Looking at the Weekend: May 27-29, 2016

After the huge weekend of Captain America: Civil War, a $100 million debut won’t seem so exciting. However, that’s what X-Men: Apocalypse is targeting with its debut this weekend. Days of Future Past took in $90 million on its opening weekend, which is about where I expect Apocalypse to land if not higher.

It will have very stiff competition from Alice Through the Looking Glass. Its predecessor took in $116 million at the box office, making this a weekend that could result in two of the largest competing debuts in box office history. Which film will come out on top depends on a lot of things. Neither film is doing well with critics, which means whichever film turns out the most curious viewers will win. I give the edge to X-Men since I think that audience is far more rabid than Alice‘s.

Our Highest Rated Films: X-Men: Apocalypse; The Idol
Our Best Awards Ratings: X-Men: Apocalypse (Oscars); Alice Through the Looking Glass (Oscars)

OTHER LIMITED RELEASES

As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM
La Cenerentola
Chevalier
Holy Hell
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
Unlocking the Cage

May 27-29, 2016
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
Alice Through the Looking Glass (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	3.8 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (4) Tripp Burton: (2) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	2.5 Wesley Lovell: (3,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (3,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (4,Oscars)	Categories: Production Design (WL,TB,TL) Costume Design (WL,TB,TL) Makeup (WL) Visual Effects (TB,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The first film had good parts and bad parts, but did not need a sequel. Peter J. Patrick (PP): This sequel to the 2010 Tim Burton film that I didn’t like doesn’t excite me at all. Tripp Burton (TB): The first film was one of the worst blockbusters of the decade, and this looks like it is a step down in quality. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This looks as overblown as the first one, which was mildly amusing, but I am not sure if this will be better or worse.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
X-Men: Apoclaypse (Wide Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	7.5 Wesley Lovell: (10) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Tripp Burton: (8) Thomas LaTourrette: (6)	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (6,Oscars) Peter J. Patrick: (6,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (4,Oscars) Thomas LaTourrette: (4,Oscars)	Categories: Sound Mixing (WL,PP,TB) Sound Editing (WL,PP,TB) Visual Effects (WL,PP,TB,TL)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): This is my favorite superhero franchise, so I’m already signed up. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Strong cast should make the latest X-Men film at least watchable. Tripp Burton (TB): I think that this series is by far the most entertaining and interesting superhero franchise today, and I am excited to see what comes next. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The hyper kinetic trailer and middling reviews do not make this sound like the best of the bunch. It might still pull off a visual effects nomination as Days of Future Past did.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Idol (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	6.0 Wesley Lovell: (4) Peter J. Patrick: (9) Tripp Burton: (4) Thomas LaTourrette: (7)	1.0 Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (4,Oscars) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: Picture (PP) Director (PP) Screenplay (PP)
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The trailer has so many issues that it never digs into that it’s hard to believe there’s something truly compelling at play. Peter J. Patrick (PP): The true story of the 2013 Palestinian winner of Arab Idol could be the next Slumdog Millionaire. Tripp Burton (TB): Looks interesting, but also fairly pedestrian. Thomas LaTourette (TL): The inspiring true story of a man from Gaza winning the Arab Idol singing competition could be heartwarming if it doesn’t follow too many clichés.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Ones Below (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	5.0 Wesley Lovell: (5) Peter J. Patrick: (5) Tripp Burton: (5) Thomas LaTourrette: (5)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): A Rosemary’s Baby homage without the same consistency may not be worth getting excited over. Peter J. Patrick (PP): Looks like a poor man’s Rosemary’s Baby for today’s couples. Tripp Burton (TB): An interesting enough looking thriller, but I’ll wait for it on HBO on a rainy Sunday. Thomas LaTourette (TL): Some early reviews are laudatory, but the enigmatic trailer did not excite me.
Film	Our Thoughts	Awards Chances
The Wailing (Limited Release) See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview	4.3 Wesley Lovell: (3) Peter J. Patrick: (6) Tripp Burton: (6) Thomas LaTourrette: (2)	Nil Wesley Lovell: (Nil) Peter J. Patrick: (Nil) Tripp Burton: (Nil) Thomas LaTourrette: (Nil)	Categories: None
	Individual Commentary:
	Wesley Lovell (WL): The trailer is far too confusing. I can’t see anything in it that makes me interested. Peter J. Patrick (PP): South Korean mystery could be interesting. Tripp Burton (TB): Not my thing, but the word out of Cannes was excited so I may check it out down the road. Thomas LaTourette (TL): This Korean horror film has a trailer that lacks suspense and gives me no reason to see it.