Top 5 Movies of Winter 2019

[OldPhiKap]

Just got back from seeing 1917. Two initial thoughts:

1. If someone told a better story on film in 2019, I didn’t see it. I’ll take 1917 for best film and Mendes for best director. I’ll refrain from saying more in a spoiler-free thread.

2. I predict 1917 will make the top 5 in our contest. Anecdotal, I know, but this film has the same kind of buzz among my family and friends as American Sniper. I’m not comparing the content of the movies, just saying that a lot of folks who don’t normally go to the theater are planning on seeing 1917. My small-town theater was sold out for both shows tonight and that doesn’t happen often on Thursday nights when school is in session. Factor in long legs from awards buzz and positive word of mouth and I will be shocked if it doesn’t clear $150 million. I think $200 million+ is more likely.

I have been looking forward to this movie since the first trailer I saw months ago. Thanks for no spoilers! Finally in my town now and gonna hit it over the weekend.

[JasonEvans]

I predict 1917 will make the top 5 in our contest. Anecdotal, I know, but this film has the same kind of buzz among my family and friends as American Sniper. I’m not comparing the content of the movies, just saying that a lot of folks who don’t normally go to the theater are planning on seeing 1917. My small-town theater was sold out for both shows tonight and that doesn’t happen often on Thursday nights when school is in session. Factor in long legs from awards buzz and positive word of mouth and I will be shocked if it doesn’t clear $150 million. I think $200 million+ is more likely.

Advance ticket sales for 1917 really spiked after the Golden Globe win. Hollywood was expecting about a $20-25 mil opening a week ago. Now, it looks like $30 mil is a sure thing and we could be talking more like $35 mil. As I said a few days ago, if it gets a bunch of Oscar noms, this film could be a real contender.

[accfanfrom1970]

I have been looking forward to this movie since the first trailer I saw months ago. Thanks for no spoilers! Finally in my town now and gonna hit it over the weekend.

Saw it today, riveting. Well worth the Imax upcharge.

[Nick]

Looks like TROS will struggle to beat Rogue One:
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[CameronBornAndBred]

Nobody will complain that Birds of Prey is long winded. It checks in at under 110 minutes.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/birds-pre...100900931.html

[OldPhiKap]

FWIW SonPK and I just re-watched Joker now that it is on Demand and HBO. More impressed the second time through than the first. Brilliant; disturbing.

[PackMan97]

Nobody will complain that Birds of Prey is long winded. It checks in at under 110 minutes.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/birds-pre...100900931.html

110 minutes too long

[OldPhiKap]

Good numbers for 1917 (and well-deserved IMO):

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/12/media...ars/index.html

[Acymetric]

Nobody will complain that Birds of Prey is long winded. It checks in at under 110 minutes.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/birds-pre...100900931.html

110 minutes too long

I didn't even know they made movies under 2 hours anymore.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I didn't even know they made movies under 2 hours anymore.

It is either going to work out masterfully, or be a disaster. From the trailers, there is LOTS of action, so in a short runtime the story must be told with imagery and special effects. Obviously, that doesn't leave much room for dialogue. But you know what...the source material is a comic book! Maybe they've nailed it.

[Nick]

Bad news for the handful of people (including me) that picked "Doolittle": the reviewers are savaging this one. It's the second coming of "Cats"... 13% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic.

I would say it's between "Birds of Prey" and the field for the #5 spot, but "Bad Boys" is, somewhat surprisingly, getting good reviews.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Bad news for the handful of people (including me) that picked "Doolittle": the reviewers are savaging this one. It's the second coming of "Cats"... 13% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic.

I would say it's between "Birds of Prey" and the field for the #5 spot, but "Bad Boys" is, somewhat surprisingly, getting good reviews.

I have exactly zero interest in Doolittle, but the trailers look atrocious. Maybe RDJ comes back down to earth.

[JasonEvans]

I would say it's between "Birds of Prey" and the field for the #5 spot, but "Bad Boys" is, somewhat surprisingly, getting good reviews.

Knives Out is currently at $140 mil and looks like it will make it to $150 mil (a few more key Oscar nominations could have been a real help). Unless I am missing something, it is currently in our #5 spot and there is a decent chance that will hold.

-Jason "we should not discount 1917's chance of getting 'field' into this competition... that $37 mil opening and huge word of mouth could really put it into contention" Evans

[Acymetric]

Knives Out is currently at $140 mil and looks like it will make it to $150 mil (a few more key Oscar nominations could have been a real help). Unless I am missing something, it is currently in our #5 spot and there is a decent chance that will hold.

-Jason "we should not discount 1917's chance of getting 'field' into this competition... that $37 mil opening and huge word of mouth could really put it into contention" Evans

Underestimate Bad Boys III at your own peril!

[OldPhiKap]

Maybe if the next movie is Dr. Doolittle talking to the Cats, and we add Rob Schneider or my personal favorite Neil Breen, we can turn those franchises around.

[JasonEvans]

Early tracking estimates put Birds of Prey at a $50+ mil opening. Unless the film generates negative word of mouth, that would make something like $160 million in total boxoffice close to a lock with potential to be well north of that.

The film is really hot right now with the under 25 demo, with young males, followed by young females making it their first choice. Unaided awareness, those who cite the movie without being prodded in tracking’s survey, is great with young females.

-Jason "this could be my first ever 5-for-5... I'm giddy with excitement" Evans

[JasonEvans]

Underestimate Bad Boys III at your own peril!

Looking like it will be around a $43 mil opening... it will certainly be a contender. There are 4 films in the running for spot #5: Knives Out, 1917 (field), Bad Boys III, and Birds of Prey.

[DUKIECB]

Early tracking estimates put Birds of Prey at a $50+ mil opening. Unless the film generates negative word of mouth, that would make something like $160 million in total boxoffice close to a lock with potential to be well north of that.



-Jason "this could be my first ever 5-for-5... I'm giddy with excitement" Evans

Me too! I think I posted my pics first so does that mean I win the tiebreaker? lol

[Nick]

Wow: Bad Boys looks like it will come in somewhere around $65-70 million, far above initial forecasts. The new BOP trailer is just as bad as the old one, so this looks like the film to round out our top 5.

[JasonEvans]

Wow: Bad Boys looks like it will come in somewhere around $65-70 million, far above initial forecasts. The new BOP trailer is just as bad as the old one, so this looks like the film to round out our top 5.

Just to clarify, that appears to be the 4-day MLK holiday number (looking like it will be about $68 mil), not the weekend. The 3-day weekend number will be a still very impressive $59 million and there is no question at all that Bad Boys III is a strong contender, the front-runner, for the #5 spot in our contest at this time.

-Jason "If Bad Boys is our #5, then Acymetric will be the sole 5-for-5 winner this time" Evans