Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: MortalEngines.com
Distributor: Universal
Release Date: December 14th, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of futuristic violence and action.
Source: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre: Action
Keywords: Post Apocalypse, Exile, Revenge, Young Child Dealing with the Death of a Parent, Steampunk, London
Directed By: Christian Rivers
Written By: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Philip Reeve
Starring: Robert Sheehan, Hera Hilmar
Production Budget: Reported at $100 million
Box Office Potential: $55 million

This film is based on the first book in the Mortal Engines book series. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the cities of most of the world travel on massive wheels where they try to capture and eat other cities. The film does look epic, but the buzz is way too quiet to expect the film to do major business at the box office. It could be the smallest wide release of the week and the direct competition only grows stronger as the month continues.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: TheMuleFilm.net
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: December 14th, 2018
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout and brief sexuality/nudity.
Source: Based on Factual Book/Article
Genre: Action
Keywords: Directing Yourself, Drug Cartels, Smuggler, DEA Agent, Narcotics, Autumn Years
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
Written By: Nick Schenk, Sam Dolnick
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $40 million to $60 million
Box Office Potential: $60 million

Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this movie, which is based on the real life events surrounding an 80-year old man who was recruited to become a drug mule. The film is earning some Awards Season buzz, but there are no reviews to judge its chances. If it is only good, then it will likely struggle to hit $50 million at the box office. If it turns out to be a major Awards Season winner, then it could get to $100 million, after a boost from its Oscar wins. The above figure is a weighted average of those two extremes.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: IntoTheSpiderverse.movie
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Release Date: December 14th, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG for frenetic sequences of animated action violence, thematic elements, and mild language.
Source: Based on Comic/Graphic Novel
Genre: Adventure
Keywords: Alternative Dimensions / Parallel universe, Animal Lead, Talking Animals, Orphan, Film Noir, Anime
Directed By: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Written By: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli
Starring: Shameik Moore
Production Budget: Reported at $90 million
Box Office Potential: $125 million

I was not overly bullish about this film’s chances. It seems like a second-tier animated film, at least in terms of production budget and advertising push. Also, Sony Pictures hasn’t had a great year. Then about a month ago, the buzz started to grow and its box office potential started to grow with it. Then its reviews started to show up. At the moment, the film has 36 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and they are all positive. Not only are they all positive, the average score is 8.8 out of 10, which is award-worthy. I still don’t think the film will be a monster hit, but it has the potential to earn enough domestically to pay for its entire $90 million production budget.

Last Minute Update: The reviews continue to show up on Rotten Tomatoes and with 50 of then, the film’s Tomatometer Score is still 100% positive. Additionally, its average score actually went up to 9 out of 10. Finally, Sony is reportedly spending $115 million on advertising for this movie, so clearly they have high hopes for its box office chances.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: AquamanMovie.com
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: December 21st, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language.
Source: Based on Comic/Graphic Novel
Genre: Action
Keywords: 3-D, D.C. Comics, Underwater, Dysfunctional Family, Sibling Rivalry, Treasure Hunters
Directed By: James Wan
Written By: Will Beall, Kurt Johnstad, Mort Weisinger, Paul Norris, James Wan, Geoff Johns
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson
Production Budget: Reported at $160 million
Box Office Potential: $225 million

Aquaman is an awkward movie. It started its pre-production before Warner Bros. realized they needed to do something different with the D.C.E.U. This is not a good sign for the film’s box office chances. Furthermore, the film is coming out during a very, very busy weekend and there’s more or less direct competition with Bumblebee. That said, while there are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes at the moment, the buzz has improved dramatically. Warner Bros. has dropped the Grimdark mood and this is more playful and fun. This has helped its box office potential and it now has a good shot at topping Justice League at the box office and avoiding being the weakest installment in the D.C.E.U. I think it will come up just short, but it will do well enough to break even and convince WB this is the way to go, going forward.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: BumblebeeMovie.com
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: December 21st, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action violence.
Source: Based on Toy
Genre: Adventure
Keywords: 1980s, Robot, Friendly Alien on Earth, Alien Invasion, War
Directed By: Travis Knight
Written By: Christina Hodson
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena
Production Budget: Reported at $102 million
Box Office Potential: $150 million

Bumblebee is the latest installment in the Transformers franchise, a franchise that started out merely okay and quickly plummeted in quality. This didn’t hurt its box office numbers for a few installments, but audiences eventually abandoned the series. This film is a soft reboot of sorts. It is set in the 1980s and has a different tone. Early trailers have helped and while there are no reviews yet, the early buzz is actually good. Granted, the competition is intense and I am a little more bullish than most, but I think it will actually be a financial success, so much so that Paramount will continue with this continuity.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: Movies.Disney.com/Mary-Poppins-Returns
Distributor: Walt Disney
Release Date: December 19th, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild thematic elements and brief action.
Source: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre: Musical
Keywords: 1930s, Supernatural, Nanny, World War II, Delayed Sequel, Sequels Without Their Original Stars, Animated Sequences
Directed By: Rob Marshall
Written By: David Magee
Starring: Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Julie Walters
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $100 million
Box Office Potential: $295 million

Emily Blunt plays Mary Poppins in this sequel, which is coming out 54 years after the original. As for its box office chances... it’s a Disney film opening the week before Christmas. Even the low end of expectations has it cruising past $250 million, while it has about a 50/50 chance of hitting $300 million domestically. I don’t think it will get there, but I’m also not willing to bet against it.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: SecondAct.movie
Distributor: STX Entertainment
Release Date: December 21st, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some crude sexual references, and language
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Comedy
Keywords: False Identity, Mid-Life Crisis
Directed By: Peter Segal
Written By: Justin Zackham, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas
Starring: Jennifer Lopez
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $30 million to $40 million
Box Office Potential: $35 million

Jennifer Lopez plays a middle-aged woman, who works in an unfulfilling job at a big box store. She gets the opportunity at her dream job, when one of her friends changed her resume and builds her a false online identity.

There are seven films opening within a seven-day period. Second Act is the smallest of those seven. It’s so small in terms of buzz, that the two Oscar-bait movies will likely beat it at the box office, even if they don’t earn significant Awards Season success. On the other hand, Second Act has no direct competition, as it is the only comedy aimed at women, so that could help it out.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: WelcomeToMarwen.com
Distributor: Universal
Release Date: December 21st, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence, some disturbing images, brief suggestive content, thematic material and language.
Source: Based on Factual Book/Article
Genre: Drama
Keywords: Neo Nazis, LGBT, 2000s, Medical and Hospitals, Rehab / Former Addict, Living Toys, Fantasy Sequence, World War II, Nazis, Hate Crime
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
Written By: Caroline Thompson, Robert Zemeckis, Jeff Malmberg
Starring: Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $50 million to $70 million
Box Office Potential: $55 million

This film is based on a real life story that was previously turned into a documentary, Marwencol. It is directed by Robert Zemeckis, who previously directed The Walk, which was also based on real life events that were previously turned into a documentary. That film cost nearly $100 million to make and struggled at the box office. This film hopefully cost significantly less, while it will hopefully make a whole lot more at the box office. It is earning some level of Awards Season buzz, which should help draw in some viewers. On the other hand, there is just so much competition, it could get buried.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: HolmesAndWatson.movie
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Release Date: December 25th, 2018
MPAA Rating:
Source: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre: Comedy
Keywords: 1890s, Woman in a Male Dominated Profession, Private Investigator, Royalty, Assassination
Directed By: Etan Cohen
Written By: Etan Cohen
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $40 million to $50 million
Box Office Potential: $95 million

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson respectively in this comedy adaptation of the famous detectives. This isn’t the first time the pair of actors have worked together and their previous films both hit $100 million. I don’t think this one will quite get there, but it should be close.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: Vice.movie
Distributor: Annapurna Pictures
Release Date: December 25th, 2018
MPAA Rating: R for language and some violent images.
Source: Based on Real Life Events
Genre: Drama
Keywords: Biography, Politicians, 2000s
Directed By: Adam McKay
Written By: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale
Production Budget: $60 million
Box Office Potential: $55 million

Christian Bale plays Dick Cheney in this political biopic. It’s Oscar-bait, but while the buzz is good, there are still no reviews, so it is hard to judge if it will win over Oscar voters. If it can pick up a lot of major nominations, then it could last a long time in theaters and might even have a shot at $100 million, if it is a serious Best Picture contender. On the other hand, as long as it isn’t a critical misstep, it should at least become a midlevel hit.