LAS VEGAS – Frankly, the last thing any studio really wants to do with their CinemaCon presentation is start an awards conversation about one of their releases. That is, of course, unless they think that hype will encourage theater owners to book that picture more or in more ideal scenarios. Often though, a film that has unique commercial prospects that fits right into that Oscar window ends up being teased in some manner or another.

Continue reading ‘Rocketman,’ ‘Ford vs. Ferrari,’ ‘Good Liar’ Top CinemaCon Oscar Reveals at The Playlist.

LAS VEGAS – Just two films after his groundbreaking and Academy Award-winning work in “Life of Pi” is it out of bounds to suggest director Ang Lee might need a career intervention?  After the shockingly bad misfire “Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk” two years ago (a movie that wasn’t good whether it was shot in 120 frame rate or not), Lee is set to return to the big screen with “Gemini Man,” a thriller starring Will Smith that was one of the centerpieces of Paramount Pictures 2019 CinemaCon presentation on Thursday.  

Continue reading Will Smith & Ang Lee’s ‘Gemini Man’ Feels Lost From The ’90s [CinemaCon] at The Playlist.

LAS VEGAS – Are you ready for yet another “Terminator” movie? Just four years after “Terminator: Genysis” and 10 years after “Terminator Salvation” Paramount Pictures and Skydance have brought the whole gang back together for “Terminator: Dark Fate.” Directed by Tim Miller (“Deadpool“) and produced by franchise creator James Cameron, the new installment was one of the centerpieces of Paramount’s presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday.

Continue reading Linda Hamilton Looks Bad-Ass In ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ But That Might Be It [CinemaCon] at The Playlist.

LAS VEGAS – “Avengers: Endgame” doesn’t arrive in theaters for another 23 days, but that didn’t stop Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios from providing one of the few extended sneak peeks at the highly anticipated blockbuster during their busy CinemaCon presentation. None of the talent from the film were on hand (the Russo Brothers were en route to accept an award tomorrow), but the footage shown likely wet the appetites of theater owners hoping for returns at the same level as last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War.”

For those who prefer not to have any other details from the film spoiled, this is your last warning to avoid them.

Continue reading ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Sneak Gives Captain Marvel Answers [CinemaCon] at The Playlist.

LAS VEGAS – Warner Bros. is coming off a record-breaking year at the box office and if there is any film that can help them return to that lofty status it’s Andy Muschietti’s “It Chapter 2,” the sequel to the 2017 hit “It.” The first chapter earned a stunning $700 million worldwide and proved that you could date a tentpole the Friday after Labor Day (a date which was usually a dumping ground for weak product) and still launch a blockbuster.

Continue reading ‘It Chapter 2’: Jessica Chastain Finds A Different Monster In Creepy CinemaCon Footage at The Playlist.

LAS VEGAS – Before footage of his “Joker” was screened at CinemaCon and before it was revealed in a teaser trailer to the world, director Todd Phillips wanted everyone to know they got it wrong. Whatever there take was on his movie, it wasn’t correct. That being said, when he met with Warner Bros. marketing team he admitted he couldn’t describe the film to them. Eventually, they asked what genre it was and he said, “a tragedy.”  Judging from the teaser trailer show, that seems pretty accurate.

Continue reading Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Joker’ Realizes His Tragic Life Is Actually A Comedy [CinemaCon] at The Playlist.

LAS VEGAS – Simply put, STX isn’t interested in your tentpole blockbusters. That’s the message the mini-major has been sending to theater owners since it first pitched its wares at CinemaCon three years ago. As chairman Adam Fogelson reiterated today, they’d certainly be happy with those box office returns, but their goal is to take their chances with the midrange pictures the big studios rarely make anymore. Word of mouth films that stay in theaters for weeks such as holiday release “Second Act,” which took in $71 million domestic, and “The Upside,” a distribution agreement for Lantern Entertainment that has grossed $107 million in the U.S.

Continue reading Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Gentlemen’ & Chadwick Boseman’s ’21 Bridges’ Proves STX’s Future Is Bright [CinemaCon] at The Playlist.