Tag: Richard E. Grant

Wildwood Box Office Prediction

Stop-motion animated fantasy Wildwood is the latest effort for distributor Laika and their first this decade. Directed by Travis Knight, the voice cast includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant. Following its premiere at the London Film Festival, it hits domestic screens on October 23rd.

Critics are on it side and it could be a frontrunner for Best Animated Feature prize at the Oscars. Rotten Tomatoes is at 100% with 86 on Metacritic. Laika’s projects are typically acclaimed and all five previous features have been Academy nominated in its genre category. That hasn’t always translated to box office dollars stateside.

In 2016, Kubo and the Two Strings (also directed by Knight) debuted with $12.6 million and that’s under what predecessors Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls started off with. That trio all premiered between $14-17 million. The last Laika tale, 2019’s Missing Link, was a major commercial failure with $5.9 million out of the gate.

I’m expecting Wildwood to do better, but not much better.

Wildwood opening weekend prediction: $7.2 million

For my Clayface prediction, click here:

Clayface Box Office Prediction

For my Klara and the Sun prediction, click here:

Klara and the Sun Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions: Wildwood

Stop-motion indie animation studio Laika is 5 for 5 when it comes to nominations for Best Animated Feature and 0 for 5 in podium trips. Each time they have lost to Disney. In 2009, Laika’s inaugural project Coraline went down to Up. Three years later, ParaNorman fell short to Brave while 2014’s The Boxtrolls couldn’t beat out Big Hero 6. In 2016, Kubo and the Two Strings didn’t catch Zootopia. Missing Link in 2019 was an honorable mention to Toy Story 4.

That dynamic may finally change in 2026. Travis Knight, who directed Kubo, is back with the studio (months after the live-action Masters of the Universe debacle) via Wildwood. The dark fantasy, based on a 2011 novel, has premiered at the London Film Festival and arrives theatrically on October 23rd. Voiceover artists include Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.

For the last several weeks on the blog, I’ve had Wildwood listed at #1 in Animated Feature based mostly on hunch. There’s also the matter of Disney’s Toy Story 5 and Hoppers not seeming like win contenders. Early WOM from London encourages my notion. Rotten Tomatoes is at 100% with several reviews calling it Laika’s strongest entry thus far. I would be surprised if it didn’t remain my frontrunner in the animated field moving forward.

Can Wildwood branch out elsewhere? The short answer is yes. A solid campaign could open up Adapted Screenplay or Visual Effects. The score is being complimented and the Decemberists have an original song titled “The Better Part of Bravery”. I also could see this being a lone Animated Feature player and the first that gets past the Mouse House. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Savage House

Some reviews indicate that Claire Foy and Richard E. Grant might be having more fun than the audience will in Savage House. The 18th century set British black comedy is from writer/director Peter Glanz with a supporting cast including Kila Lord Cassidy, Bel Powley, and Jack Farthing. Out this weekend in limited fashion, the Paramount release was originally slated for late 2024.

With 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, most of the praise is going to Foy (never nominated for an Oscar) and Grant (a 2018 supporting contender for Can You Ever Forgive Me?). Yet the mixed reaction means the Academy is likely to ignore it unless the studio can manage noms that can greet this genre like Costume Design
(more likely) and Production Design (less). I wouldn’t bet on it and I doubt the Globes or BAFTAs take notice either. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: 100 Nights of Hero

Based on a 2016 graphic novel by Isabel Greenberg, the historical fantasy 100 Nights of Hero played the Venice Film Festival and closed London’s as it moves toward a December 5th domestic release. Julia Jackman directs and adapted the source material for the big screen with Emma Corrin, Nicholas Galitzine, Maika Monroe, Amir El-Masry, Charli XCX, Richard E. Grant, and Felicity Jones in the cast.

Many critics are appreciating what’s called a feminist fable to the tune of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic stands at 70 which illustrates the more measured tone of some reviews. IFC is distributing and they don’t exactly have a track record when it comes to awards campaigning. So while a down-the-line race like Production Design might be a possibility in the care of another studio, I don’t think Hero will be on the minds of voters. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Nuremberg

Prior to its November 7th stateside debut, Nuremberg has screened at the Toronto Film Festival. The historical drama is James Vanderbilt’s second directorial feature behind 2015’s so-so received Truth (he’s best known for his screenwriting including Zodiac, the two Amazing Spider-Man pics, the latest Scream entries and Abigail). Best Actor winners Russell Crowe (as Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring) and Rami Malek headline. Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Mark O’Brien, Colin Hanks, Richard E. Grant and Michael Shannon costar.

Reaction is in the mixed variety with 50% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 63 Metacritic. Despite decent ink for the cast, this is unlikely to generate any significant awards chatter for the Sony Pictures Classics release. 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…

Death of a Unicorn Review

Alex Scharfman’s Death of a Unicorn is the latest in a lengthy list of eat the rich pics over the past few years. This one is mixed with some centuries old European folklore pertaining to the title characters and Jenna Ortega bringing her mopey teen attitude inside its mansion walls. The auto accident that kicks off the multi-genre exercise should ensure more B-movie scares and humor. It’s curiously low on both and dodgy CGI doesn’t help. While not a complete wreck, it’s damaged goods.

Elliot (Paul Rudd) is a widowed attorney en route to the sprawling estate (doubling as a nature preserve) of his pharmaceutical empire boss Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant). Daughter Ridley (Ortega) is reluctantly along for the ride when they smash into a creature that sure seems like the mythical beast of legend. When Ridley touches the wounded creature’s horn, a connection is made before Dad tire irons the animal.

At the Leopolds, Elliot at first tries to conceal the roadkill in his hatchback and get down to business with Odell, wife Belinda (Téa Leoni), and clueless and hobby hopping son Shepard (a game Will Poulter). Yet the roadkill might not be actually killed and its elders lurk on the property grounds. Meanwhile Ridley googles the history of unicorn mythos and it indicates a violent near future. The Leopolds plot a way to increase their wealth despite the dangerous situation.

When the horn piercing bloodletting finally commences, Unicorn hadn’t yet added compelling ingredients to its menu of top 1% satire combined with a familiar daddy-daughter healing subplot. I was hoping the righteous kills from the otherworldly beings would bring the gory and guilty pleasures. Subpar visual effects tame those aspects. That leaves us with occasional laughs courtesy of Poulter and Anthony Carrigan’s unappreciated family butler. The overall results are served up in middling fashion.

** (out of four)

Death of a Unicorn Box Office Prediction

After being unveiled at South by Southwest earlier this month, A24’s Death of a Unicorn gallops into theaters March 28th. The latest chapter in the eat the rich comedy horror genre comes from writer/director Alex Scharfman with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega headlining. Costars include Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant.

Critical reaction is mixed with 63% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 56 Metacritic. Better reviews could’ve bolstered the buzz. A debut in the neighborhood of Abigail ($10.2 million) is certainly feasible. There is competition from The Woman in the Yard (a more serious scary offering) that could keep genre fans away. I’ll say Unicorn falls under $10 million unless Ortega’s Wednesday fans turn out in larger force than I’m anticipating.

Death of a Unicorn opening weekend prediction: $8.8 million

For my A Working Man prediction, click here:

A Working Man Box Office Prediction

For my The Woman in the Yard prediction, click here:

The Woman in the Yard Box Office Prediction

For my The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 1 prediction, click here:

The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 1 Box Office Prediction

Oscar Predictions: Death of a Unicorn

A24’s Death of a Unicorn has screened at South by Southwest prior to its March 28th theatrical premiere. The horror comedy from Alex Scharfman stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father-daughter who accidentally cause the title of the film to occur. This displeases another unicorn. The supporting cast includes Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, and Anthony Carrigan.

Early reviews are complimentary mixed with so-so notices. The Rotten Tomatoes score is 70% with Metacritic at 60. Unicorn represents the latest feature in a growing eat the rich sub genre that includes Triangle of Sadness, The Menu, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and Saltburn. Some of those titles received awards attention. Don’t expect Death to. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: Nightbitch

Like other prognosticators, the trailer for Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch tempered my expectations for its Oscar chances. Based on a 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, it stars six-time nominee Amy Adams as a stay-at-home who starts believing she’s a dog. The Fox Searchlight production costars Scott McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden, Zoë Chao, and Jessica Harper. It has premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and rolls out domestically December 6th.

The trailer was underwhelming. I have had Adams listed at #1 in my Actress possibilities for several weeks. After all, there’s an overdue factor at play too. Director Heller has seen her actors get nominated with Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Tom Hanks for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Yet the preview alone had me questioning whether or not to drop her from my projected quintet.

Buzz coming out of Toronto indicates displacing Adams from the #1 slot is definitely the right decision. Nightbitch is garnering mixed notices (69 on Metacritic). Some have said it is stronger than that trailer. Praise for Adams, though, is across the board. I suspect she could still make the final five in Actress and that would stand as its only nom (Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay seem unlikely).

Competition could be a hindrance for a seventh podium try. At best, Adams might be fourth or fifth in contention. She could also be sixth or seventh at press time. We’ll see how it shakes out in my next update. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…