By Chris Kavan - 12/16/20 at 11:31 AM CT
With fallout from the bombshell Warner Bros. announcment still ongoing, Disney had their big reveal and it turns out the future of the Mouse House includes big movies, yes, but a lot of streaming series as well. Sure, there's going to be a new (and quite possibly good) Fantastic Four film - and a female-directed Rogue Squadron movie (congrats to Patty Jenkins) - but perhaps the bigger news was just how many Star Wars and MCU shows are going to come to your home screen. No less than 22 series in the MCU and Star Wars universe were announced, including ones focused on Ahsoka, Lando Calrissian and the Rangers of the New Republic. Joining the previously-announced MCU series, we are also getting Nick Fury (and friends) in Secret Invasion, Ironheart and Armor Wars. In terms of films, Disney is moving the live-action versino of Pinocchio and Peter and Wendy to the streaming service and pulling a Wonder Woman 1984 for the animated Raya and the Last Dragon, releasing in both theaters and streaming at the same time. Unlike Warner Bros. however, Disney is still planning to release most of their biggest films (including the MCU films, Jungle Cruise and more) exclusively in theaters (though how long that window between release and streaming could be shorter). Disney is better big on streaming but they're not giving up on theaters and hopefully that will be enough to get 2021 back on track if theaters can hold out.
Speaking of theaters, once again The Croods: A New Age topped the box office and, once again, it was the only film to earn over $1 million. With a $3 million first-place finish, the animated film hit $24.3 million, a Covid-era home run. That total puts it ahead of both Unhinged ($20 million) and New Mutants ($23 million). It is also proving a hit in China, where its $46 million was enough to top Mulan ($41 million) making it the second-biggest hit in that territory behind Tenet. All in all, it has made $52.3 million overseas for a decent $76.7 million worldwide total. The rest of the box office is a non-starter, with the re-release of Elf landing in third place with $400,000 ($470 per-theater average) if that tells you anything.
After controversy tanked its chances in China, Monster Hunter has moved up to December 18 for a domestic release and we'll see if Paul W.S. Anderson's video game adaptation can light up the limited box office. There's little to talk about this week on the ratings front, with a Netflix original the best I can offer.
For streaming options, Netflix is still one of the best options and their output for original films shows little sign of slowing. Thus we have Outside the Wire which stars Damson Idris as drone pilot who must team up with an android office, Harp (Anthony Mackie) in order to track down a doomsday device located deep within a dangerous militarized zone. Game of Thrones alum Pilou Asbæk co-stars, alongside Emily Beecham, Michael Kelly and Kristina Tonteri-Young. A mix of action and sci-fi with a decent cast, it also has a a likewise nice choice for director in Mikael Håfström, who has given up horror (1408) and action (Escape Plan) and seems like a good fit. While Netflix movies offer varying quality, good or bad, they seem to be crowd-pleasers and for those still at home, it seems like a solid choice. Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
That's the only film of note I'm tackling though the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin can be found below:
ANNETTE
Rated R for sexual content including some nudity, and for language.
BIGGIE: I GOT A STORY TO TELL
Rated R for pervasive language, and drug content.
DR. BIRD'S ADVICE FOR SAD POETS
Rated R for sexual material, language, teen partying and a graphic nude image.
HAPPILY
Rated R for sexual content, language throughout and brief violence.
JUSTICE SOCIETY: WORLD WAR II
Rated PG-13 for violence and some bloody images.
THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS
Rated R for language.
MAX & ME
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, disturbing images and some violence.
OUTSIDE THE WIRE
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
PINOCCHIO
Rated PG-13 for some disturbing images.
SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
Rated PG-13 for some violence.
STRIP DOWN, RISE UP
Rated R for language, sexual material and brief graphic nudity.
THUNDER FORCE
Rated PG-13 for some action/violence, language and mild suggestive material.
THE WORLD TO COME
Rated R for some sexuality/nudity.
