Limited and VOD Releases: Limited Releases Take to the Sky
December 6, 2019
December should be a prime month to release an Awards Season contender, one that will last in theaters potentially for months. However, while there are at least a couple of films on this week’s list that could win awards, none of them look like they will thrive in theaters. Some like The Aeronauts have just too short of a window between theatrical release and VOD debut.
The Aeronauts - Reviews
Daniel Isn’t Real - Reviews
The Disappearance of my Mother - Reviews
I See You - Reviews
In Fabric - Reviews
The Kindness of Strangers - Reviews
Knives and Skin - Reviews
Little Joe - Reviews
Marriage Story - Reviews
Midnight Family - Reviews
A Million Little Pieces - Reviews
Portrait of a Lady on Fire - Reviews
The Wolf Hour - Reviews
Secondary VOD Releases:
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This film is by far the biggest release in terms of pre-release buzz. In fact, there was talk it was going to open wide, or at least semi-wide. Unfortunately, it only has till the 20th before it hits Video on Demand, which is not enough time to find an audience in theaters.
Video on Demand
The first of a trio of horror movies earning good reviews, but that are playing on VOD. This one has the best reviews, not that it matters, as horror films rarely do well in limited release under the best of circumstances and playing on VOD isn’t the best for its theatrical numbers.
Benedetta Barzini has been a public figure all of her life, but now she wants to disappear from the spotlight. However, her son wants to make a movie about her before that happens. The film’s reviews are currently unanimously positive, but the average score is just 7.4 out of 10, which isn’t nearly as good as its Tomatometer Score. It should still do well during its opening weekend, but it is not an Awards Season contender.
Video on Demand
One of a handful of films on this week’s list earning reviews that are in the overall positive level, but not overwhelmingly positive. Furthermore, it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are negligible.
Art house horror with amazing reviews. However, it begins streaming on Video On Demand on Tuesday, so it has almost no chance of finding an audience in theaters.
Great cast. Terrible reviews. Moving on.
This film looks at the after effects of when a high school girl in a small town goes missing. It is a neo-noir coming of age film, which certainly sounds interesting, but the reviews are merely good and I’m not sure they are good enough to thrive in limited release.
Video on Demand
A geneticist and single mother bring home a sample of a new flower she developed, but it turns out to be more dangerous that she imagined. The film’s reviews are good, but not good enough to thrive in limited release. That said, it is worth a VOD rental.
Video on Demand
This film has already earned some Awards Season success and it looks to turn its Independent Spirit Award nominations into box office dollars. Not only does this film have some early Awards Season success and amazing reviews, but it also has better star power than most limited releases could hope for. On the negative side, it is also a Netflix film and more people will stream it than will watch it in theaters.
A documentary about a family that operates a struggling private ambulance service in an affluent neighborhood in Mexico City. The film’s reviews are currently unanimously positive and there is some talk of Awards Season glory for the film. Getting off to a fast start at the box office would help.
Video on Demand
After James Frey gets black out drunk, and badly injured, one too many times, he decides he needs to head to rehab. This is not his first film to deal with rehab; in fact, it is a very common subject matter. Sadly, this film does next to nothing to help it stand apart from a very crowded field and there’s little reason to watch this film rather that any of its fellow rehab movies.
A woman artist is hired to paint the wedding portrait of a reluctant bride-to-be. However, the two women develop deep bond. The film’s reviews are award-worthy and it is earning some of the loudest pre-release buzz of any film on this week’s list. That said, it very likely won’t escape the art house circuit.
Most critics agree that Naomi Watts gives an excellent performance in this movie, but also most critics agree the script isn’t up to her performance and the overall movie is rather mediocre. Wait till it hits the home market.
Beyond the Law - No Reviews - Video On Demand
Grand Isle - Reviews - Video on Demand
Most Likely to Succeed - Reviews - Video on Demand
A New Christmas - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Trauma Center - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Most Likely to Succeed is clearly the best of a weak list of secondary VOD titles. The rest of them either have no reviews or no positive reviews.
Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, I See You, The Wolf Hour, In Fabric, The Aeronauts, A Million Little Pieces, The Kindness of Strangers, Grand Isle, Knives and Skin, Midnight Family, Portrait de la jeune fille en feu, Daniel Isn’t Real, Trauma Center, Marriage Story, Little Joe, Storia di B. — La scomparsa di mia madre, Most Likely to Succeed, A New Christmas, Beyond the Law, Scarlett Johansson, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Adele Haenel, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Noémie Merlant, Benedetta Barzini