Tag: A24

2023 Oscar Predictions: November 18th Edition

It has been a lengthy three weeks since my last Oscar predictions and there’s developments to discuss. One of the final major awards puzzle pieces held its first screenings this week in The Color Purple. The musical based on the play that is based on the movie that is based on the novel has drawn encouraging reactions thus far. In fact, they’re positive enough that I’m glad I’ve never dropped it from my ten BP nominees. And I suspect I’ve made the right call in keeping Danielle Brooks placed at #1 in Supporting Actress for quite some time. Same goes for Taraji P. Henson getting recognized in that category. I also think Fantasia Barrino’s lead performance is a decent (if not slam dunk pick) for the crowded Best Actress race and that Colman Domingo could materialize in Supporting Actor. He may miss the cut and get the sole nod in Actor for Rustin (though the double nominee threat is real). Barrino joins my projected quintet in Actress with Greta Lee (Past Lives) falling by the wayside.

A24 has also screened true life wrestling drama The Iron Claw before its December 22nd bow. Word-of-mouth is also strong for this one. Yet I wonder if A24 will go all in on their campaign. If so, a BP nod is not totally out of the question. It’s listed in my top 15, but at the moment I believe it’s on the outside looking in and I have it listed nowhere else as a possibility.

Napoleon falls out of BP contention due to mixed reaction as does Joaquin Phoenix in Best Actor. Ridley Scott’s epic could still show up in some tech races. Another Thanksgiving release lessened its chances this week in Disney’s Wish. The animated musical also is garnering so-so buzz. The fact that it’s a Mouse House production could mean it makes the Animated Feature cut. For now, it moves out of the high five.

While it has been a little while since my previous update, Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor have the same nominees (albeit with some movement in the rankings). In Actor, Colman Domingo as Rustin is back in over Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction). Sandra Hüller becomes my rare double contender prediction as I now have her in Supporting Actress (taking out Viola Davis in Air).

You can read all the movement below!

Best Picture

Predicted Nominees:

1. Oppenheimer (Previous Ranking: 1) (E)

2. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 2) (E)

3. Poor Things (PR: 3) (E)

4. Barbie (PR: 4) (E)

5. The Holdovers (PR: 6) (+1)

6. The Color Purple (PR: 8) (+2)

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

8. The Zone of Interest (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Past Lives (PR: 7) (-2)

10. American Fiction (PR: 10) (E)

Other Possibilities:

11. Anatomy of a Fall (PR: 11) (E)

12. Air (PR: 12) (E)

13. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PR: 14) (+1)

14. Saltburn (PR: 15) (+1)

15. The Iron Claw (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Napoleon

Best Director

Predicted Nominees:

1. Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 2) (E)

3. Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things (PR: 3) (E)

4. Greta Gerwig, Barbie (PR: 4) (E)

5. Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Alexander Payne, The Holdovers (PR: 6) (E)

7. Bradley Cooper, Maestro (PR: 8) (+1)

8. Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall (PR: 7) (-1)

9. Blitz Bazawule, The Color Purple (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Celine Song, Past Lives (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Emma Stone, Poor Things (PR: 1) (E)

2. Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 2) (E)

3. Carey Mulligan, Maestro (PR: 3) (E)

4. Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall (PR: 4) (E)

5. Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple (PR: 8) (+3)

Other Possibilities:

6. Margot Robbie, Barbie (PR: 6) (E)

7. Cailee Spaeny, Priscilla (PR: 7) (E)

8. Annette Bening, Nyad (PR: 9) (+1)

9. Greta Lee, Past Lives (PR: 5) (-4)

10. Natalie Portman, May December (PR: 10) (E)

Best Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Bradley Cooper, Maestro (PR: 1) (E)

2. Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer (PR: 2) (E)

3. Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 3) (E)

4. Colman Domingo, Rustin (PR: 6) (+2)

5. Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers (PR: 7) (E)

8. Barry Keoghan, Saltburn (PR: 8) (E)

9. Teo Yoo, Past Lives (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Koji Yakusho, Perfect Days (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Joaquin Phoenix, Napoleon

Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Nominees:

1. Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple (PR: 1) (E)

2. Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers (PR: 2) (E)

3. Taraji P. Henson, The Color Purple (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Sandra Hüller, The Zone of Interest (PR: 10) (+5)

Other Possibilities:

6. Jodie Foster, Nyad (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Julianne Moore, May December (PR: 7) (E)

8. Viola Davis, Air (PR: 5) (-3)

9. Penelope Cruz, Ferrari (PR: 6) (-3)

10. Rachel McAdams, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Nominees:

1. Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. Ryan Gosling, Barbie (PR: 2) (E)

3. Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 3) (E)

4. Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things (PR: 4) (E)

5. Charles Melton, May December (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Colman Domingo, The Color Purple (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Willem Dafoe, Poor Things (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers (PR: 7) (-1)

9. John Magaro, Past Lives (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Glenn Howerton, BlackBerry (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. Barbie (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Holdovers (PR: 2) (E)

3. Past Lives (PR: 3) (E)

4. Anatomy of a Fall (PR: 4) (E)

5. May December (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Maestro (PR: 6) (E)

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

8. Saltburn (PR: 8) (E)

9. Fair Play (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Asteroid City (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Nominees:

1. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 1) (E)

2. Poor Things (PR: 2) (E)

3. Oppenheimer (PR: 3) (E)

4. American Fiction (PR: 4) (E)

5. The Zone of Interest (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. All of Us Strangers (PR: 5) (-1)

7. The Color Purple (PR: 7) (E)

8. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (PR: 9) (+1)

9. The Taste of Things (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Priscilla

Best International Feature Film

Predicted Nominees:

1. The Zone of Interest (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Taste of Things (PR: 2) (E)

3. Perfect Days (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Teachers’ Lounge (PR: 4) (E)

5. Fallen Leaves (PR: 5 (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Society of the Snow (PR: 6) (E)

7. About Dry Grasses (PR: 7) (E)

8. The Promised Land (PR: 9) (+1)

9. The Monk and the Gun (PR: 10) (+1)

10. The Peasants (PR: 8) (-2)

Best Animated Feature Film

Predicted Nominees:

1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Boy and the Heron (PR: 2) (E)

3. Elemental (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Peasants (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Nimona (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PR: 7) (+1)

7. Wish (PR: 4) (-3)

8. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (PR: 8) (E)

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

10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Documentary Feature

Predicted Nominees:

1. Beyond Utopia (PR: 1) (E)

2. 20 Days in Mariupol (PR: 2) (E)

3. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie (PR: 6) (+3)

4. Four Daughters (PR: 8) (+4)

5. Stamped from the Beginning (PR: 3) (-2)

Other Possibilities:

6. American Symphony (PR: 4) (-2)

7. The Eternal Memory (PR: 5) (-2)

8. The Deepest Breath (PR: 10) (+2)

9. Our Body (PR: Not Ranked)

10. The Mother of All Lies (PR: 9) (-1)

Dropped Out:

Orlando, My Political Biography

Best Cinematography

Predicted Nominees:

1. Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 3) (+1)

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

4. Poor Things (PR: 2) (-2)

5. The Color Purple (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. The Zone of Interest (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Saltburn (PR: 10) (+3)

8. Napoleon (PR: 6) (-2)

9. The Killer (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Barbie (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

Asteroid City

Best Costume Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Poor Things (PR: 1) (E)

2. Barbie (PR: 2) (E)

3. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 4) (+1)

4. The Color Purple (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Priscilla (PR: 10) (+5)

Other Possibilities:

6. Napoleon (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Chevalier (PR: 7) (E)

8. Oppenheimer (PR: 6) (-2)

9. Asteroid City (PR: 9) (E)

10. Wonka (PR: 8) (-2)

Best Film Editing

Predicted Nominees:

1. Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 2) (E)

3. Poor Things (PR: 3) (E)

4. The Holdovers (PR: 5) (+1)

5. Air (PR: 8) (+3)

Other Possibilities:

6. Maestro (PR: 4) (-2)

7. Barbie (PR: 6) (-1)

8. The Color Purple (PR: 9) (+1)

9. The Killer (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Past Lives (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

The Zone of Interest

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Predicted Nominees:

1. Maestro (PR: 1) (E)

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (PR: 3) (+1)

3. Poor Things (PR: 2) (-1)

4. Barbie (PR: 4) (E)

5. Priscilla (PR: 6) (+1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 8) (+2)

7. Nyad (PR: 10) (+3)

8. Oppenheimer (PR: 9) (+1)

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

10. The Color Purple (PR: 5) (-5)

Best Original Score

Predicted Nominees:

1. Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 2) (E)

3. Poor Things (PR: 4) (+1)

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

5. Past Lives (PR: 5) (E)

Other Possibilities:

6. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PR: 10) (+4)

7. The Zone of Interest (PR: 6) (-1)

8. The Killer (PR: 9) (+1)

9. The Boy and the Heron (PR: Not Ranked)

10. Carmen (PR: 7) (-3)

Dropped Out:

Asteroid City

Best Original Song

Predicted Nominees:

1. “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie (PR: 2) (+1)

2. “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (PR: 4) (+2)

3. “Road to Freedom” from Rustin (PR: 5) (+2)

4. “Quiet Eyes” from Past Lives (PR: 6) (+2)

5. “Keep It Movin” from The Color Purple (PR: 1) (-4) – **previously listed at #1 as TBD song

Other Possibilities:

6. “Gonna Be You” from 80 for Brady (PR: 9) (+3)

7. “This Wish” from Wish (PR: 3) (-4)

8. “Joan Still” from Theater Camp (PR: 7) (-1)

9. “Dance the Night” from Barbie (PR: 8) (-1)

10. “Meet in the Middle” from Flora and Son (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

“Steal the Show” from Elemental

Best Production Design

Predicted Nominees:

1. Barbie (PR: 2) (+1)

2. Poor Things (PR: 1) (-1)

3. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 3) (E)

4. Napoleon (PR: 7) (+3)

5. The Color Purple (PR: 4) (-1)

Other Possibilities:

6. Asteroid City (PR: 5) (-1)

7. Oppenheimer (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Maestro (PR: 8) (E)

9. The Zone of Interest (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Saltburn (PR: 9) (-1)

Best Sound

Predicted Nominees:

1. Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Color Purple (PR: 4) (+2)

3. Maestro (PR: 7) (+4)

4. The Killer (PR: 9) (+5)

5. Ferrari (PR: 3) (-2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Napoleon (PR: 2) (-4)

7. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 6) (-1)

8. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (PR: 5) (-3)

9. The Zone of Interest (PR: 8) (-1)

10. Barbie (PR: Not Ranked)

Dropped Out:

The Creator

Best Visual Effects

Predicted Nominees:

1. Oppenheimer (PR: 1) (E)

2. The Creator (PR: 2) (E)

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (PR: 4) (+1)

4. Poor Things (PR: 3) (-1)

5. Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (PR: 7) (+2)

Other Possibilities:

6. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (PR: 6) (E)

7. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (PR: 8) (+1)

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

9. Killers of the Flower Moon (PR: 10) (+1)

10. Wonka (PR: 9) (-1)

That adds up to these pictures generating these numbers of nominations:

12 Nominations

Poor Things

11 Nominations

Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer

9 Nominations

Barbie, The Color Purple

6 Nominations

Maestro

5 Nominations

The Holdovers, The Zone of Interest

4 Nominations

Past Lives

2 Nominations

American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Elemental, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, May December, Priscilla, Rustin

1 Nomination

20 Days in Mariupol, Air, Beyond Utopia, The Boy and the Heron, The Creator, Fallen Leaves, Ferrari, Four Daughters, The Killer, Napoleon, Nimona, The Peasants, Perfect Days, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Stamped from the Beginning, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, The Teachers’ Lounge

Priscilla Box Office Prediction

Two months after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Priscilla rolls out in wide release on November 3rd. Based on her mid-80s memoir, the biopic of Priscilla Presley stars Cailee Spaeny in the title role with Jacob Elordi as Elvis. Sofia Coppola directs.

Reviews have been satisfactory with a 94% Rotten Tomatoes rating. While Spaeny could contend at the Oscars in Best Actress (though it’s a crowded field), this has not generated much awards buzz outside of that. The A24 title is out in limited fashion October 27th. While it might play decently on the coasts, I suspect there’s not much demand across the country.

Part of its diminished prospects could be attributed to Elvis, Baz Luhrmann’s flashy biopic which rocked the box office in the summer of 2022. It picked up 8 Academy nominations as well.

If this were to manage high single digits, A24 should consider that a success. I am skeptical about that and I question whether it even gets to $5 million.

Priscilla opening weekend prediction: $3.9 million

For my What Happens Later prediction, click here:

What Happens Later Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions – Dicks: The Musical

Dicks: The Musical was unveiled at midnight screenings during the Toronto Film Festival last month. The outrageous comedy is based on an off-Broadway play with a more risqué title from Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. They headline the cast along with Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Bowen Yang, and Megan Thee Stallion. Larry Charles, collaborator with Sacha Baron Cohen on Borat and Brüno, directs.

Opening in wider release tomorrow after a limited run on the coasts, it stands at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 74 reviews. This probably won’t even get in the mix for Musical/Comedy races at the Golden Globes. The one Academy prospect worth mentioning are the tunes. There are original tracks separate from the source material and distributor A24 is expected to tout them for contention. One being singled out by critics is “Out Alpha the Alpha” by Ms. Thee Stallion.

Funny R-rated songs rarely make the cut with awards voters. 1999’s “Blame Canada” from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is an outlier. I wouldn’t count on the raunchy ditties making enough ballots. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

August 4-6 Box Office Predictions

Pizza loving reptilian crimefighters are back and a giant shark wreaks havoc on humans and animals (again) as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and Meg 2: The Trench open wide this week. You can peruse my detailed predictions posts on the newcomers here:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Box Office Prediction
Meg 2: The Trench Box Office Prediction

Turtles is getting the best reviews of any picture in the 30 year plus franchise as the animated reboot opens on Wednesday. With positive buzz and a healthy nostalgia factor, mid to high 30s over the traditional weekend and a five-day haul topping $50 million appears to be an achievable level of green.

The competition from Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo could hurt Meg 2 a tad. While the 2018 original premiered with $45 million, a mid 20s gross might be all that the sequel bites off.

This means the newbies may lag behind Barbie (for Turtles) and Oppenheimer (for Trench). Greta Gerwig’s take on the iconic doll should easily spend a third weekend atop the charts after a magnificent sophomore hold (more on that below). Oppenheimer could approach nearly $30 million in its third go-round.

Following a lackluster start, Disney’s Haunted Mansion should see a dip of at least 50% for fifth place.

Here’s how I see the pieces falling into place:

1. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $60.4 million

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Predicted Gross: $36.1 million (Friday to Sunday); $51.2 million (Wednesday to Sunday)

3. Oppenheimer

Predicted Gross: $29.3 million

4. Meg 2: The Trench

Predicted Gross: $24.5 million

5. Haunted Mansion

Predicted Gross: $11.4 million

Box Office Results (July 28-30)

As mentioned, Barbie was nothing to toy with in its second outing as the phenomenon made off with $93 million (ahead of my $82.6 million prediction). That’s the seventh largest sophomore weekend in box office history between The Avengers and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. My estimate above, incidentally, gives it the seventh best third frame.

Barbie only fell 43% and the same was true for Oppenheimer in second. Christopher Nolan’s Oscar contender took in $46.7 million, reaching a bit higher than my $43.8 million take. The three hour biopic has amassed $174 million thus far.

The Mouse House had another disappointment with Haunted Mansion. With mediocre reviews and scant chatter, the family fright flick was third with $24 million compared to my slightly better $25.4 million projection. Look for it to fade quickly.

Sound of Freedom was fourth with $12.8 million (I said $14.7 million) as the season’s sleeper hit is up to $149 million.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One rounded out the top five with $10.6 million. My call? $10.6 million! In three weeks, the Tom Cruise sequel has underwhelmed with $139 million.

Finally, A24’s acclaimed low-budget horror pic Talk to Me was a robust sixth with $10.4 million. That’s well beyond my meager guesstimate of $3.6 million. Lesson learned – bet the over on this genre.

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

July 28-30 Box Office Predictions

Blogger’s Update (07/26): A rather low reported 1900 screen count for Talk to Me has lowered my estimate from $4.8 million to $3.6 million. That likely leaves it outside of the top six.

After a historic box office weekend, July closes out with a pair of new releases in Disney’s Haunted Mansion and A24’s critically acclaimed Talk to Me. Neither are likely to dislodge the potent 1-2 punch of Barbenheimer. My detailed prediction posts on the newbies are here:

Haunted Mansion Box Office Prediction
Talk to Me Box Office Prediction

I don’t really see audiences clamoring for a fresh spin on Haunted Mansion (nearly 20 years after the one with Eddie Murphy) and buzz seems light. Family crowds should get it to a ho-hum mid 20s gross and that would place it in third.

Even if it made $30-35 million, that wouldn’t mean top two. Those spots are reserved for Barbie and Oppenheimer after their amazing starts (more on that below). The question is how far each dips in weekend #2.

For Barbie, the event status that it took on makes it somewhat naturally front loaded. A worst case decline might be around 55-60%. Considering the A Cinemascore grade and chance for repeat business, I’ll say 45-50% is more feasible and that means low to possibly mid 80s.

Oppenheimer also nabbed an A Cinemascore grade and perhaps some adult viewers are content for the IMAX screenings to be a bit less packed. I’ll say it doesn’t quite fall 50% with a take of over $40 million.

Sound of Freedom should continue its meager percentage decreases while Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One hopes to right the ship after a turbulent two weeks. They should place fourth and fifth, respectively.

While Talk to Me is generating impressive reviews, this could be the type of A24 elevated horror experience that doesn’t bring genre fans out in droves. A lot of them just got their fright fix with Insidious: The Red Door as well.

And with that, here’s how I see the top 6 playing out:

1. Barbie

Predicted Gross: $82.6 million

2. Oppenheimer

Predicted Gross: $43.8 million

3. Haunted Mansion

Predicted Gross: $25.4 million

4. Sound of Freedom

Predicted Gross: $14.7 million

5. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Predicted Gross: $10.6 million

Box Office Results (July 21-23)

Racking up the fourth highest financial frame in history, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer gave us the best weekend in over four years.

Barbie captured the zeitgeist and an especially sizable female audience to the tune of $162 million, right on pace with my $160.8 million prediction. That’s the best three-day opening of 2023 and my hunch is that it will remain so. It’s also the #1 premiere for a female directed feature and 20th overall.

Oppenheimer gave Mr. Nolan his personal best third start (after The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight). Blasting beyond my $65.3 million estimate, the three-hour Oscar contender amassed $82.4 million for an astonishing runner-up showing. Those packed IMAX screenings didn’t hurt.

Sound of Freedom was third as it continued its low declines with $19.8 million, just below my $21 million projection. The brilliantly marketed action thriller sits at $124 million.

And this is where the good news stops. Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning, after a less than expected opening, had a free fall from 1st to 4th. The Barbenheimer phenomenon helped it plummet 65% to $19.3 million compared to my $25.5 million call. The ten-day tally is $118 million.

Indiana Jones and the Dial Destiny and Insidious: The Red Door were fifth and sixth, respectively. Each made $6.6 million. Indy‘s four-week earnings are at $158 million while Insidious‘s three-week bounty is $71 million.

I incorrectly had Elemental in fifth, but it was seventh with $5.7 million (I said $6.7 million) for $137 million overall.

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

Talk to Me Box Office Prediction

Blogger’s Update (07/26): A reported screen count of 1900 has warranted lowering my prediction from $4.8 million to $3.6 million

After debuting at Sundance back in January, Australian horror flick Talk to Me reaches stateside theaters on July 28th. Marking the directorial of debut for brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, Sophie Wilde stars with a supporting cast including Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, and Zoe Terakes.

Encouraging chatter for Talk emerged from Utah early this year. The Rotten Tomatoes score is 96%. Following its premiere, a bidding war occurred with A24 securing distribution rights for the low-budget (a reported $4.5 million price tag) fright fest.

That said, this runs the risk of being the kind of elevated horror experience that critics dig more than audiences. I have yet to see a theater count so my projection could change once I do. For now, I think it may open around the amount of its cost.

Talk to Me opening weekend prediction: $3.6 million

For my Haunted Mansion prediction, click here:

Haunted Mansion Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions: Occupied City

Steve McQueen’s Occupied City, based on buzz out of Cannes, may not be the best documentary we’ll see in 2023. It certainly sounds like it’s the most documentary. Clocking in at about four and a half hours, it tells dual stories of Amsterdam from its Nazi occupation in WWII and its last few years during the pandemic.

A decade ago, the filmmaker’s 12 Years a Slave was crowned Best Picture (while McQueen himself lost the directorial race to Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity). His lone theatrical follow-up is 2018’s Widows. McQueen’s anthology series Small Axe from 2020 was critically heralded on the small screen and the historical drama Blitz with Saorise Ronan is on the way.

The plaudits for his body of work hasn’t fully extended to City. The Rotten Tomatoes meter early on is 67%. A common complaint is its length and stodginess. I don’t see this occupying one of the five spots in Documentary Feature a few months down the road. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Beau Is Afraid Box Office Prediction

After a sizzling limited release last weekend, Ari Aster’s Beau Is Afraid expands to just under 1000 screens this Friday. A mix of many genres from the director known for horror pics Hereditary and Midsommar, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a paranoid man on odyssey while dealing with severe mommy issues. Costars include Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Amy Rogers, Kylie Rogers, Parker Posey, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Michael Gandolfini, Zoe Lister-Jones, and Richard Kind.

Some critics have been quite kind and it sits at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes. Others have called the three-hour opus a slog and predicted that general audiences are likely to have strong negative feelings. Beau scored $320,000 on just four screens days ago for a per theater average of $80k. It’s not surprising that it performed splendidly in NY/LA.

Beau faces more challenging prospects as it plays between the coasts. While it will probably have the third best screen average behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Evil Dead Rise (though the average could top that one), a gross between $4-5 million is likely.

Beau Is Afraid expanded opening weekend prediction: $4.4 million

For my Evil Dead Rise prediction, click here:

Evil Dead Rise Box Office Prediction

For my Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant prediction, click here:

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions: Beau Is Afraid

A24 just hit the Oscar jackpot with Everything Everywhere All at Once and they have another multi-genre family opus opening in limited release this Friday. Beau Is Afraid is the third feature from writer/director Ari Aster behind acclaimed scary flicks Hereditary and Midsommar. With a $35 million budget, this is the biggest budget yet for the distributor. The three hour episodic mix of mommy issues, satire, and horror is headlined by Joaquin Phoenix with a supporting cast including stage legend Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Kylie Rogers, Parker Posey, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Hayley Squires, Michael Gandolfini, Zoe Lister-Jones, and Richard Kind.

The review embargo has just lifted and the reactions are all over the place. A 75% Rotten Tomatoes score is the number at this early stage. There are some recurring thoughts among the write-ups. One is that Aster takes gigantic swings. Some pay off. Some don’t. Another is that he’s perhaps given too much freedom this time and that the runtime is exceedingly long. There are comparisons to Charlie Kaufman and numerous mentions of Freud. You also get the impression that plenty of moviegoers will strongly dislike it. The word unhinged pops up in more than one synopsis.

It could be telling that Beau skipped the film festival circuit and opted for this spring release. A24 might suspect they don’t have an awards player (though you could correctly point out that Everything Everywhere came out around the same time). That said, they might opt to throw their serious campaigning behind the upcoming Past Lives (which drew raves at Sundance). While Phoenix is drawing praise for his performance, it could be a tall order for him to nab a Best Actor nod. Perhaps this fall’s Napoleon gives him a better shot. Some critics have singled out LuPone, but apparently her actual screen time is limited.

Beau will undoubtedly have its ardent supporters and fierce detractors. That could be a mix that doesn’t result in significant Oscar buzz. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Past Lives

Past Lives is the debut feature film from Celine Song and it premiered at Sundance over the weekend to a rapturous reception. The romantic drama stars Greta Lee and Teo Yoo with critics praising their work in the A24 effort.

Some reviews are already claiming it will end up as one of 2023’s finest and the Rotten Tomatoes score is 100%. Its studio may choose to kick off a Minari or Everything Everywhere All at Once style campaign (both were and/or are nominated for Best Picture).

Sundance brought to light the possibility of Past Lives being a legit awards player even this early in the process. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…