Tag: Netflix

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Box Office Prediction

Based on the popular Netflix kids show that began in 2021, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie hopes to welcome family audiences beginning September 26th. The fantasy comedy mix of live-action and animation is directed by Ryan Crego with Laila Lockhart Kraner reprising her leading role from the series. Costars include Gloria Estefan, Ego Nwodim, Kyle Mooney, Melissa Villaseñor, Fortune Feimster, and Kristen Wiig (lots of SNL alum). Thomas Lennon and Jason Mantzoukas provide voice work contributions.

Dollhouse could benefit by catering to a young female audience and the lack of competition from kid centric features. The rosiest of projections have this approaching $30 million and that could put it in contention for 1st place over One Battle After Another. I doubt it gets that high and I’ll say high teens low 20s is the likelier scenario.

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie opening weekend prediction: $20.3 million

For my One Battle After Another prediction, click here:

One Battle After Another Box Office Prediction

For my The Strangers – Chapter 2 prediction, click here:

The Strangers – Chapter 2 Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions: Hedda

Based on the late 19th century play, Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) brings Hedda to the silver screen on October 22nd before its Amazon Prime debut a week later. The sultry drama stars Tessa Thompson in the title role with Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock, Kathryn Hunter and Nina Hoss in the supporting cast.

Its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival yielded raves for Thompson and Hoss in particular. Reviews of the pic itself were more measured. Rotten Tomatoes is at 85% with 62 on Metacritic. The awards path for Hedda might follow a similar road to Passing (2021). That Netflix drama had stronger critical buzz and there was Oscar chatter for Thompson in Actress and Ruth Negga in supporting. Expect the same for Thompson and Hoss, but I suspect they might not end up making the final cut. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Steve

As a teacher at a school for troubled youth, Cillian Murphy is the title character in Steve. It reunites the Oppenheimer Best Actor winner with the director of his previous effort – last year’s Small Things like These. The supporting ensemble includes Tracey Ullman, Jay Lycurgo, Simbi Ajikawo and Emily Watson. After a premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, it’s out in limited release September 19th before an October 3rd Netflix bow.

The streamer’s involvement should ensure plenty of views. With 70 on Metacritic and 65% on Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews probably aren’t strong enough to warrant a major awards push from Netflix. That’s despite some critics particularly championing Murphy and Lycurgo. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Rental Family

Three years after winning Best Actor for his performance in The Whale (capping a remarkable career comeback), Brendan Fraser could find himself in contention again courtesy of Rental Family. Directed by Hikari (best known for making episodes of the acclaimed Netflix series Beef), the Japan set dramedy has premiered at the Toronto Film Festival prior to its November 21st domestic bow. The supporting cast includes Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman and Akira Emoto.

Canadian reaction indicates this a crowdpleaser with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 72 Metacritic. This might be a trendy pick for the People’s Choice Award at TIFF which often correlates to a BP nod at the Academy Awards. Family could certainly snag one of the ten spots though I don’t see Hikari as a threat in director. His original screenplay with Stephen Blahut is more of a possibility.

In an Actor race that is starting to look crowded, Fraser will certainly be in the mix. In recent weeks, I have predicted Yamamoto in Supporting Actress and Emoto in Supporting Actor. Word-of-mouth suggests their inclusion (while not out of the question) could face tougher odds than Fraser (who I’ve yet to place in the Actor quintet). Let’s see if that changes in my next update that is coming soon. If his costars miss the cut, the new Casting race could be a place where this snags another mention. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

With Daniel Craig anchoring for the third time as eccentric sleuth Benoit Blanc, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery continues the mystery franchise. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival with a limited theatrical engagement slated for November 26th and Netflix release on December 12th. Rian Johnson returns as writer/director with the considerable supporting cast including Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.

2019’s Knives Out was up for Original Screenplay and 2022 follow-up Glass Onion vied for Adapted Screenplay. They respectively lost to Parasite and Women Talking. Several critics in Canada are making the case that Wake is the strongest overall of the three pictures. Rotten Tomatoes is at 92% with Metacritic at 82. It’s probably a safe bet that it’ll make the cut in Adapted Screenplay at the 98th ceremony. As for the cast, O’Connor and Close are being labeled as best in show. I’d say the latter, due to her infamous history of being nominated and not winning, stands a better chance with the Academy. Don’t be surprised if the sole nom for this is in its writing race.

The Golden Globes should should offer different opportunities. Both predecessors were nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy – with the original falling short to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Banshees of Inisherin taking the prize over Glass. Craig was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy for both. It was Taron Egerton (Rocketman) and Inisherin‘s Colin Farrell hearing their names called instead. I would suspect Craig will get in again (as will the film) and hope the third time is the charm. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: A House of Dynamite

Netflix will have some decisions to make when it comes to campaigning for their various entries at the 98th Academy Awards. As expected, Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite will be part of that process. The political thriller marks the director’s first effort behind the camera since 2017’s Detroit. While it didn’t generate any nominations eight years ago, her previous two (2009’s The Hurt Locker, 2012’s Zero Dark Thirty) scored a win and a nom, respectively, in Best Picture. For Locker, Bigelow became the first female to take the Best Director prize (two more have followed).

Dynamite premiered at Venice prior to its October 10th limited theatrical release and October 24th bow on the aforementioned streamer. The large ensemble cast includes Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, Kaitlyn Dever, and Jason Clarke.

Reviews indicate this a return to form for the filmmaker. Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic score are both 88 at press time. Best Picture and Director are certainly possibilities. As I mentioned, Netflix has some other potential Venice screening heavy hitters via Jay Kelly and Frankenstein.

The Hurt Locker‘s noms included Jeremy Renner in Actor while Jessica Chastain was up for Actress in Zero Dark Thirty. Word-of-mouth for Dynamite indicates unlikely possibilities for any of the cast. That said, the Academy could honor the whole group in the new Casting race. Other tech possibilities include Film Editing, Cinematography, Original Score and Sound. There’s a shot for Original Screenplay though that competition is already looking packed. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Ballad of a Small Player

Edward Berger’s last two features (2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front, last year’s Conclave) amassed a total of 17 nominations at the Oscars. The former won four including International Feature Film while the latter received Adapted Screenplay. So it’s no surprise that Ballad of a Small Player, his latest that premiered at Telluride, is automatically seen as a potential contender. Based on a 2014 novel by Lawrence Osborne, Colin Farrell stars as a degenerate gambler in the multi-genre affair. Costars include Fala Chen, Deanie Ip, Alex Jennings, and Tilda Swinton. There’s a limited release October 15th before a Netflix bow on October 29th.

While some praise is devoted to the look of Ballad, reaction out of Colorado is mixed and this is evidenced by the 51 Metacritic score. Rotten Tomatoes has yet to report based on 9 write-ups though 6 are fresh with 3 rotten. Reviews tend to agree that Farrell offers a memorable performance. Three years back, he received his first leading actor nod for The Banshees of Inisherin. His work may provide Player‘s one shot at Academy attention. Given the expected competition, I wouldn’t bet on it as Netflix may shift their focus elsewhere. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro’s previous three directorial efforts have either won Best Picture (2017’s The Shape of Water), been nominated for BP (2021’s Nightmare Alley), or won Best Animated Feature (Pinocchio). So it’s no surprise that his passion project – the filmmaker’s version of Frankenstein – is seen as a hopeful in numerous categories at the 98th Academy Awards. The two and a half hour gothic rendering of Mary Shelley’s novel has screened at Venice (with Toronto up next). It hits theaters October 17th in limited fashion before a Netflix streaming start on November 7th. Oscar Isaac is Dr. Frankenstein with Jacob Elordi as the Creature. Costars include Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christian Convery.

Reaction from Italy could be described as respectful for what del Toro has accomplished without being overzealous in the praise. Rotten Tomatoes is at 77% with Metacritic at 73. That’s in the neighborhood of where Nightmare Alley was and Netflix could pull off a BP nod if their campaign is well executed. Of the cast, only Elordi (in supporting) seems like a potential threat for inclusion. I wouldn’t count on del Toro’s direction or adapted screenplay being honored.

Where Frankenstein is expected to pop up is tech derbies like Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling (a shoo-in), Production Design (same), Sound, Visual Effects, and Alexandre Desplat’s score. This may not nab the monster haul of all those categories, but it should definitely be noticed in some. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Jay Kelly

Will Jay Kelly bring Noah Baumbach and George Clooney back in the Oscar mix and get Adam Sandler there for the first time? Out in limited release November 14th with a Netflix streaming debut on December 5th, the dramedy premiered at Venice. Baumbach shares screenplay duties with actress Emily Mortimer. In addition to the aforementioned leading men (with Clooney playing a giant movie star and Sandler as his manager), costars include Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Stacy Keach, and Jim Broadbent.

Some reviews are quite strong. However, Kelly is also drawing some mixed reactions out of Italy. Rotten Tomatoes is at 82% with Metacritic at 64. The latter is slightly alarming when it comes to Best Picture inclusion, but I could still see the Academy going for it.

Clooney is aiming for his fifth acting nod. He won his first nomination in supporting for Syriana. Word-of-mouth from Venice indicates he should be in contention again. Some write-ups are calling Sandler’s role on the thankless side. Yet others praise him enough that a Supporting Actor slot is in reach. The SNL alum likely came closest to an Oscar mention for 2019’s Uncut Gems.

Even if Kelly makes BP, I doubt Baumbach lands in the directorial quintet and even the screenplay could be questionable given the expected competition. Bottom line: Venice didn’t make this a slam dunk in any race, but it could still have an impressive showing. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Thursday Murder Club

Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire director Chris Columbus turns his attention to British crime in the comedy The Thursday Murder Club, debuting on Netflix this (you guessed it) Thursday after a limited theatrical engagement. A murderers row of thespians – Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley – headline. The supporting cast includes Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Richard E. Grant, Tom Ellis, Geoff Bell, Paul Freeman, and Sarah Niles.

A number of critics are claiming this is a fun enough mystery as evidenced by the 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic is more middling at 58. This won’t be detected by the Academy, but I could envision Netflix mounting a Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy campaign for Mirren. It would mark her 18th (!) overall Globe nod when counting TV performances. She has shown an ability to get mentioned in this particular race for lesser known titles such as Calendar Girls, The Hundred-Foot Journey, and The Leisure Seeker. In other words, I wouldn’t discount her chances. My Oscar (and Globe) prediction posts will continue…