Category: Monthly Previews

There’s a lot of reason to be disappointed in this slate of Spring releases. While this is how I typically see the Spring, prior years have seen a few pleasant surprises and a few brazen openings; however, looking over this list, I don’t seem to see a single film that I’m truly excited to see.…

June 1-3, 2012 Battlefield America Box Office Prediction: $60 M Box Office Expectations: What I Said: “The first Step Up film earned a sizable amount guaranteeing a franchise. This one has had far less press, but should perform about on par with the dance extravaganza.” Box Office Results: $172 K Thoughts: [Major Flop] I don’t…

There are no two bigger months at theaters. While the Summer may provide box office swing, both box office and Oscars dominate the final two months of the year with November likely the biggest of them all. This year, a number of top notch films will compete for audience dollars and critics’ appreciation going into…

May 4, 2012 The Avengers Oscar Prospects: What I said: “There have been few nominations for The Avengers films, so I don’t expect too much out of this combination film. Though, I could easily see nominations in Sound Mixing, Sound Editing and Visual Effects in its future.” Oscar Results: The film’s above-expectations performance is sure…

There are no two bigger months at theaters. While the Summer may provide box office swing, both box office and Oscars dominate the final two months of the year with November likely the biggest of them all. This year, a number of top notch films will compete for audience dollars and critics’ appreciation going into…

As the pre-Halloween portion of Oscar Season gets into full swing, October is a mixed bag of potential Oscar nominees and films that Oscar would sooner close up shop than honor. Traditionally, Oscar fare gets its biggest push in November and December where Oscar voters’ memories aren’t so forgetful. Yet, October has its fair share…

April 6, 2012 American Reunion Box Office Prediction: $150 M Box Office Expectations: What I Said: “Unknown. It’s been 11 years since the last American Pie film was released and it did better-than-the-original numbers. Yet, 11 years is a long time to go without a big screen outing, so it’s not easily quantifiable if this…

March 2, 2012 Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax Oscar Prospects: What I said: “Depending on how critics take to it, the film could hold on strong through the year to become one of the three-to-five Best Animated Feature nominees. If the critics don’t like it, it could still make it depending on the rest of the…

As the Summer draws to a close, the blockbuster wasteland of August gives way to the Oscar wasteland of September. While plenty of blockbusters will be dumped outside of the Summer frame to try and keep business perky after school starts, the Oscar season begins with studio cast-offs that they made for Oscar attention, but…

The last four months of every year are dedicated mostly to the analysis of Oscar contenders and their chances at year-end awards, box office crossover appeal and the ultimate prize handed out the following February. There are always films contending for the holiday dollars, but many of those films, unless they are blockbusters, won’t be…

February 3, 2012 Big Miracle Box Office Prediction: $50 M Box Office Expectations: What I Said: “It has that feel good quality that makes a lot of minor films successful. Drew Barrymore hasn’t had a hit in awhile, so the circumstances are a bit of a challenge for her.” Box Office Results: $20.2 M Thoughts:…

August. Otherwise known as the studios’ dumping grounds. When a studio has a film that it doesn’t think can compete with the big boys earlier in the summer, they unceremoniously dump it into August hoping to earn a little extra from the weaker box office. However, like earlier in the year, studios are starting to…

We come to the strongest month of the year, at least in terms of big-name releases. The studios are well into their summer tentpole season and will try to get their biggest numbers in the month of July dumping their less thrilling prospects into August. Jun. 29-Jul. 1, 2012 Ted (covering this in this preview…

January 6-8, 2012 The Devil Inside Box Office Prediction: $10 M Box Office Expectations: What I Said: “Horror hasn’t been igniting the box office lately and we may be in the doldrum period, a time when horror bides its time waiting for a new film to pique interest in the see-sawing genre.” Box Office Results:…

December 2-4, 2011 Shame Oscar Prospects: What I said: “Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan have been receiving strong praise for their performances in this film. While the film isn’t likely to see the Oscars otherwise, I expect both Fassbender and Mulligan to be contenders in the next couple of months, at least for nominations.” Oscar…