By Chris Kavan - 11/25/11 at 12:07 PM CT
Will a trio of family-friendly films be enough to topple Twilight? Some movies got a pre-weekend jump due to Thanksgiving, and it looks like they will have to work extra hard if they want to muscle Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 out of the spotlight.
1) Hugo is going to get the most buzz, if only because Martin Scorsese is behind the camera. Critical response has been favorable and it looks like Scorsese wants 3D to make a comeback as this is supposed to be a pure treat for the eyes. I was skeptical about Scorsese making a family film, but it looks like he can pull off magic and fantasy just as well as a gritty crime drama.
2) A comeback even I am happy to hear about, The Muppets makes its big-screen return thanks to super-fan Jason Segel who wasn't content to let the franchise languish. The Muppets has always had an edge to its wackiness of characters - plus you couldn't have asked for a better advertising campaign. I scoff and complain about things like Alvin and the Chipmunks or The Smurfs being ruined for a new generation, but I have a feeling The Muppets are in the right hands and wish it the best.
3) That leaves Arthur Christmas as the black sheep. Without big names or familiar characters, this film looks to get a jump on the Christmas audience. With a British vocal cast, I have a feeling this will do better overseas than in the U.S. It's coming up a bit too early and I think would have done better to position itself in the middle of December rather than going up against overwhelming competition.
4) For those keeping Oscar tabs, two films make limited debuts that will probably factor into the awards race: The early Hollywood black-and-white, mostly silent film The Artist and My Week with Marilyn, where it looks like Michelle Williams has a good shot at a nomination for her portrayal of Monroe.
We'll see how Thanksgiving treats the new movies and whether consumers are ready to relax from their Black Friday hangovers at the box office. See you back Sunday with the results.
