Limited and VOD Releases: Which Films will have an Explosive Debut and Which Will Bomb?
December 13, 2019
We are getting really close to the cut-off for Oscar qualifying, which means there are a number of films hoping to win Oscars that are coming out in the next few weeks. This also means if a film isn’t gunning for Oscars, like Bombshell or Uncut Gems, it will likely fall between the cracks. That said, this is where the VOD market can come to the rescue for films like After Class, Code 8, or Colewell.
Bombshell - Reviews
Cunningham - Reviews
The Death and Life of John F. Donovan - Reviews
A Hidden Life - Reviews
Rabid - Reviews
Seberg - Reviews
Uncut Gems - Reviews
Secondary VOD Releases:
This is the biggest release on this week’s list, at least in terms of buzz and Awards Seasons nominations so far. However, while the central performances are being praised, the overall reviews are just not good enough to thrive in limited release. The film’s buzz and the nominations could help it overcome its merely good reviews.
A 3D documentary about choreographer Merce Cunningham. The film’s reviews are good, but not great enough to thrive in limited release.
Busted Oscar-bait. Moving on.
A film by Terrence Malick about the real life story of Franz Jägerstätter, a man who refused to fight for the Nazis during World War II, even under threat of execution. The film is being described as a Malick movie, for good and for bad. A lot of his fans will love it, but it won’t be able to escape the art house circuit, as it doesn’t have enough mainstream appeal.
Video on Demand
This is a slice of Body Horror from the Soska Sisters. ... A lot of people have already stopped reading, some because they’ve already started streaming the movie and for others because they know this movie will be too much for them. I fully understand both reactions. The film’s reviews are good, but not good enough to thrive in limited release, even if it weren’t a horror film playing on VOD.
This film is just getting an Oscar-qualifying run this week, so we will talk about it more when it gets a full release. However, given its reviews, it likely won’t win many awards.
Adam Sandler plays a man who is not just a gambling addict, but who is addicted to taking unnecessary risks in all elements of his life. Because of that, his life is on the verge of falling apart in a tragic and fatal way. The pre-release buzz for this film is phenomenal and there are even some who think Adam Sandler will earn an Oscar nomination. I think the results of Awards Season so far are not promising, but are good enough to boost its box office chances.
After Class - Reviews - Video on Demand
Code 8 - Reviews - Video on Demand
Colewell - Reviews - Video on Demand
First Love - No Reviews - Video on Demand
The Great War - Reviews - Video on Demand
Hell on the Border - Reviews - Video on Demand
Hell on the Border - Reviews - Video on Demand (4K Ultra HD)
The Hunt - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Line of Descent - Reviews - Video on Demand
The Lost Footage of Leah Sullivan - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Mob Town - Reviews - Video on Demand
There are three secondary VOD releases coming out this week that look like hidden gems. After Class, Code 8, and Colewell are all earning really good reviews, reviews that suggest that they could do well in limited release. Sadly, there are just not enough of them to suggest they would find an audience in theaters, even if they weren’t playing on VOD.
Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, Code 8, Seberg, Uncut Gems, Safe Spaces, Line of Descent, Hell on the Border, Bombshell, Mob Town, Cunningham, Colewell, The Great War, Rabid, A Hidden Life, American Hunt, The Lost Footage of Leah Sullivan, First Love, August Diehl, Terrence Malick, Adam Sandler, Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, Merce Cunningham