The majority of UK-Ireland cinemas will remain open this weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, with distributors moving ahead with new releases.
Government ‘formal guidance’ for the period of mourning was sent by the UK Cinema Associationto its members yesterday shortly before the Queen’s death was confirmed. The guidance states there is “no expectation” for businesses – including cinemas – to close unless they wish to.
A government update received by the UKCA today and sent to members does not include any changes to this advice.
Screen has contacted the distributors of all films playing in the UK and Ireland this weekend, including the 15 titles opening in cinemas; none are currently withdrawing or altering the release plans for their films. Screen will provide updates should the situation change; only one distributor reported that one cinema had cancelled screenings for today.
This will be welcome news for this weekend’s new releases, with distributors already having spent significant outlay on press and marketing.
New titles
Disney is back in cinemas with its first new titles in over two months. The studio is opening Tom George’s comedy-mystery See How They Run in 690 locations, through Disney’s Searchlight Picturs label.
It is a debut feature for UK filmmaker George, who previously created, wrote and directed hit BBC comedy series This Country. Set in the West End of 1950s London, the whodunnit sees plans for a film version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered.
An all-star ensemble cast includes Saoirse Ronan, Sam Rockwell, Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, Sian Clifford and Shirley Henderson, plus former Screen Stars of Tomorrow Harris Dickinson (2017), David Oyelowo (2005) and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (2022). UK stalwart Damian Jones produced the film alongside Gina Carter, shooting in spring 2021.
Sony is opening social media-era comedy-horror Bodies Bodies Bodies in 522 locations. The film debuted at SXSW festival in March, having its UK premiere as the ‘surprise film’ at Sundance London in June.
It is a first US feature for actor-turned-director Halina Reijn, whose debut film Instinct was the Netherlands’ entry for best international feature at the 2020 Oscars.
In Bodies Bodies Bodies, when a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly. The ensemble cast include Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, Chase Sui Wonders, Pete Davidson, Myha’la Herrold and Lee Pace. It is produced by US firm A24, which released the title in the US, scoring an impressive $10.9m gross to date.
Vertigo is releasing David Cronenberg’s Cannes 2022 Competition title Crimes Of The Future in 160 locations. The body horror takes place in a world where humans adapt to a synthetic environment, and a celebrity performance artists showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. Viggo Mortensen, Lea Seydoux and Kristen Stewart star.
It is Cronenberg’s second feature film with this title, after a 1970 film that has an unrelated story and concept. The new film is Cronenberg’s first since 2014’s Maps To The Stars; his highest-grossing title in the territory remains 2005’s A History Of Violence, also starring Mortensen, with £3.8m.
Paramount has the second-widest opening this weekend, with family animation Tad The Lost Explorer And The Curse Of The Mummy in 614 locations. It is the third film in the Spanish-origin Tad… series, known as Tadeo Jones in many international territories.
Curzon is starting Both Sides Of The Blade – known as Fire in many territories – which won Claire Denis the Silver Bear for best director when it debuted at the Berlinale this year. The love triangle drama stars Juliet Binoche and Vincent Lindon.
Two differing UK musicals land in cinemas this weekend. Malachi Smyth’s heist musical The Score starring Screen Stars of Tomorrow Will Poulter (2013), Johnny Flynn (2005) and Naomi Ackie (2017) starts in nine sites through Republic Film Distribution; while Kaleidoscope has Nick Winston’s Tomorrow Morning, starring Joan Collins, Samantha Barks and Omid Djalili.
Disney is also starting Hindi-language Indian feature Brahmastra Part 1: Shiva in 220 sites; Netflix is handling a select release for 2022 Screen Star of Tomorrow Eddie Sternberg’s I Used To Be Famous; while Cosmic Cat Film has Scottish surfing documentary Ride The Wave in seven locations, three of which have sold out already.
Re-releases include a substantial 462-location re-opening of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws by Universal; and Luis Bunuel’s The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie in eight sites through Studiocanal.
Cinemas will hope several of these new titles can freshen up their offerings; last week’s number one Minions: The Rise Of Gru is now on its 11th weekend in cinemas, while Top Gun Maverick (16 weekends) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (39 weekends) both made the top five.
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