Trailer: Click to Play
Distributor: Focus Features
MPAA Rating: R for violence.
Source: Based on Fiction Book/Short Story
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Directed By: Tom Bezucha
Written By: Tom Bezucha, Larry Watson
Starring: Diane Lane, Kevin Costner
Production Budget:
Box Office Potential: $10 million

Following the loss of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge and his wife Margaret leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas, headed by matriarch Blanche Weboy. When they discover the Weboys have no intention of letting the child go, George and Margaret are left with no choice but to fight for their family.

Since theaters started reopening, we’ve seen a steady supply of thrillers and horror movies, which are genres that, at least in theory, work well in drive-in theaters and socially-distanced screening rooms. While Unhinged has done pretty good business, with over $20 million earned so far, Honest Thief will fall short of that number, and hasn’t hit $10 million yet, and Infidel has grossed around $4 million. Let Him Go has similar star power to Unhinged and Honest Thief, so $10 million seems like a reasonable bet for this one, with some downside risk due to the increasing prevalence of COVID-19, and the upside potential of coming close to Unhinged’s numbers.

Trailer: Click to Play
Distributor: Universal
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody horror violence, sexual content, and language throughout.
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Horror - Horror Comedy
Directed By: Christopher Landon
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton
Box Office Potential: $15 million

Seventeen-year-old Millie Kessler is just trying to survive the bloodthirsty halls of Blissfield High and the cruelty of the popular crowd. But when she becomes the newest target of The Butcher, her town’s infamous serial killer, her senior year becomes the least of her worries. When The Butcher’s mystical ancient dagger causes him and Millie to wake up in each other’s bodies, Millie learns that she has just 24 hours to get her body back before the switch becomes permanent and she’s trapped in the form of a middle-aged maniac forever.

This seems on paper to have good potential: a well-received trailer, good reviews so far, and a bankable cast. The New Mutants is the most successful horror movie released recently, with $23 million to date, although that was helped by pent up demand and a PG-13 rating. Freaky will most likely fall short of that, but $15 million seems on the cards.

Trailer: Click to Play
Distributor: Universal
MPAA Rating: PG for peril, action and rude humor.
Source: Original Screenplay
Genre: Adventure
Directed By: Joel Crawford
Written By: Kevin Hageman, Dan Hageman
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, Clark Duke, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds
Box Office Potential: $30 million

The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans. Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together.

As already noted, there has to be a question mark over whether this film arrives in theaters as planned. Universal might be planning to look closely at the performance of Let Him Go and Freaky first. With Freaky coming out two weeks before Croods 2, the studio could change their plans based on some hard evidence. The risk in doing that would be a terminal breakdown in relations with the theater owners and operators. But, if Let Him Go and Freaky both underperform, and more theaters close due to pandemic restrictions or commercial considerations, a Thanksgiving PVOD release for Croods can’t be ruled out.