There isn’t a lot to say about the post-Oscars month of March. The studios are still in the midst of releasing films critics aren’t likely to appreciate and hope that the lack of competition will breed big box office.

Thus films like 21 Jump Street, John Carter and Wrath of the Titans find their home in March. Two films seem at odds for this time of year. The Lorax might not be that good, we won’t know for certain, but it has the potential to be successful. With so few family films in the early parts of the year, releasing it now is a solid choice.

Then there’s The Hunger Games. It has a built-in rabid fanbase that could help the film rival the Twilight franchise as it has appealed to a broader, more adult-oriented demographic than the vampire/werewolf saga. Whether it lives up to expectations releasing in March remains to be seen, but it could benefit from the movie dumping zone to keep competition away for several weeks before the Summer box office begins in earnest.

MARCH 2, 2012

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Premise: A society built on artifice and manufactured conveiences, leads a young boy on a quest to find the natural environment that none have seen in ages and only know about through story and legend, all in order to impress a girl.
Box Office Prospects: $80 M
Expectations: Solid. Coraline opened to strong numbers in February of 2009. Although it isn’t the same makers, there’s something about the release window that reminds me of the film. With no children’s films for longer than studios would probably hope and nothing more for them until the end of the month when The Pirates releases, it should do nice numbers, especially with the cutesy elements on display in the current trailer. The 3D ticket prices are likely to help as well.
Oscar Prospects: Depending on how critics take to it, the film could hold on strong through the year to become one of the three-to-five Best Animated Feature nominees. If the critics don’t like it, it could still make it depending on the rest of the competition.

Project X

Premise: Hoping to go out with a bang, a trio of high school seniors throw the mother of all keggers. Hijinks ensue.
Box Office Prospects: $60 M
Expectations: Unknown, Leaning Solid. While I don’t think it will live up to its March 2 compatriot in terms of box office, never underestimate the power of a gross out high school drama filled with poor role models. With the Judd Apatow name attahed, it could do well. Of course, it could also be a dismal bomb.
Oscar Prospects: None.

MARCH 9, 2011

John Carter

Premise: Based on Edgar Rice Borroughs’ legendary book series, John Carter is an American citizen who finds himself transported to Mars where a colony of aliens use his unique capabilities to protect themselves from a powerful enemy.
Box Office Prospects: $90 M
Expectations: Solid. The trailer does a fine job enticing the audience into wanting to see it. However, it looks fairly shallow and critics are bound to be down on the film. Still, curiosity seekers will head to the theater and it could be a modest success.
Oscar Prospects: It could compete in a few technical categories, but March is the worst time of year to release if you want your film fresh in voters’ minds.

Also Releasing this weekend: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is about a fish hatchery expert brought to Yemen by a wealthy sultan who wants to bring the art of salmon fishing along with its environmentally-averse piscine population. There, the scientist finds love with the corporate handler who was hired to work with him.

MARCH 16, 2012

21 Jump Street

Premise: An update to the 1980’s television hit where undercover vice cops invade high school where they don’t necessarily fit in.
Box Office Prospects: $55 M
Expectations: Unknown, Leaning Modest. It’s hard to know how fickle the audience for such a film will be. Although we all expected the A-Team adaptation to do extremely well, it’s sub-$80 million total was quite low. 21 Jump Street doesn’t quite have the cachet of The A-Team, so a lot depends on the audience that could make it succeed, teenage boys. As those who’ve made other ’80’s transplants blockbusters aren’t going to be as enthused.
Oscar Prospects: None.

MARCH 23, 2012

The Hunger Games

Premise: A futuristic society, trying to keep its rebellious territories under control have created the Hunger Games, an annual competition where 24 teenagers are put into an arena to fight to the death.
Box Office Prospects: $175 M
Expectations: Excellent. You don’t make a movie from a popular book and not expect huge numbers at the box office. Anything under $150 would be disappointing.
Oscar Prospects: A lot depends on whether critics support the film or not. Unlike Twilight, the deep and complex storyline could appeal to critics looking for more depth from their tween epics.

March 30, 2012

Mirror Mirror

Premise: An updated version of the classic story of Snow White about a beautiful young maiden and the evil queen who wants her dead simply because she’s prettier.
Box Office Prospects: $100 M
Expectations: Solid. As much as I want to say this will be a dud, I think there’s enough interest that audiences will flock to see what Tarsem Singh has brought us. Of course, it could have a stellar debut and then sink like a rock, so we may have to wait until reviews are out to know better.
Oscar Prospects: It has some gorgeous sets and costumes which could be easily remembered come Oscar time, but it will have a lot of competition this year. It will likely end up a nominee at the Art Directors Guild and Costume Designers Guild, but Oscar may be a bit too far away to tell.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

Premise: Hoping to win the annual competition to determine the best pirate, an awkward, bumbling captain competes against a ruthless, beautiful female pirate also out for the prize.
Box Office Prospects: $55 M
Expectations: As The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Arthur Christmas proved, audiences don’t exactly get Aardman’s humor. Although the films are loved by critics, Aardman hasn’t had a hit since Chicken Run and even that made just barely over $100 million.
Oscar Prospects: I would have expected Arthur Christmas to follow in Were-Rabbit‘s footsteps, but it didn’t, so whether it can be a Best Animated Feature nominee or not remains to be seen.

Wrath of the Titans

Premise: A sequel to the popoular remake of Clash of the Titans reuinites its hero in a new war against the gods and the titans.
Box Office Prospects: $175 M
Expectations: Excellent. The first film did incredibly well at the box office despite being a fairly bland remake, so I don’t see why the sequel won’t do gangbusters as well and probably outdo it with the 3D ticket prices.
Oscar Prospects: The prior film didn’t earn any Oscar nominations, so I don’t expect the sequel to either even with its heavy creative category dominance.

Also Releasing this weekend: Goon is about a tough, but clueless out-of-work man finds a new passion on the ice rink as he becomes a popular hockey sensation due to his desire to constantly fight.