Animal Farm Box Office Prediction

Unless I’m vastly underestimating the number of toddlers clamoring for George Orwell adaptations, Animal Farm could face a tough road when it opens May 1st. Based on the author’s 1945 dystopian fable, Andy Serkis directs the animated treatment with an all-star voice cast. That includes Seth Rogen, Gaten Matatrazzo, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Steve Buscemi, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner, Iman Vellani, and Serkis himself voicing multiple parts.

Precious dollars might be hard to secure. Angel Studios is handling distribution duties and their marketing footprint appears light. Buzz is also quiet and the mostly mediocre reviews (36% Rotten Tomatoes, 40 Metacritic) should give parents pause to take the kiddos. Add all that up and this Farm might yielded a return in the low single digits.

Animal Farm opening weekend prediction: $2.7 million

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Oscar Predictions: Animal Farm

Angel Studios is distributing Andy Serkis’s animated rendering of George Orwell’s novella Animal Farm, out May 1st. With a screenplay from Nicholas Stoller, the third cinematic adaptation of the source material boasts an impressive voice cast including Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Steve Buscemi, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner, Iman Vellani, and Mr. Serkis himself.

Reviews are not precious. The middling reaction is evidenced by the 36% Rotten Tomatoes score and 42 Metacritic. Those results make it clear that you shouldn’t bet that Farm will be a factor in the animated awards races months down the line. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Outcome

Outcome marks the second directorial feature from Jonah Hill. The dark comedy has premiered on Apple TV this weekend. Keanu Reeves headlines as an actor in hot water with Hill, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Cary Christopher, David Spade, Laverne Cox, Roy Wood Jr., Susan Lucci, and Martin Scorsese in the eclectic supporting cast.

Critical reaction indicates a sophomore slump for Hill. His behind the camera debut Mid90s (2018) received mostly positive notices. Rotten Tomatoes is 25% with a 37 on Metacritic. The fact that its review embargo didn’t lift until late this week now makes plenty of sense. We can be certain that awards chatter won’t be part of Outcome. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Watch: Promising Young Woman

Ahead of its April 17th stateside debut, the revenge thriller Promising Young Woman has screened at Sundance. The pic marks the directorial debut of Emerald Fennell and casts Carey Mulligan in the title role alongside a supporting cast including Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Adam Brody, Alfred Molina, Connie Britton, and Laverne Cox.

Early reviews are encouraging with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 96%. Some critical reaction is effusive enough to make one wonder if Mulligan could nab her second Oscar nod after 2009’s An Education. 

In order for that, Focus Features will need to launch an aggressive campaign to keep voters focused on her work in the months that follow. The Sundance buzz, at least, is somewhat promising. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…