Movie Weekend Preview & Trailers 2015: 'A Most Violent Year', 'The Woman in Black 2' Lead Weekend Movies
The first weekend of the year will see two major releases and several holdovers competing at the box office.
Among the many holdovers at the box office include "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," which is expected to soar and win the box office. Meanwhile, "Unbroken" and "Into the Woods" will likely play to family audiences.
The Weinstein Company will continue to expand "The Imitation Game," as well as the new Tim Burton film "Big Eyes." Fox Searchlight will also expand the Reese Witherspoon starrer "Wild" after a successful holiday run while "The Interview" will hit 250 more theaters.
Other films that will continue to play include "Night at the Museum," "Annie" and "Big Hero 6."
In limited release, Paramount will expand "Selma" in 22 theaters before its wide release and Radius TWC will continue to push "Citizenfour." The box office hit "American Sniper" will continue to play in four theaters while "Inherent Vice" will continue in 16 theaters. "Birdman" will also continue in theaters, as well as "The Theory of Everything," and the awards contender "The Homesman" starring Hilary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones.
However, if these film don't interest audiences there are two new releases:
A Most Violent Year
The latest J.C Chandor film might have opened on New Year's Eve, but the film will be playing its first weekend and it is one of the most anticipated films of the year. Starring Guatemalan actor Oscar Isaac and Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain, the film tells the story an ambitious Latin American immigrant who fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history. The film also stars Colombian actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, Albert Brooks, David Oyelowo and Elyes Gabel and has scored rave reviews. Latin Post said the film showcased "Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain as Perfect Adversaries" and even ranked it as the best film of the year. The movie is a serious Oscar contender as it was named the Best Film of the Year by the National Board of Review. Additionally, it has scored Golden Globe nominations, Critics Choice nominations and several other critics' prizes. Los Angeles and New York will get the film first before it opens nationwide Jan. 31.
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
Three years after the release of the original film, Relativity will attempt to relive the success of the Daniel Radcliffe film. The sequel stars Helen McCrory and Jeremy Irvine and takes place 40 years after the first haunting at Eel Marsh House. This time a group of children evacuated from WWII London arrive, awakening the house's darkest inhabitant once again. The new installment currently has terrible reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, its aggregate score is currently 36 percent and the consensus is that the film is atmospheric and visually sharp, but it's short on tension and scares. Relativity is opening it in 2,600 theaters, but unlike the first one, this seems to be generating less interest. The original installment scored rave reviews and also starred Radcliffe, who is better known in the U.S. Additionally, the sequel comes three after the original and based on 2014's sequel's, this not bode well.
In art house theaters, Magnolia will release the horror feature "REC 4: Apocalypse." The movie is scoring positive reviews and is also opening on VOD.
Meanwhile, IFC Films will release the documentary "The Search for General Tso." The movie premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival as well as the AFI Doc Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival. The movie scored rave reviews and will also be released on VOD.