It’s obvious Deadpool has risen to the challenge in the race to the top of the box office and it’s likely Deadpool will continue to rule the box office but witch release will give the antihero the best run for it’s money. Let’s take a peek at this week’s releases:
Risen
Theater Count: 2,800
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth
Buzz:
The marketing for Risen is focused on the faith-based audience. The trailer has been in heavy circulation in theaters but outside of theaters, ads have been targeting Christian groups. Releasing this close to Easter, Risen will hope for a second wind in a few weeks.
3 Things to Know:
- Risen features a first time writer (Paul Aiello) and a director (Kevin Reynolds) who hasn’t directed in 10 years
- Risen is not the sequel to The Passion of the Christ (but you can’t blame the filmmakers for going out of their way to dispel the rumor)
- Joseph Fiennes will portray Michael Jackson in an upcoming TV movie on British television
See the Trailer:
Required Viewing:
None
Optional Past Viewing:
MHT Hot Take:
See it! Risen looks to have a different approach. More like Law & Order: Resurrection or CSI: Jerusalem than your typical Jesus retelling.
Race
Theater Count: 2,300
Starring: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, William Hurt
Buzz:
Of the three major releases this week, Race has been the quietest of the three in terms of marketing and overall buzz. Theatrically, the trailer shows up semi-frequently in rotation and there’s a small TV marketing campaign.
3 Things to Know:
- James, who plays Jesse Owens, got his start the same place Drake and Niña Dobrev got theirs: Degrassi: The Next Generation
- John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) was originally cast as Owens
- Race‘s release ties to the 80th anniversary of the 1936 Summer Olympics
See the Trailer:
Required Viewing:
None
Optional Past Viewing:
MHT Hot Take:
See it! Although when movies like Race are great, they are released during awards season, it doesn’t mean Race can’t be good and this looks like it has the potential to be good.
The Witch
Theater Count: 1,800
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie
Buzz:
The first great horror film of 2016 has a good critical buzz and a deeply unsettling trailer. At 1,800 theaters, even if the box office numbers aren’t huge, the movie should play well as horror films play better to filled theaters so a small but wide opening might help The Witch sustain some box office success.
3 Things to Know:
- The Witch takes place 62 years before the Salem witch trials
- The film was shot in Canada because of the lack of tax incentives to shoot in New England which helped keep the film’s budget at $1 million
- The Witch was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015
See the Trailer:
Required Viewing:
None
Optional Past Viewing:
MHT Hot Take:
See it! It’s rare this movie viewer gets excited about a horror film. I’m kind of excited about (and terrified of) The Witch.
Busco Novio Para Mi Mujer
Theater Count: 350
Starring: Arath de la Torre, Sandra Echeverria
Buzz:
Yo no se.
3 Things to Know:
- The stars of the film are better known for their work in telenovelas
- Echeverria was in Oliver Stone’s 2012 film Savages
- Director Enrique Begne’s first film, Dos abrazos, came out in 2007
See the Trailer:
Required Viewing:
None
Optional Past Viewing:
MHT Hot Take:
Skip it! While it looks funny, unless you speak Spanish or enjoy subtitles, there are a lot of options right now so we’ll recommend passing on this one.