Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: TenetFilm.com
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: September 3rd, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some suggestive references and brief strong language.
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Action
Keywords: IMAX: DMR, Time Travel, Disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic, Terrorism, Tortured for Information, Unnamed Character, C.I.A., Rescue, Surprise Twist
Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Written By: Christopher Nolan
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Elizabeth Debicki, Himesh Patel
Production Budget: Reported at $224 million
Box Office Potential: $125 million

So far, the wide releases that have come out in the past couple of weeks have done about half as much business as they were expected to do pre-pandemic. Since Tenet was widely expected to be a monster hit, about $250 million, it should still be half a monster hit, or about $125 million. There are some things in its favor. For example, the film won’t have to deal with any real competition until Wonder Woman opens on the first weekend of October, so it should have very long legs. Secondly, it has good reviews; they are not among the best for Christopher Nolan, but strong for a wide release nonetheless. Finally, as an effects-heavy action film, it benefits more from being seen in theaters than films like Unhinged or The New Mutants.

The film’s early international numbers are looking strong and best case scenario has the movie making over $40 million during its extended opening weekend and staying in first place throughout the rest of September. The worst-case scenario is barely half of that. Well, technically the worst case scenario is Tenet being a moderate hit at the box office, but also being the center of a major spike in COVID-19 cases. Let’s hope that’s not the case.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: #fill in official website domain#
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Release Date: September 11th, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content throughout and some crude references, strong language and drug references.
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Keywords: Romance, Relationships Gone Wrong, Relationship Advice, Love Triangle, Artists, Disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic
Directed By: Natalie Krinsky
Written By: Natalie Krinsky
Starring: Geraldine Viswanathan
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $10 million
Box Office Potential: $10 million

This is the first time this film has appeared on the monthly preview, but it is not the first time I’ve written about it. The previous time, the film’s release date was changed as I was literally writing the preview. I was tempted to include it anyway, just as an example to show how frequently release dates were changing. I wasn’t bullish about the film’s chances back then and I’ve become more pessimistic since. This is not the kind of film you need to go to the theaters to enjoy and it doesn’t have the “drive-in vibe” that the few box office hits have had. It is also from a first-time director, Natalie Krinsky, and its young star, Geraldine Viswanathan, has a short resumé, so she doesn’t have a lot of star power. Furthermore, this movie will be overshadowed by Tenet, no matter how much that movie makes at the box office. Even if Tenet bombs, it’ll still be the center of conversation.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: Infidel911.com/
Distributor: Cloudburst Entertainment
Release Date: September 18th, 2020
MPAA Rating:
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Action
Keywords: Set in Iran, Set in Egypt, Set in Cairo, Egypt, Investigative Journalist, Political, Government Corruption, Courtroom Drama, Agitprop
Directed By: Cyrus Nowrasteh
Written By: Cyrus Nowrasteh
Starring: James Caviezel
Production Budget: Unknown - Estimated at $10 million
Box Office Potential: $5 million

From the same people who brought you The Stoning of Soraya M. That movie had some amazing performances and told an important story, but it was too heavy-handed to please critics and it really struggled in theaters. I fear this film will be the same, both in terms of quality and in terms of box office numbers. The only positive is the lack of competition during the opening weekend. Cloudburst Entertainment is expecting it to play in at least 1,200 theaters and perhaps as many as 1,800, as opposed to the 27 theaters The Stoning of Soraya M. debuted in. As we’ve seen in the past two weeks, that might be enough to generate a few million dollars at the box office, but this is a film that will be competing for screens against some titles that will have been already playing for a few weeks.

Trailer: Click to Play
Official Site: GreenlandMovie.com/
Distributor: STX Entertainment
Release Date: September 25th, 2020
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of disaster action, some violence, bloody images and brief strong language.
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Keywords: Disaster, Extreme Weather, End of the World
Directed By: Ric Roman Waugh
Written By: Chris Sparling
Starring: Gerard Butler
Production Budget: Reported at $34 million
Box Office Potential: $30 million

The official site still has “coming soon” as the release date, but STX has confirmed that it is scheduled for a wide release on September 25th. The film has opened in a number of international markets with some mixed results. It did open in first place in France, which is a good omen here, but the international box office is still way too chaotic to be a great indicator. I don’t expect much, but I don’t think it will bomb either. Opening several weeks after Tenet will help, particularly if there’s no major increases in COVID-19 cases during the month, and if moviegoers are keen to see another big-screen spectacle.