Each Thursday we look at what is going to be coming out in theaters this weekend, show you the trailers for the big releases, predict the box office winner and just generally give you enough of a carrot to pull you through the rest of the work week. 2018 continues a sudden uptick in quality with two well-reviewed new films to challenge Black Panther.
Two critically acclaimed films hit theaters this weekend. Annihilation, based on The Southern Reach Trilogy, and the follow-up film to the visionary Ex Machina by director Alex Garland, is getting very good reviews. Also getting raves is the comedy Game Night starring Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman. Comedies that are also critical hits are rare, but as of writing Game Night is at 84% on RT and Annihilation is at 89%.
Annihilation (Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, R, 2hrs)
Game Night (Jason Batmeman, Rachel McAdams, R, 1hr 33min)
How Did We Do Last Week? KT picked Black Panther to make it 18 for 18 for the MCU winning opening weekends, and T’Challa did a little more than just win the weekend. Black Panther had the fifth best opening weekend of all-time with $201.8 million. It broke Deadpool’s record for best February and Presidents’ Day Weekend opening by nearly $70 million. It also broke Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ record for the biggest Monday ever on Presidents’ Day with $40.1 million Monday alone. As of writing its domestic total is $277.7 million and the film has made $493.1 million globally. After six days, it has already passed the entire domestic total of six previous MCU films, and after this weekend, Black Panther could very well be in the upper echelon of the most lucrative franchise in movie history.
(2018 Prediction Record: 7-0; Lifetime prediction record 92-10).
WHO WILL WIN THE WEEKEND?
Black Panther has become a phenomenon, and it’s not relinquishing the throne this week. In fact, projections are looking like it could hit $100 million again in its SECOND weekend! It would be only the fourth film to ever hit that mark, if it can deliver. WAKANDA FOREVER!
Annihilation looks like a more than worthy palate cleanser before I go see Black Panther again. I know that the critics like Game Night. I’m just not feeling it. I am awaiting YOUR review. That is going to settle the matter for me. No pressure.
No one applauded at the end when I saw Black Panther. It was an off hour on an off day, and the theater was not packed. But there was energy in there, I can tell you that, and people ate the end credit sequences up. Then afterwards the air was filled with excited discussions. It’s just such an easy movie to love. Everything was balanced so perfectly. The political intrigue never overstayed its welcome, the climactic battle did not overstay its welcome, the romantic subplot never even threatened to invade the actual plot, the James Bond sequence towards the beginning, where T’Challa gets his new toys then walks into the casino with his people, is the only part of the film that feels like a typical CBM, but lo, it it serves its purpose in the plot, and does not overstay its welcome.
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Wait a minute… political intrigue not overstaying its welcome… climatic battle not going on and on… romantic subplot in check….I just described the Looking Glass “Attack of the Clones” that never was.
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Sigh, it’s always you and the prequels. Whatever my issues with The Last Jedi, Attack of the Clones will-barring something unthinkable-always be the worst SW movie.
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After AOTC, as soon as the lights came up in the theater, I remember exclaiming, “I’ve been waiting to see this movie all my life!” and I did not care who heard. AOTC has terrible romantic scenes, and the part where Padme casually gets up after moaning on the ground is bizarre. The rest of the film is pure, distilled awesomeness. It comes close to being one of the best. So close, and yet so far. But still close..
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Man, I’d love to hear the speech he gave to the UN come out of the mouth of any real-world leader. Preview night, the film got thunderous applause. Annihilation is on my schedule for this weekend because Ex Machina blew my fricking mind and that says a lot because I hated this book. Game Night looks fun and I do intend on seeing it in the theater so I’ll report back, as always.
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