Limited and VOD Releases: Which Limited Releases Will Crack the Case of the Box Office?
March 15, 2019
It’s a good week for limited releases with a lot of different films. This includes some made for mainstream appeal (Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase and No Manches Frida 2) as well as more art house fair (The Mustang and Starfish). There are even some documentaries (Combat Obscura and The Eyes of Orson Welles) and foreign-language films (Ash is Purest White and Iceman). I just hope the competition isn’t too much and at least some of these films thrive in theaters.
The Aftermath - Reviews
Ash is Purest White - Reviews
Combat Obscura - Reviews
The Eyes of Orson Welles - Reviews
The Hummingbird Project - Reviews
Iceman - Reviews
The Mustang - Reviews
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase - Reviews
No Manches Frida 2 - No Reviews
Out of Blue - Reviews
Starfish - Reviews
Yardie - Reviews
Secondary VOD Releases:
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This film has arguably the best cast on this week’s list. It also has arguably the worst reviews as well. Fortunately, this is not a sign of things to come and most of the rest of the list is worth checking out.
A Chinese film set in the criminal underworld. The reviews are nearly 100% positive and the Chinese Cinema is becoming more and more important worldwide, so a lot of people should be interested in seeing this film.
Video on Demand
Normally, if a film doesn’t have at least 10 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and is playing on VOD, it is relegated to the Secondary VOD list below. However, this film has 100% positive reviews and it is absolutely worth checking out. This is doubly so if you are interested in a view of war that is more real than you will get almost anywhere else.
A documentary about Orson Welles, specifically his sketches and paintings. The film’s reviews are close to 100% positive and it could do very well on the art house circuit.
A movie about high-frequency trading. The cast has a lot more star power than most limited releases have, but its reviews are below the overall positive level and it will likely struggle to find an audience.
A German film set during the Neolithic era. It is about a man who seeks revenge after his tribe is almost entirely wiped out. It’s just him and an infant that he must now take care of. The reviews are good enough that it could find an audience in the art house circuit, but its chances of expanding significantly are limited.
A redemption story about a prisoner in a work-release program, specifically, he helps train wild mustangs. This film has some of the best reviews of the weekend and could find a receptive audience among the art house aficionados.
Sophia Lillis stars as the titular Nancy Drew. There was some talk that this film would open wide and I really wish it had. Its reviews are great for a wide release, but not good enough to thrive in limited release. Additionally, it’s target audience isn’t the type to seek out a film in limited release either, so it will likely struggle at the box office. That said, I hope it does well on the home market. I would love a sequel.
The widest release on this week’s list. It is also the sequel to No Manches Frida, which earned $11.53 million here. I don’t think this one will do as well at the box office, but it will likely earn the most of any film on this week’s list.
An astrophysicist is murdered and solving the case might require understanding how the universe works. The reviews are mixed and it likely won’t go anywhere at the box office, despite its strong cast.
Virginia Gardner stars in this Lovecraftian end of the world movie. However, it’s not a typical Lovecraftian film, for two reasons. Firstly, it is more of an indie character study than a horror movie. And secondly, it is earning great reviews. In fact, of all of the films on this week’s list, this is the one I want to see the most.
Idris Elba makes his directorial debut. The overall reviews are mixed, but many critics are praising the directing, so Elba could have a career as a director.
Chimera - Reviews - Video on Demand
Finding Steve McQueen - Reviews - Video on Demand
For Love or Money - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Mission of Honor - Reviews - Video On Demand
Never Grow Old - Reviews - Video on Demand
The final two secondary VOD titles have very few reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but almost all of them are positive, so they are great choices to rent on VOD.
Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Chimera Strain, The Hummingbird Project, The Mustang, The Eyes of Orson Welles, The Aftermath, Der Mann aus dem Eis, Out of Blue, Starfish, Hurricane, Yardie, Finding Steve McQueen, Jiang hu er nv, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, No Manches Frida 2, Never Grow Old, Combat Obscura, The Revenger: An Unromantic Comedy, Orson Welles, Idris Elba, Sophia Lillis, Virginia Gardner