 was third with $13 million (I said $13.3 million) as the racing drama has made $136 million after three weeks.
How to Train Your Dragon was fourth with $7.9 million, rising above my $6.8 million forecast for a five-week haul of $239 million.
Finally, Disney’s disappointing Elio took the 5 spot with $4 million (I went with $3.4 million). The four-week gross is $63 million.
While there’s not a whole lot of movement with my Oscar predictions in the past ten days, there are notable changes in Actress and Supporting Actress.
In Actress, Amanda Seyfried’s work in Ann Lee surpasses Jennifer Lawrence from Die, My Love. A switch-up in Supporting Actress now has Sentimental Value generating 10 nominations with Inga Ibsfotter Lilleass in and Angelina LookingGlass (The Rivals of Amziah King) out.
Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia is bumped to the top spot in Adapted Screenplay over Hamnet and you can read all the movement below!
Best Picture
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sinners (Previous Ranking: 1) (Even)
2. Sentimental Value (PR: 12) (E)
3. After the Hunt (PR: 3) (E)
4. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (E)
5. Jay Kelly (PR: 5) (E)
6. Wicked: For Good (PR: 6) (E)
7. Bugonia (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Frankenstein (PR: 9) (+1)
9. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 10) (+1)
10. Hamnet (PR: 7) (-3)
Other Possibilities:
11. One Battle After Another (PR: 11) (E)
12. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 12) (E)
13. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 13) (E)
14. The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 14) (E)
15. Rental Family (PR: 20) (+5)
16. A House of Dynamite (PR: 18) (+2)
17. The Ballad of a Small Player (PR: 16) (-1)
18. The Secret Agent (PR: 15) (-3)
19. No Other Choice (PR: 19) (E)
20. Ann Lee (PR: 22) (+2)
21. Die, My Love (PR: 21) (E)
22. The Life of Chuck (PR: 23) (+1)
23. F1 (PR: 17) (-6)
24. Is This Thing On? (PR: 24) (E)
25. The Smashing Machine (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Best Director
Predicted Nominees:
1. Ryan Coogler, Sinners (PR: 1) (E)
2. Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value (PR: 2) (E)
3. Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme (PR: 3) (E)
4. Luca Guadagnino, After the Hunt (PR: 4) (E)
5. Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia (PR: 6) (E)
7. Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein (PR: 7) (E)
8. Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (PR: 9) (+1)
9. Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly (PR: 8) (-1)
10. Chloé Zhao, Hamnet (PR: 11) (+1)
11. Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good (PR: 10) (-1)
12. Andrew Patterson, The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 13) (+1)
13. Kieber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent (PR: 12) (-1)
14. Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice (PR: 15) (+1)
15. Kathryn Bigelow, A House of Dynamite (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Edward Berger, The Ballad of a Small Player
Best Actress
Predicted Nominees:
1. Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)
2. Julia Roberts, After the Hunt (PR: 2) (E)
3. Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (E)
4. Jessie Buckley, Hamnet (PR: 4) (E)
5. Amanda Seyfried, Ann Lee (PR: 7) (+2)
Other Possibilities:
6. Jennifer Lawrence, Die, My Love (PR: 5) (-1)
7. Emma Stone, Bugonia (PR: 6) (-1)
8. Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (PR: 8) (E)
9. Tessa Thompson, Hedda (PR: 9) (E)
10. Emma Mackey, Ella McCay (PR: 10) (E)
11. Sydney Sweeney, Untitled Christy Martin Biopic (PR: 13) (+2)
12. Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey Into Night (PR: 11) (-1)
13. Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby (PR: Not Ranked)
14. June Squibb, Eleanor the Great (PR: 12) (-2)
15. Amy Adams, At the Sea (PR: 15) (E)
Dropped Out:
Lucy Liu, Rosemead
Best Actor
Predicted Nominees:
1. Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme (PR: 1) (E)
2. George Clooney, Jay Kelly (PR: 2) (E)
3. Jeremy Allen White, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 3) (E)
4. Jesse Plemons, Bugonia (PR: 4) (E)
5. Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent (PR: 6) (E)
7. Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (E)
8. Daniel Day-Lewis, Anemone (PR: 9) (+1)
9. Matthew McConaughey, The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 8) (-1)
10. Dwayne Johnson, The Smashing Machine (PR: 12) (+2)
11. Oscar Isaac, Frankenstein (PR: 11) (E)
12. Brendan Fraser, Rental Family (PR: 14) (+2)
13. Colin Farrell, The Ballad of a Small Player (PR: 10) (-3)
14. Willem Dafoe, Late Fame (PR: 13) (-1)
15. Denzel Washington, Highest 2 Lowest (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Will Arnett, Is This Thing On?
Best Supporting Actress
Predicted Nominees:
1. Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)
2. Ayo Edebiri, After the Hunt (PR: 2) (E)
3. Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value (PR: 3) (E)
4. Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (E)
5. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass, Sentimental Value (PR: 8) (+3)
Other Possibilities:
6. Angelina LookingGlass, The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 5) (-1)
7. Laura Dern, Jay Kelly (PR: 6) (-1)
8. Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another (PR: 9) (+1)
9. Mari Yamamoto, Rental Family (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Emily Blunt, The Smashing Machine (PR: 11) (+1)
11. Jennifer Lopez, Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 7) (-4)
12. Hailee Steinfeld, Sinners (PR: 12) (E)
13. Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners (PR: 14) (+1)
14. Thomasin McKenzie, Ann Lee (PR: 13) (-1)
15. Regina Hall, One Battle After Another (PR: 10) (-5)
Dropped Out:
Glenn Close, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Best Supporting Actor
Predicted Nominees:
1. Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)
2. Andrew Garfield, After the Hunt (PR: 2) (E)
3. Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly (PR: 3) (E)
4. Jeremy Strong, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 5) (+1)
5. Delroy Lindo, Sinners (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Paul Mescal, Hamnet (PR: 6) (E)
7. Jonathan Bailey, Wicked: For Good (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Sean Penn, One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (-1)
9. Miles Caton, Sinners (PR: 12) (+3)
10. Akira Emoto, Rental Family (PR: Not Ranked)
11. Mark Hamill, The Life of Chuck (PR: 14) (+3)
12. Stephen Graham, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 10) (-2)
13. Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein (PR: 9) (-4)
14. Bradley Cooper, Is This Thing On? (PR: 13) (-1)
15. Jeffrey Wright, Highest 2 Lowest (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Robert Pattinson, Die, My Love
Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
Best Original Screenplay
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)
2. After the Hunt (PR: 2) (E)
3. Jay Kelly (PR: 3) (E)
4. Marty Supreme (PR: 5) (+1)
5. Sinners (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 6) (E)
7. The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Rental Family (PR: 11) (+3)
9. Sorry, Baby (PR: 7) (-2)
10. Ann Lee (PR: 10) (E)
11. The Secret Agent (PR: 9) (-2)
12. Ella McCay (PR: 12) (E)
13. A House of Dynamite (PR: 15) (+2)
14. Nouvelle Vague (PR: 14) (E)
15. Is This Thing On? (PR: 13) (-2)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Predicted Nominees:
1. Bugonia (PR: 2) (+1)
2. Hamnet (PR: 1) (-1)
3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 3) (E)
4. Frankenstein (PR: 6) (+2)
5. No Other Choice (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. One Battle After Another (PR: 4) (-2)
7. Wicked: For Good (PR: 7) (E)
8. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 9) (+1)
9. The Life of Chuck (PR: 8) (-1)
10. The Ballad of a Small Player (PR: Not Ranked)
11. Die, My Love (PR: 11) (E)
12. Late Fame (PR: 12) (E)
13. Train Dreams (PR: 10) (-3)
14. Highest 2 Lowest (PR: 13) (-1)
15. The Smashing Machine (PR: 15) (E)
Dropped Out:
Hedda
Best International Feature Film
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sentimental Value (PR: 1) (E)
2. It Was Just an Accident (PR: 2) (E)
3. No Other Choice (PR: 4) (+1)
4. The Secret Agent (PR: 3) (-1)
5. The President’s Cake (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. Sirât (PR: 6) (E)
7. Left-Handed Girl (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Sound of Falling (PR: 7) (-1)
9. Nouvelle Vague (PR: 9) (E)
10. All That’s Left of You (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
The Love That Remains
Best Animated Feature
Predicted Nominees:
1. Zootopia 2 (PR: 1) (E)
2. Arco (PR: 2) (E)
3. Elio (PR: 3) (E)
4. A Magnificent Life (PR: 7) (+3)
5. In Your Dreams (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. Scarlet (PR: 4) (-2)
7. KPOP Demon Hunters (PR: 9) (+2)
8. Ne Zha 2 (PR: 10) (+2)
9. Animal Farm (PR: 6) (-3)
10. Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (PR: 8) (-2)
Best Documentary Feature
Predicted Nominees:
1. The Perfect Neighbor (PR: 1) (E)
2. 2000 Meters to Andriivka (PR: 3) (+1)
3. Seeds (PR: 2) (-1)
4. Cutting Through Rocks (PR: 4) (E)
5. Mr. Nobody Against Putin (PR: 6) (+1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Deaf President Now! (PR: 5) (-1)
7. Apocalypse in the Tropics (PR: 7) (E)
8. The Alabama Solution (PR: Not Ranked)
9. Timestamp (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 (PR: 8) (-2)
Dropped Out:
The Six Billion Dollar Man
The Librarians
Best Casting
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)
2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (+1)
3. Sentimental Value (PR: 4) (+1)
4. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (PR: 5) (+1)
5. Marty Supreme (PR: 7) (+1)
Other Possibilities:
6. After the Hunt (PR: 2) (-4)
7. The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Rental Family (PR: Not Ranked)
9. One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Jay Kelly (PR: 6) (-4)
Dropped Out:
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Best Cinematography
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)
2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)
3. Bugonia (PR: 3) (E)
4. One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)
5. The Rivals of Amziah King (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. Marty Supreme (PR: 4) (-2)
7. Nouvelle Vague (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 9) (+1)
9. F1 (PR: 6) (-3)
10. Wicked: For Good (PR: 10) (E)
Dropped Out:
Sentimental Value
Best Costume Design
Predicted Nominees:
1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)
2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)
3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)
4. Hamnet (PR: 5) (+1)
5. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 7) (+1)
7. Ann Lee (PR: 6) (-1)
8. Hedda (PR: Not Ranked)
9. Snow White (PR: 9) (E)
10. Mother Mary (PR: 8) (-2)
Dropped Out:
One Battle After Another
Best Film Editing
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)
2. Sentimental Value (PR: 3) (+1)
3. Marty Supreme (PR: 2) (-1)
4. After the Hunt (PR: 6) (+2)
5. Bugonia (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Wicked: For Good (PR: 7) (+1)
7. One Battle After Another (PR: 8) (+1)
8. F1 (PR: 5) (-3)
9. Jay Kelly (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Frankenstein (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
The Rivals of Amziah King
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. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 5) (E)
Other Possibilities:
6. Untitled Christy Martin Biopic (PR: 8) (+2)
7. Mother Mary (PR: Not Ranked)
8. 28 Years Later (PR: 6) (-2)
9. Marty Supreme (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Wolf Man (PR: 10) (E)
Dropped Out:
Bugonia
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Best Original Score
Predicted Nominees:
1. Sinners (PR: 1) (E)
2. Frankenstein (PR: 4) (+2)
3. After the Hunt (PR: 3) (E)
4. Bugonia (PR: 2) (-2)
5. One Battle After Another (PR: 6) (+1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Wicked: For Good (PR: 5) (-1)
7. Sentimental Value (PR: 8) (+1)
8. Jay Kelly (PR: Not Ranked)
9. F1 (PR: 7) (-2)
10. Marty Supreme (PR: 10) (E)
Dropped Out:
The Rivals of Amziah King
Best Original Song
Predicted Nominees:
1. TBD from Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)
2. “I Lied to You” from Sinners (PR: 2) (E)
3. “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (PR: 3) (E)
4. TBD from Zootopia 2 (PR: 5) (+1)
5. TBD from Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. TBD from Wicked: For Good (2nd song) (PR: 6) (E)
7. “Golden” from KPOP Demon Hunters (PR: Not Ranked)
8. “Relentless” from Diane Warren Relentless (PR: 7) (-1)
9. TBD from Mother Mary (PR: 10) (+1)
10. “Steve’s Lava Chicken” from A Minecraft Movie (PR: 9) (-1)
Dropped Out:
“Waiting on a Wish” from Snow White
Best Production Design
Predicted Nominees:
1. Wicked: For Good (PR: 1) (E)
2. Frankenstein (PR: 2) (E)
3. Sinners (PR: 3) (E)
4. Hamnet (PR: Not Ranked)
5. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Kiss of the Spider Woman (PR: 5) (-1)
7. One Battle After Another (PR: 7) (E)
8. Bugonia (PR: 6) (-2)
9. Ann Lee (PR: 10) (+1)
10. The Phoenician Scheme (PR: 9) (-1)
Dropped Out:
Marty Supreme
Best Sound
Predicted Nominees:
1. F1 (PR: 1) (E)
2. Wicked: For Good (PR: 3) (+1)
3. Sinners (PR: 2) (-1)
4. Avatar: Fire and Ash (PR: 4) (E)
5. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (PR: 6) (+1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Warfare (PR: 5) (-1)
7. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 7) (E)
8. Frankenstein (PR: 9) (+1)
9. Superman (PR: 10) (+1)
10. One Battle After Another (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Kiss of the Spider Woman
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. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (PR: 5) (+1)
5. Frankenstein (PR: 4) (-1)
Other Possibilities:
6. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (PR: 6) (E)
7. Tron: Ares (PR: 9) (+2)
8. How to Train Your Dragon (PR: 8) (E)
9. F1 (PR: 7) (-2)
10. Mickey 17 (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Sinners
And that works out to these movies generating these numbers in terms of nominations:
14 Nomnations
Sinners
10 Nominations
Sentimental Value, Wicked: For Good
8 Nominations
After the Hunt, Frankenstein
7 Nominations
Marty Supreme
6 Nominations
Bugonia
5 Nominations
Hamnet
4 Nominations
Jay Kelly, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
3 Nominations
Avatar: Fire and Ash, It Was Just an Accident
2 Nominatons
Kiss of the Spider Woman, No Other Choice, One Battle After Another, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Zootopia 2
1 Nomination
2000 Meters to Andrivka, Ann Lee, Arco, Cutting Through Rocks, Diane Warren: Relentless, Elio, F1, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, In Your Dreams, A Magnificent Life, Mr. Nobody Against Putin, The Perfect Neighbor, The President’s Cake, The Rivals of Amziah King, The Secret Agent, Seeds, The Smashing Machine. Superman
Ari Aster’s fourth feature Eddington hits screens July 18th after a May premiere at Cannes. The small town set satire takes place during the height of COVID with Joaquin Phoenix (who starred in Aster’s predecessor Beau is Afraid) and the suddenly everywhere Pedro Pascal headlining. Other cast members include Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone.
Reviews from the French fest were mixed with 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 64 Metacritic. That buzz zapped any awards chatter for the A24 feature. This has the appearance of an autumn release trapped in midsummer and I am doubtful that adult crowds will turn up. For one thing, audiences might be hesitant to relive the lockdown days of a half decade ago. If this gets over $5 million, I’d be surprised.
Eddington opening weekend prediction: $3.4 million
For my I Know What You Did Last Summer prediction, click here:
Apocalypse in the Tropics first screened last August in Venice before the playing the fest circuit over the fall. From Petra Costa, whose 2019 predecessor The Edge of Democracy was an Oscar nominee for Documentary Feature, the political doc about the rise of Brazilian President Bolsonaro is out in limited fashion this weekend. A Netflix bow follows on Monday, July 14th.
I would anticipate the streamer will mount a serious campaign for Costa’s work to generate her a second nomination. The Rotten Tomatoes rating is 94% with a 79 on Metacritic. That’s certainly strong enough to keep Apocalypse in mind for your forecasts over the coming months. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…
Paramount Animation hopes that Smurfs works for family audiences when it debuts July 18th. Based originally on a Belgian comic book series that turned into 1980s Saturday morning cartoon, Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots maker Chris Miller directs. Rihanna leads the voice cast as Smurfette. Others behind the mic include James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Sinter, Maya Erskine, Kurt Russell, and John Goodman.
The musical comedy hopes to reinvigorate a series that saw diminishing returns for the blue characters on the silver screen. 2011’s The Smurfs blended live-action with animation to terrific results with a $35 million opening and $142 million domestic haul. The 2013 follow-up essentially cut those earnings in half with an $18 million start and $71 million stateside. Smurfs: The Lost Village in 2017 was fully animated and totally underwhelming with $13 million out of the gate and $45 million overall.
Taking over distribution rights from Sony, Paramount is banking on Rihanna and nostalgia for this to land. That could be a challenge as younger viewers have had options this summer and the IP may not be one they’re even that familiar with.
Indications are that this might be lucky to match even the lowly Village numbers. That could mean just surpassing double digits or low teens.
Smurfs opening weekend prediction: $12.4 million
For my I Know What You Did Last Summer prediction, click here:
Sony hopes horror fans get hooked on the nostalgic scares of I Know What You Did Last Summer on July 18th. It restarts the late 90s franchise that capitalized on Kevin Williamson’s notoriety from Scream (he penned both). Jennifer Kaytin Robinson directs with Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Winters, Sarah Pidgeon, and Billy Campbell among the cast. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprise their roles from the features over a quarter century ago.
The teen centric slasher from 1997 was a financial success ($72 million domestically) while 1998 follow-up I Still Know What You Did Last Summer couldn’t measure up with $40 million stateside. This series may not hold the same reverence that Scream does among genre fans. Name brand familiarity could still mean decent grosses.
Tracking has this pegged in the mid to late teens. I think it could go higher in the low 20s, but I’ll go with the expectations.
I Know What You Did Last Summer opening weekend prediction: $17.7 million
It was exclusively revealed today by The Hollywood Reporter that My Mom Jayne is eligible for Oscar consideration in the Documentary Feature competition. Marking the directorial debut of Mariska Hargitay (of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fame), the actress explores the life of her mother who passed away when she was just three years old. That mom would be Hollywood starlet Jayne Mansfield.
The doc premiered at Cannes and was released on Max (or HBO Max or whatever they’re calling it this week) in late June. The Reporter‘s reporting reveals that it was given a low-key theatrical run which puts it in awards contention.
Reviews for Jayne give it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72 Metacritic. The article makes it clear that Hargitay and Max will give it a spirited campaign. That said, the doc branch at the Academy has been reluctant and arguably allergic to nominating works centered on notable celebs. Recent snubs include Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Val (focused on the late Val Kilmer), and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. And that’s just scratching the surface when it comes to omissions.
Therefore this faces an uphill climb to enter voter consciousness. We may find out just how effective Max is at campaigning. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…
James Gunn’s Superman reboot flies into theaters this weekend with a new franchise on the line for Warner Bros and high expectations. Davin Corenswet plays the title character with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult portraying Lex Luthor. Other costars include Edi Gathergi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, Wendell Pierce, and Skyler Gisondo.
It arrives 47 years after the Christopher Reeve saga, which won a special award for its Visual Effects and was also up for its editing and classic score from John Williams. Three sequels failed to generate any nominations. 2006 reboot Superman Returns was up for its visuals, falling short to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The Zack Snyder Supes flicks (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) did not factor into the Oscar mix.
Will Gunn’s take on the icon generate awards chatter? The Rotten Tomatoes meter is at 84% with 71 on Metacritic. Critics are all over the place on which cast members shine brightest (though there’s general agreement that Corenswet is strong). That said, above-the-line nods are a major long shot. Gunn is no stranger to the VE competition as all three of his MCU Guardians of the Galaxy features were nominated. This is where Superman has the strongest chance at a nod with Sound and Makeup & Hairstyling less probable. I don’t think inclusion in VE is automatic though don’t be surprised if it populates one of the five slots. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…
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