New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Kim Hollis: I actually think that the Freddy films are unique enough and iconic enough that this might be a pretty big opening - bigger than Friday the 13th, even. It's all going to be in the marketing, and I have no reason to think that the studio won't get the advertising in front of the right people. I will say that this does make me feel super old, though. I saw the original Nightmare on Elm Street in the theater (it was a double feature sneak with Terminator, a little film no one had ever heard of at the time).

David Mumpower: This remake almost feels like one that circumstances dictated rather than one that was planned. Once Friday the 13th made its semi-triumphant return (solid box office, abominable film quality), the die was cast for Freddy Krueger. Like others have mentioned in the thread, the good news here is that the casting demonstrates circumspect decision making. I'm inclined to give this the benefit of the doubt and go see it in theaters, something I wouldn't have done had Jackie Earl Haley not been involved. I very much enjoyed his recent work in Shutter Island and am loving his character on Human Target. His presence matters to me; for the rest of potential consumers, it's a modern take on Nightmare on Elm Street. Teens will want to see the movie their parents watched on the day during which they were conceived.

Death to MacGruber on Date Night at a Funeral

Kim Hollis: A trio of comedies featuring current and former SNL stars will be released in April. What are your expectations for Date Night, MacGruber and Death at a Funeral, respectively?

Michael Lynderey: Date Night is the one to watch - you know, the movie that opens with $42 million out of nowhere and adds yet another $100 million earner to an already-busy April. I really think Fey and Carell are as lucrative a combination as that. Death at a Funeral clearly has the star power and the target audience strong enough to get it to some very good looking numbers ($60 million total?), even if critics will probably give it the run-around. As for MacGruber... ummm... MacGruber... Well, we can't all be #1.

Josh Spiegel: I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Death at a Funeral will be the most successful film among these three. If the distributor is smart, they'll be marketing the movie towards the same crowds who go to Tyler Perry movies; though this film is a remake of a recent British comedy that got released in the States, having Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, and other talented African American actors involved is very helpful. MacGruber....I just don't know why people thought this movie should be made. Sure, I laughed at the trailer: when Val Kilmer shows up as the bad guy. The movie just seems born to fail. With regards to Date Night, I just don't see the movie doing very well. Yes, it has Carell and Fey, but Carell's only a guaranteed box-office draw when he's a 40-year old virgin. This movie looks like crap, despite having a boatload of talented actors. It might do all right, but not so well as to be the big surprise of the month.

Continued:       1       2       3       4