This weekend saw two of the year’s most successful specialty films expand and a few others jump into the arthouse market, where recent weeks have seen some new entrants alongside a plethora of wide releases.
wes anderson’s asteroid city From last weekend’s six-theater blockbuster opening ($800k in three days) for Focus Features, it has expanded to 1,675 locations today. A24’s past life by Celine Song, which debuted on four screens in early June, has expanded to 296. They are joined by a documentary on epic cyclist Greg LeMond ahead of the Tour de France, and the first theatrical release by Wayward Entertainment, launching in late 2021. Vince Totino, former CEO of Revolution Studios, and John Hegman, former president of Orion Pictures, are focusing on genre titles.
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the way is opening God is a pill Directed and written by Nick Cassavetes, on 375 screens. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars as a detective whose ex-wife is murdered and daughter is kidnapped by an insidious cult. He takes matters into his own hands, infiltrating a secret organization with the help of an escaped cult victim (MAYKA MONROE). With Jamie Foxx and Karl Glusman.
The film is counter-programming, Hegeman told Deadline, running only two late showings in theaters, which helped it attract dates from exhibitors with busy screens. The R-rated revenge thriller has potentially doubled its theatrical footprint, while not insisting on a full complement of shows for the edgy. Independent distributors and theaters have had to get creative post-Covid to attract audiences to smaller films beyond the big studio franchises.
Roadside Attractions opens documentary directed by Alex Holmes last rider 105 on screen. The story of Greg LeMond, the first and only American to win the Tour de France, one of the greatest cyclists of all time, and the story of a triumphant comeback. LeMond, at death’s door after a hunting accident, emerged to defeat famous rivals in the historic and thrilling race of the 1989 Tour de France. The film, which premiered in Telluride, includes exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage of LeMond and his wife, Cathy. Its title is a reference to LeMond’s competition in the era before doping scandals grabbed cycling’s headlines. The release is partly timed in relation to this year’s Tour de France, which starts on 1 July. The road side has been heavily marketed to the biking community. LeMond hosted a screening this week at the Regal Pinnacle in Knoxville, where he lives.
Music Box Films Presents Alice Winocors Revoir Paris ,paris memories) at the IFC Center for Film and Lincoln Center in New York, expanding to LA’s Lemle Royal next week. premiered at Cannes last year, see Deadline review. Starring Virginie Efira and Benoît Magimel. Three months after surviving a terrorist attack at a bistro, Mia is still in shock and unable to remember the events of that night. In an effort to move forward, she examines her memories and retraces her steps.
optional joinFrom Trafalgar,Grateful Dead Meet-up at the Movies 2023 It will be shown in 478 US theaters (572 worldwide) on June 24 (following a June 22 engagement). A year after Brent Mydland’s passing, Grateful Dead Summer returned to the stadium circuit, playing Chicago’s Soldier Field for the first time, with two keyboard players to fill the seat left vacant by Brent. The presence and musical contributions of Bruce Hornsby and Vince Welnick rejuvenated and enlivened the Grateful Dead, often regarded as one of the greatest shows of the Bruce-Vince era.
Other Opening, Limited Release: Momentum Pictures Presents Mockumentary maximum truth By David Stassen, Written by Stassen and Ike Barinholtz. A documentary crew follows political corrupter Rick Clingman as he teams up with his friend Simon to defeat a rival congressional candidate.
Nancy Buirsky’s Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Opens in NY (Film Forum) and LA (Laemmle Town Center, Laemmle Royal), from Zeitgeist/Kino Lorber, premiered in Venice and Telluride. See Deadline review. Documentary about “the immensely talented and flawed people behind a dark and difficult masterpiece”; New York City in a troubled time of cultural excitement; And the era that made a film and the film that made an era.”
Presents Greenwich Entertainment Here. Is. better.Director Jack Youngleson’s documentary about the growing mental health crisis in America examines veterans’ experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vaccines includes prominent politicians, veterans and podcast hosts (majority 54) Jason Kander, sharing his journey through treatment for the first time. In three theaters in NY, LA, Chicago.
showing indican pictures kings of la, at Laemmles in Santa Clarita and NoHo. A young man at a turning point in his life struggles to overcome the socio-economic evils and temptations of his South Central community as the demographics and culture change around him. Written and directed by Van Alder. Starring Paula Jay Parker, Michael Pare, Elimi Ballard.
Presents Wise Lars Lorraine and Rose Starring Jacqueline Bisset and Kelly Blatz as an iconic actress and a promising filmmaker who form a bond over the course of a series of lunches at a supernatural restaurant. Written and directed by Russell Brown.
Buffalo 8 Presents love gets a room Laemmle Royal by Rodrigo Cortes in six theatres, including Laemmle Town Centre. With Clara Ragard, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Mark Ryder.
netflix animated opening nimona Adapted from ND Stevenson’s iconic graphic novel at The IFC Center, LA’s Bay and a few locations in Paris and NYC. With Chloë Grace Moretz, Eugene Lee Yang, Riz Ahmed. It had its world premiere at the Annecy International Film Festival.
China Lion Film Distribution presents Prosecutor By Alan Mak, with Baihe Bai, Johnny Huang, Liqun Wang. A murder mystery involving the death of an unethical and dangerous businessman.