By Chris Kavan - 11/20/19 at 10:32 PM CT
After a string of disappointing sequels that have failed to ignite the box office, the streak should come to an end as Disney's monster hit Frozen is getting a sequel - one that could very much rival the first film in terms of opening. But that's not all as Tom Hanks seems primed for some awards-season love playing Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - which is getting even better reviews than last week's winner Ford v Ferrari. That leaves 21 Bridges, an action-packed crime film starring Chadwick Boseman as the X factor. It could bring in audiences, but it also could get lost in the mix. Time will tell.
FROZEN II While Frozen is no longer the highest-grossing animated film of all time - $400 million domestic and $1.27 billion worldwide is nothing to sneeze at. The Disney/Pixar machine has been smart with the way they roll out sequels - Incredibles 2 proves that just because you don't release a sequel soon after the first doesn't mean anything. Frozen II is hitting six years after Frozen and I don't think it's going to hurt it one bit. The cast you know and love is all back - Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad return as Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf. New talent includes Evan Rachel Wood, Sterling K. Brown and Jason Ritter. I have to say the previews make this look a little darker, not that I'm complaining - as Elsa searches for the origin of her powers - as the kingdom of Arendelle experiences some strange weather-related phenomena. Both of these issues lead her North - along with Anna, Kristoff and Olaf - in a perpetually autumnal forest that holds its own secrets - and dangers. I'm not sure if the youngest in the crowd are going to be as entertained, but I think clearly the film will resonate with those in the tween category - and the parents should have a good time too. Unknown if this sequel will provide a song as all-encompassing as "Let It Go" but even if it doesn't have that big of hook, I expect this to open huge and play well - probably through the end of the year even. Will is be as successful as Frozen? That's hard to say - it has Thanksgiving coming up, and while not often a huge boon for Hollywood, if anything will break big over the holiday, it will be a family-friendly option.
Last week saw true-life drama Ford v Ferrari take the victory lap and certainly open up its options for awards season. While the Fred Rogers feel-good biography A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood won't top the box office, based on early reviews, it still looks like it will come in first in the hearts of audiences. I mean, who better to portray Rogers than Tom Hanks - it's a natural fit if there ever was one. The film follows a jaded journalist Lloyd Vogel (The Americans standout Matthew Rhys) who feels interviewing Rogers is a mere puff-piece assignment - only to find his entire outlook changed as the two form a friendship - one that will last long after the interview is over. Now, the only pitfall for this film is if it plays things too saccharine, which, when you're dealing with someone so damn nice as Mr. Rogers, is a concern. Still, if anyone can pull off this role, it is Hanks and I have a feeling audiences will be more than happy to support it. Now, while this is rated PG, I do think it is angling more towards adults than families - though it will still overlap with Frozen II I'm sure - and be a strong secondary candidate should the animated sequel be sold out or otherwise unavailable. We'll see how that goes, but I suspect this will be a strong candidate in the top five.
Here's the wildcard for the weekend, completely different than the two family-friendly options, 21 Bridges is an old-school action/crime offering. Chadwick Boseman plays Andre Davis, an officer who specialized in hunting down cop killers, stemming from an incident where his own father was killed while on the job. But the latest killing turns out to be more than some thrill-killers, and, after locking down New York to capture them, discovers a far-reaching conspiracy - one that reaches deep within the NYPD. Sienna Miller, J.K. Simmons, Stephan James, Taylor Kitsch, Keith David and Alexander Siddig help round out the cast. This looks like a classic action film - lots of "who can you trust" type things going on, red herrings, drama - all that wrapped up in a tight package. That being said, it faces an uphill battle with its saving grace being that it is the only hard action film out right now. I don't know if that's going to be enough to save it at the box office, but it certainly isn't going to hurt its chances.
The weekend is going to be dominated by Frozen II - which should open to some huge numbers. It may be enough to finally perk up the box office as we near the year's end, with some more heavy-hitting films on the way. I'll be back Sunday with the breakdown.
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