Weekend Preview 2015: 'Spy,' 'Entourage' and 'Insidious Chapter 3' Offer Up A Mix of Genres
This weekend three new releases will invade the marketplace. After a disappointing season filled with some successes and a number of bombs, "Spy," "Entourage" and "Insidious: Chapter 3" will try to give the month of June a bright start.
"Entourage" - Warner Bros. will get a head start as it will release the film adapted from the HBO show on Wednesday. "Entourage", which stars Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara, tells the story of movie star Vincent Chase, who, together with his boys Eric, Turtle, and Johnny, are back in business with super-agent-turned-studio head Ari Gold on a risky project that will serve as Vince's directorial debut. The movie has already scored terrible reviews with critics stating that fans of the original 2004 show will enjoy it but newcomers will have a hard time with it. Warner Bros. has been giving the film a strong marketing push and that can help the film open with at least $35 million. However, it is unlikely the movie will open at number one.
"Spy" - Melissa McCarthy and Paul Feig re-team after their successful films "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids." This time, "Spy" tells the story of a desk-bound CIA analyst who volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster. The movie also stars Jude Law, Jason Statham and Rose Byrne and has scored rave reviews. "Spy" currently has a 95 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes and is expected to open at number one with $43 million. If the film opens to these promising numbers, it would once again demonstrate that McCarthy is a huge box office draw. The actress has already shown her strength with a number of comedies including "St. Vincent," "The Heat" and "Identity Thief."
"Insidious: Chapter 3" - After two successful installments, Focus Features will unveil the third installment, which is a prequel set before the haunting of the Lambert family that reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity. The movie has received a big marketing campaign but faces an uphill battle. "Insidious: Chapter 3" does not star any familiar faces and it also does not star Rose Byrne or Patrick Wilson, who headlined the first two films. It also does not help that horror flicks have not performed well at the box office as of late. However, with the lack of horror movies currently in the marketplace, anything is possible.
"Testament of Youth" - Starring Alicia Vikander and Kit Harrington, the romance tells the story of a British woman who recalls coming of age during World War I. Sony Pictures Classics has given the film a strong marketing campaign, especially since the film has rave reviews and awards buzz. Additionally, after the exceptional box office of "Far from the Madding Crowd," Sony will try to tap into the same audience that made that film a success. "Testament of Youth" opens in L.A and NY and is expected to expand in the later weeks.
In art house theaters, two Venice Film Festival winners will be released. The first will be "Hungry Hearts" starring Adam Driver. The movie won the best actor and best actress awards at Venice and IFC Films will release the movie in limited release and on demand.
Golden Lion winner "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" will open in N.Y. and L.A. through Magnolia Pictures. The film has been hailed by critics and is likely to become a big art house hit.
Roadside Attractions' "Love & Mercy" will also open alongside Zeitgeist's "Every Last Child" and Parade Deck Films' "How to Save Us." Well Go USA will also open "Police Story: Lockdown."