Captain Marvel Is Still Doing Incredibly Well, Despite Being On Fewer Movie Screens

Captain Marvel Is Still Doing Incredibly Well, Despite Being On Fewer Movie Screens

The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, March’s Captain Marvel, has been in theaters for over a month now and it has enjoyed massive, record-breaking success during its run. That run is slowly coming to an end as more new blockbusters are released, and Captain Marvel’s theater count continues to drop to make room at the multiplex. Yet despite being on fewer movie screens, Captain Marvel is still doing incredibly well.

Captain Marvel lost a whopping 598 screens last weekend as new releases like Little, Missing Link and fellow comic book movie Hellboy opened. Despite that huge drop in screen count, Brie Larson’s heroine still managed to hold on at the box office remarkably well week after week. According to Forbes, Captain Marvel pulled in $884,741 on Monday, which is up 2.2% from last Monday. It didn’t do quite as well on Tuesday, dropping 6.1% from the previous week to $1.297 million, then rebounded on Wednesday with an 8% jump over last Wednesday to $971,000.

That type of hold and box office performance is very impressive given that there were almost 600 fewer screens on which audiences could see Captain Marvel. It’s not like there’s no competition at the box office either. Both Shazam! and Hellboy are now out and are competing for largely the same audience’s superhero dollars.

The Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck-directed film will now pass $390 million at the domestic box office. When it does, Captain Marvel will pass Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s domestic performance to become #7 on the MCU’s domestic box office charts.

If Captain Marvel continues to have small drops in the coming weeks as it gives more ground to the start of the summer blockbusters, and receives a bump around Avengers: Endgame, it could pass the $400 million mark domestically and beyond. When it’s all said and done, it could surpass Captain America: Civil War’s $408 million and Iron Man 3’s $409 million to land in the MCU’s top 5.

Captain Marvel has made over $1 billion worldwide, so that it is doing well is no surprise, but the solid box office hold despite playing on fewer screens reflects something of an Avengers: Endgame bump. Black Panther enjoyed something similar with Avengers: Infinity War last year, and with about a week left until the first Endgame screenings begin, all eyes are on the concluding chapter in the MCU’s Infinity Saga.

So some MCU fans may be going back to see Captain Marvel again as part of their pre-Endgame MCU watch list. If you want to rewatch all 21 films, that means heading back to the theater to check out Captain Marvel before next weekend.

Given that Brie Larson’s character has been more prominent in the trailers than I think many suspected (she’s clearly not being saved as a third-act savior), it’s also possible that some who thought they could skip Captain Marvel are finally getting around to seeing it. Captain Marvel is also likely benefitting from kids being out of school for the Easter holiday.

You can check out Captain Marvel again in theaters now before Avengers: Endgame arrives to dominate on April 26.

No, Keanu Reeves Is Not In Hobbs And Shaw

No, Keanu Reeves Is Not In Hobbs And Shaw

The new Fast and Furious spinoff movie already had an immense amount of star power thanks to the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Idris Elba, but last month a new rumor implied that the movie was going to be even bigger thanks to the addition of Keanu Reeves to the cast of Hobbs & Shaw. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as the John Wick star has not put the rumor to bed. He's not in the movie.

The rumor landed about a month ago and it claimed that the new film would reveal that Idris Elba's character, who is presented as the film's villain in the trailers, is actually working for an even bigger bad guy, who would be played by Keanu Reeves. While the role was being described as a significant one, it was also suggested that Reeves might only appear in a post-credits sequence that would set up a Hobbs and Shaw sequel.

While Reeves admits to Variety that there were conversations with the Hobbs & Shaw team, he is very clear that nothing happened and he's not in the film. According to Reeves...

I don’t know how that happened. I really honestly do not know how that happened… I’ve been contacted, but yeah, I have no idea how that part of the story happened.

So, while it sounds like the original rumor had some basis in fact, as Keanu Reeves apparently could have had a role in the new Fast & Furious spinoff, it wasn't strictly true because no deal was ever reached. Keanu has nothing but good things to say about Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham and it sounds like he'd love to work with them if the opportunity ever came along.

The idea of Keanu Reeves appearing in a Fast & Furious movie wasn't entire crazy on its face. The movie is being directed by David Leitch, who was one of the co-directors on the first John Wick film alongside Chad Stahelski.

It does make one wonder if the description of the character Reeves was rumored to play might then turn out to be true. Perhaps another A-list actor will be appearing in the film in the role of the power behind the throne.

While there have been a handful of times that people behind a new movie have outright lied in an attempt to prevent a reveal, it doesn't feel like that's the case here. Instead it seems that conversations behind-the-scenes got misinterpreted as a done deal when things were far from that.

While The Rock versus Keanu Reeves is certainly a big screen battle I'd love to see, it appears I'll have to wait for another time and another place. Although, now that Reeves is on board for a fourth John Wick movie, he may be too busy himself to fit into the Rock's equally busy schedule.

Hobbs & Shaw hits theaters August 2. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is in theaters now

What You Need To Know About Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

What You Need To Know About Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Although things are slowing down on the theatrical front for a bit, there is still a ton of Star Wars headed our way in the future. There are multiple films from both David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and Rian Johnson on the way after this year’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker wraps up the Skywalker Saga.

That may not be all though, because if a new report is accurate, a movie based on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game is also in the works. According to the report, Laeta Kalogridis, co-writer of Alita: Battle Angel and creator of Netflix’s Altered Carbon, is close to finishing the first script of a potential Knights of the Old Republic trilogy.

A Knights of the Old Republic trilogy is huge news because the Old Republic is something die-hard Star Wars fans have been calling for since Disney took over Lucasfilm and started making new movies set in a galaxy far, far away. But not everyone played the Knights of the Old Republic video game or is familiar with Star Wars stories outside the films, and thus have no idea why this is exciting news.

So here is a rundown of what you need to know about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

The Games (And Comics)

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was released on the original Xbox and PC in 2003. The role-playing game from BioWare and LucasArts is a 40-hour epic written by Drew Karpyshyn, who also wrote Mass Effect as well as five Star Wars novels, including the Darth Bane trilogy. KOTOR received universal acclaim and is considered to be the best Star Wars game ever made. It’s also seen as one of the best role-playing games ever and one of the best video games of all time. Basically, there is a ton of love out there for Knights of the Old Republic.

Obsidian Entertainment teamed up with LucasArts to handle the sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords, which was released in 2004. A third game, the massively multiplayer online RPG Star Wars: The Old Republic was released in 2011 that was set 300 years after the original games, but was impacted by those events and was still during the Old Republic time period.

There was also the Dark Horse comic series that ran for 50 issues from 2006-2010 and was set eight years prior to the first Knights of the Old Republic game. Additionally, there is the Star Wars: The Old Republic novel series, two titles of which were written by KOTOR’s Drew Karpyshyn. This is all to say that there are plenty of sources and ancillary materials for Laeta Kalogridis and Lucasfilm to draw upon for a Knights of the Old Republic movie.

The Story

The story of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is its biggest claim to fame and why so many want to see it on the big screen. Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire and the events of the Skywalker Saga, KOTOR tells a story of Jedi and Sith when both are powerful forces in the galaxy with many in their ranks (this is before the Sith’s Rule of Two).

The opening crawl warns that the Republic is on the verge of collapse and under attack from Darth Malak, a Sith Lord and last surviving apprentice of the notoriously evil Darth Revan. Malak has released an armada against the Republic and countless Jedi are falling in battle, with some even falling to the Dark Side.

We learn that prior to the events of the game, Darth Malak and Darth Revan were both Jedi Knights who abandoned the Order to fight for the Republic in the Mandalorian Wars. The two became heroes, but following the end of those wars, they went into the Unknown Regions where they fell under the influence of the leader of the Sith Empire. The two returned as Sith and battled the Jedi and the Republic, but eventually Darth Malak turned on his master, firing upon his ship and usurping Revan’s position.

The game begins with the player assuming the role of a soldier of the Galactic Republic who wakes up aboard the Endar Spire, a ship in the Outer Rim, as it comes under attack. The player eventually crosses paths with Bastila Shan, the Jedi Knight sent to capture Malak and Revan when they returned from the Unknown Regions.

Alongside Bastila Shan, the player seeks to put together a star map that can lead them to Darth Malak and the Star Forge, a superweapon speculated to be the source of much of his power. It’s a 40-hour game, so a lot happens, but the player travels to multiple planets like Tatooine, Dantooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan and Korriban, coming into contact with a wide cast of characters in the fight to stop Darth Malak and save the galaxy.

The Twist

Part of what makes the story of Knights of the Old Republic so special is a twist that ranks up there in Star Wars storytelling with the “No, I am your father” moment from The Empire Strikes Back. Spoilers for a 16-year-old game ahead! During the course of the game, the player learns that his or her true identity is none other than Darth Revan, the Dark Lord presumed dead when Darth Malak fired upon his master’s ship.

Bastila Shan and her strike team were on Revan’s ship to capture him when Malak fired upon the ship, trying to kill his friend and master. Darth Malak almost succeeded as Revan was gravely wounded. But Bastila Shan saved him and took him to the Jedi Council on Dantooine. There, Revan’s memories were wiped and he was brainwashed into believing that he was a Republic soldier. The hope being that eventually, through the Force bond Bastila and Revan shared after she saved his life, they could use him to discover the location of the Star Forge and help destroy the Sith.

It’s a huge reveal that sets up a forking path for Revan. Should the player choose Dark Side choices, he or she will usurp Malak at game's end and reclaim the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, seeking new dominion over the galaxy. If the player remains in the light, he or she will destroy the Star Forge, defeat Darth Malak and be hailed as a hero and welcomed back into the Jedi Order as the Prodigal Knight.

The Characters

A major aspect of Knights of the Old Republic’s compelling story is that it is following a rich, diverse cast of fun characters that the player cares about. Revan, a human male, is a fascinatingly complex character in the Star Wars mythos because he has lived on both sides of the Dark/Light spectrum and everywhere in between. There is a reason he remains a fan favorite despite no longer being part of official canon.

Darth Malak is merciless and powerful, everything you could want in a Sith Lord. Bastila Shan is one of Star Wars’ great female characters, a confident and skilled Jedi Knight with the incredible Force power of Battle Meditation. The power allows her to boost the morale, stamina and courage of her allies, helping them to act as one, quickly and efficiently, while simultaneously demoralizing and striking fear in the hearts of the enemy.

Other characters include the skilled Republic pilot Carth Onasi, the Mandalorian mercenary Canderous Ordo, the cheery Twi’lek teen Mission Vao, the Wookie Zaalbar, the Gray Jedi Jolee Bindo and the fan favorite, and K-2SO predecessor for droid snark, the assassin droid HK-47. They are all great characters that put faces to the galaxy’s conflicts and make the universe feel bigger.

Possibilities For The Film

What all of this means for the movie it is too early to say. I think the biggest question is whether or not this is a real adaptation of the Knights of the Republic video game. The initial report said that Laeta Kalogridis was writing a script based on that game, but the cynic in me thinks that leaves a lot of wiggle room for a Knights of the Old Republic movie to have a different story.

As evidenced by the jettisoning of the Expanded Universe, Lucasfilm under Disney has shown a reticence to adapt existing material, instead choosing to tell entirely new stories where all audiences are on an even footing knowledge-wise and no one knows the story in advance. So I could totally see a Knights of the Old Republic movie simply being a story set during the Old Republic time period that takes inspiration from KOTOR, but not one that has the same story of Revan and Darth Malak.

That would be a shame though, because as Game of Thrones showed, you can adapt material where some of the audience already knows the story beats and still have success. If anything, the experience of watching that show was enhanced because some audience members knew what was coming in advance, making Ned’s death and the Red Wedding all the more fun. The same could be true for the truth about Revan.

Lucasfilm has cherry-picked non-canon elements from the EU before (like Grand Admiral Thrawn appearing in Star Wars Rebels), so maybe that’s possible here. Hopefully it does more than cherry-pick though, because Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most beloved Star Wars tales for a reason and it has all the necessary ingredients to make for a awesome big screen trilogy.

We’ll keep you updated on all the various Star Wars trilogies in the works as we hear about them. You can next revisit a galaxy far, far away when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters on December 20. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest movies.

The Best Romantic Comedies To Watch On A First Date

The Best Romantic Comedies To Watch On A First Date

It's date night and what better plan for a date night than romantic comedies? After all, you want things to go as perfectly as possible, particularly given it's not merely any ordinary date night; it's your first date. If things go south, there might not be a second chance. So you need the best romantic comedies that will set the mood. Something that will make you laugh, maybe even cry and hopefully propel a future relationship. Or, at least, a chance at a second date. In short, if you want the perfect date, you need the perfect movie. But what exactly are you gonna watch?

There are so many romantic comedies out there, hundreds of them, honestly. Your selections are vast and plentiful. Yet, you don't want to settle for something average... or worse. You want a darn good romantic comedy film. No, you want a great one.

We're here to help. Here are just a few great romantic movies to watch on your first date. Because we can't guarantee things will work out between you two, but we can assure you that these movies are worth your while. Pop them in — or, more likely, find them on your favorite streaming service — and let the romance sing. Thank us later.

Silver Linings Playbook

David O. Russell's exhilarating, enrapturing romantic dramedy Silver Linings Playbook is one of the few recent rom-coms that made its way into critics' top ten lists and heavy Oscar consideration. As well it should, too. The romantic comedy, which made Bradley Cooper a dramatic heavyweight and earned Jennifer Lawrence her first (and, to date, only) Oscar, is a firecracker of a movie. How the sparks do fly! Centered around former teacher Pat (Cooper), who has just been released from a mental institution after an incident, is living with his parents and trying to reconnect with his ex-wife. That presents several challenges, of course. And a few more come into play when Pat meets Tiffany (Lawrence), who begins to change Pat's perspective on life.

Somewhat loosely based on the Matthew Quick's debut novel of the same name, which is also well worth a read if you find the time, Silver Linings Playbook is a film that deals with the difficulties of life in a high-turmoil fashion that relates to the character's point of view. Through the excellent performances, wonderfully grounded character work and the magnificent direction of David O. Russell, it results in a  captivating and stimulating romantic comedy that you certainly don't want to miss. Here's your silver lining indeed.

Before Sunrise

In Richard Linklater's delightfully quaint Before Sunrise, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy find themselves in a meet-cute that lasts throughout the entirety of the film's length. As two young starry-eyed dreamers traveling through Europe with big ideas in mind for their future and idealism in their hearts, they begin to form a casual friendship that is explosively charismatic to everyone but them. As they walk and talk through their European destination, however, it even becomes apparent to them that love is in bloom.

Few movies capture the wondrous feeling of falling in love quite as honestly and realistically as Before Sunrise. Through the magnetic chemistry of our leads, the fantastically thoughtful dialogue they're give and the casual confidence of the director-screenwriter Richard Linklater, Before Sunrise has gone one to be one of the most beloved romantic comedies of the '90s, and it spawned a trilogy of films reconnecting these two characters every nine or ten years. In fact, this series has aged like fine wine. You can save those two for future date nights, however. They're well worth it.

When Harry Met Sally...

Particularly for folks who like their romantic comedies a little more mature and lovelorn, When Harry Met Sally... is a golden ticket for any date night. The film centers around two characters who begin to fall in love with each other throughout 12 years of casual encounters, and it's the type of rom-com that doesn't like to play by expected rules. It uses witty banter from the late, great screenwriter Nora Ephron to not only spice things up but to give the film its emotional heft, and it relies on the evolving-yet-also-instantaneous chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to make this one of the best romantic comedies for a date night.

In my opinion, at least, director Rob Reiner has typically (or, at least, often) been at his best inside the romantic comedy genre (as I'll explain in more detail later). And When Harry Met Sally... remains one of his best movies. More than that, it's one of the best romantic comedies of the 20th century, producing a number of timeless quotes and winning romance to make any date night the perfect occasion to be introduced to this beloved cinematic couple. Feel free to meet these characters yourself when you bring them into your next date night.

The Princess Bride

You can never go wrong with another of Rob Reiner's classics, The Princess Bride. It's a fantasy film that has been quoted more times than the Bible — at least by some pop culture aficionados — and it certainly has a warm place in many people's hearts. There's a good reason this romantic comedy has resonated. It's a film that doesn't fit into any neat boxes, and it's a film that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and fans of nearly all genres. It's got action, comedy, drama and swashbuckling extravaganzas in addition to the romance, but it is first-and-foremost a love story. And a very sweeping one at that.

Robin Wright and Cary Elwes share fantastic chemistry together in this love story fable, sharing a delicate-yet-adventurous romance that is easy to enjoy and even easier to be swept by. The work of a filmmaker on a Hollywood hot streak and the type of cinematic fable that unfortunately only comes one in a generation, if that, The Princess Bride is certainly one that's easy to enjoy with your date, whether it's your first or 400th. That's far from inconceivable.

Roman Holiday

It's hard to go wrong with Audrey Hepburn. The actress has appeared in no shortage of classic titles, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, Funny Face, My Fair Lady, Charade and Best Picture winner, The Apartment, to only name a few. But when it comes to her early days of cinema, you would be hard-pressed to find many cinematic romances better than the one Hepburn shared with Gregory Peck in 1953's Roman Holiday.

The romantic comedy that paved the way for many more after it, this trendsetter of a romantic comedy has everything: laughs, drama, European backdrops and more. It's a lovely, gorgeous little movie, and the romance between the two leads is downright infectious. (Obviously, quite charming too.) Ultimately, when it comes to Roman Holiday, Aubrey Hepburn may quickly help you to fall in love with the idea of your own holiday away.

Love, Simon

In Greg Berlanti's tender, affectionate LGBTQ teen drama, Love, Simon, Nick Robinson plays the title character, a teenager who keeps his homosexuality identity a secret from his friends and family. Based on the YA novel Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, the film paints a well-realized protagonist who is gradually learning to accept himself and be true to himself. Particularly as he forms a pen pal e-mail correspondence with another closeted gay man in his class known only to Simon as "Blue."

A compassionate and caring movie that provides as many laughs as it does sweeping drama moments, it's a film that allows you to go through several different feelings all throughout the course of nearly two hours. Particularly as the central romance comes into fruition towards the film's final moments. While this movie might work best for younger audiences, Love, Simon should win over hearts of all ages.

The Big Sick

Real-life couple Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon turned their turbulent off-screen romance into a romantic comedy for the ages in The Big Sick. Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Nanjiani and Gordon, the film stars Nanjiani as a fictionalized version of himself, while Zoe Kazan plays Emily. As the story unfolds, struggling comedian Kumail and graduate student Emily meet cute over the course of several weeks, only to be met with a strain in their relationship when Emily contracts a mysterious illness which puts her in a coma and her life potentially on the line.

Since the writers of the film have gone on to make the film a reality, we know that it's going to work out for them throughout the course of the film. Nevertheless, as Kumail interacts with Emily's parents, played wonderfully by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, and the comedian begins to find himself in spite of his family expectations, you find yourself with a beautifully realized, gorgeously human tale of life, romance and identity that plays a lot of the expected romantic comedy beats while still finding a new way to make it all feel real. The result is one of the best romantic comedies of the '10s.

Of course, these are only a few options made available to you. There are several other selections to be found, and there's always a chance that these movies won't float your boat. Because hey, not every movie will work for everyone. Nevertheless, if you are in a pinch and you want a date movie that will (hopefully) set the night off on a right note, you can certainly do worse than the movies listed here. Here's hoping it works out!

Zoe Saldana Is 'Proud' Of James Gunn And Disney For Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Rehire

Zoe Saldana Is 'Proud' Of James Gunn And Disney For Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 Rehire

The Guardians of the Galaxy family is back together and Zoe Saldana (Gamora) is thrilled -- she also has no hard feelings against Disney for the James Gunn situation. Not that she would share them publicly if she did, since Disney is now the Avatar star's employer on multiple fronts.

Disney rehired James Gunn as director of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, after the infamous firing back in July. While promoting her new movie Missing Link, Zoe Saldana shared love for Gunn and gratitude to Disney for the final result. Here's what she told ET:

I'm proud of him. I'm happy that he's coming back. I'm so proud of Disney, actually, that all the leaders right now behind that big corporation decided to lead by example, and spreading the word and the message of redemption is important.

James Gunn had been fired as writer/director of the movie back in July, after old offensive tweets resurfaced. Later in the same month, Zoe Saldana and fellow Guardians of the Galaxy cast members posted a statement showing their support for Gunn:

In August, there were reports that Disney would not rehire James Gunn. There was speculation about what would happen next for the film, and if Disney/Marvel would hire someone new. But no. It turns out, no one else was even considered. (Sorry, Taika Waititi.)

About two weeks ago, it was announced that Disney had rehired James Gunn, and that the decision had actually been made months ago. The announcement came after Gunn had already signed on to make DC's The Suicide Squad and that movie is still happening, and Gunn plans to work on it first, before Guardians.

James Gunn thanked everyone for their support after he was rehired, since it came as a pleasant surprise to many fans, as well as MCU stars like Zoe Saldana.

It's not clear when Guardians 3 might hit the big screen at this point, but we have some ideas. Meanwhile, it still needs to be explained how we might see Gamora again -- not to mention Star-Lord, Groot, Drax, and others snapped by Thanos in the Avengers: Infinity War Decimation. Right now, Rocket Raccoon and Nebula seem to be the last Guardians standing. But Avengers: Endgame may change all of that.

Zoe Saldana's new animated movie Missing Link opens in theaters on April 12. Saldana is also part of the multiple Avatar sequels in the works. Avengers: Endgame arrives April 26. Guardians 3, like a wizard in Lord of the Rings, will arrive precisely when it means to. Keep up with everything coming to the big screen with our 2019 movie release date schedule.

Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Has Been Pushed Back After Backlash

Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Has Been Pushed Back After Backlash

With a less than perfect start to its movie marketing game, Paramount’s Sonic The Hedgehog found itself sparking an outcry from fans of the beloved Sega mascot to redesign the film version of the character. Oddly enough, it worked, as director Jeff Fowler soon promised the fans afterwards that a reworking of the character was on its way.

Though now we've learned that promise has bumped Sonic The Hedgehog to a new release date, in order to facilitate that revision of Sonic’s silver screen appearance. This announcement came today, in the following form:

Jeff Fowler was once again the herald of news pertaining to the movement of Sonic The Hedgehog’s progress, and this delay was basically the other shoe dropping on his previous announcement. With only a handful of months to scrap and redesign the Ben Schwartz-voiced chili dog aficionado, the new concern of the day was that getting Sonic into fighting shape for a November release date was going to cause a lot of overtime for VFX artists, and in turn a lot of pain.

Thankfully, the February 14, 2020 release date is definitely a step in the right direction, as there’s obviously a ton of work ahead. Not only will the film co-starring James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik have to work on fashioning a new image for Sonic, they’ll also have to insert that vision into Sonic The Hedgehog’s entire finished product.

Looking at the box office calendar, February 2020 is going to be more competitive than usual though. With Birds of Prey and Peter Rabbit 2 opening a week before Sonic The Hedgehog, and the Kingsman prequel, The Great Game, opening on the same day, the video game adaptation will now face stiffer competition than it would have in its November 2019 release slot.

So it wouldn’t be a total surprise to hear that additional reshoots and/or another release bump, past the one announced today on Twitter, might be in the works for Sonic The Hedgehog, especially with additional work coming into play in order to boost the film’s chances of box office success.

For those curious about how that first trailer looked, or for those readers that are just in the mood to re-watch the first look at Sonic The Hedgehog, you can look that very trailer for yourself:

Who knows how long it will take to get our next look at the evolution of Sonic The Hedgehog? At this point, we’ll probably see an unveiling during the summer, with a new trailer done by the time fall starts to cool the summer winds. It’ll be worth it if it means that the VFX team behind Sonic’s big debut can work at a pace that isn’t breakneck, but still accelerated, in the name of progress.

Sonic The Hedgehog will now open on February 14, 2020. Which means there’s plenty of time for you to research your remaining options at the box office this November, through using our 2019 release schedule.

Is Poms' Box Office Failure Tied To Yikes Reviews?

Is Poms' Box Office Failure Tied To Yikes Reviews?

If the box office is perfectly balanced, as all things should be, that means that while Avengers: Endgame is breaking records, something else has to be failing spectacularly, and that something is the comedy Poms. The story of a group of women who start a cheerleading squad at their retirement community is the worst box office flop of the year so far for a film with a wide release on over 2,700 screens.

Poms debuted in 6th place, earning just $5.3 million against a $10 million budget over Mother’s Day weekend. Whenever a movie fails like this, it is worth doing a post-mortem and asking what happened. One of the first things worth wondering about are the yikes reviews Poms received, which certainly didn’t do it any favors. CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg highlighted the film’s lack of originality in his review, saying:

There is hardly a single underdog sports movie cliché that isn’t employed at some point, and it’s difficult to feel entirely engaged with the story when you know exactly how every single scene is going to begin and end.

Yikes indeed. Audiences need to be sold to spend their hard-earned money to come to the theater, and when the reviews warn of a cliché-ridden film that people have the impression they’ve seen before 1000 times, there is no incentive to go see it.

But maybe you’re okay with a clichéd and simple story, and you just want to laugh and have a good time. Sadly, Poms comes up short in that regard, according to the Associated Press’s Lindsey Bahr, who in her review said:

It’s fine to make a film that’s just supposed to make an audience smile but this film doesn’t even get close to that level of joy.

You can definitely see how potential audiences who read that review might have been reticent to spend money to see a movie where even the hope of cracking a smile is in doubt. And if a comedy can’t make you laugh, that’s a problem and that is definitely the case here according to IndieWire’s Jude Dry, who gave the film a “D” and said:

Poms is the first narrative feature from documentarian Zara Hayes, who wrote the script with Shane Atkinson, making his feature debut. Neither have much background in comedy, and it shows.

One of the theoretical selling points of Poms is its cast of legendary actresses, including Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Celia Weston, Rhea Perlman and Pam Grier. However, a common thread among the reviews for the film was lament that the actresses aren’t given quality roles in a well-written film to work with. In her review, The Hollywood Reporter’s Beandrea July said:

Poms is equal parts boring and infuriating, especially when you consider the actresses made to perform caricatures of old age.

By many accounts, Poms doesn’t treat its elderly characters with much respect, which is made even more galling considering the pure talent involved. That lends a sad quality to the film that may have turned off audiences. The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee, gave Poms 1 star out of 5, and if you read his review, you probably wouldn’t spend your money to see the movie either. He said:

It’s easy to praise the mere existence of Poms as a rare wide-releasing comedy populated by women over the age of 70 but rather than feeling inspired, I left the cinema feeling depressed… The women in Poms deserve better and so do we.

‘I left feeling depressed’ is not the blurb you want for an ostensibly feel-good Mother’s Day movie. And while it might be great that this movie got made and received a wide release, general audiences aren’t in the business of voting with their dollar at the box office to advance the cause of older actresses in the industry.

Poms currently has a 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning that the reviews weren’t all bad, and opening night audiences gave the film a “B+” CinemaScore, indicating those who saw it generally liked it. So is Poms' box office failure tied to the bad reviews?

It’s tough to say, but the reviews certainly couldn’t have helped. It’s difficult to know how much reviews truly influence audience’s moviegoing decisions. Plenty of horribly reviewed blockbusters make bank at the box office and countless critically acclaimed smaller films struggle to scrape together a few pennies.

I tend to think that reviews only influence audiences to an extent and that most people make up their minds before they see the reviews. It’s only when the consensus is drastically in one direction or the other that their choice can change. I also don’t know what the level or quality of the marketing across the country was for Poms.

If Poms was beloved and the reviews helped spur great word of mouth, maybe it wouldn’t have flopped in this way, but it was probably never going to really deliver. These kinds of smaller movies, rightly or wrongly, are a dying breed as blockbusters dominate the theatrical calendar. Counter-programming can be successful, and perhaps that, as well as coinciding with the Mother’s Day holiday was the strategy, but everything, including reviews, has to click, and that wasn’t the case here.

I can’t help but feel like in the current marketplace, Poms was far better suited to be released on a streaming service like Netflix. Perhaps when it arrives on a streaming service down the line, it will get a second life.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see everything headed to theater this summer and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest box office news.