Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, theater attendance is down. Several films have been moved out of their original release berths, so the below does not include films like The Lovebirds, The New Mutants (again), Peter Rabbit 2, No Time to Die, and Antlers. I’ve also revised a few figures downward from where I originally placed them due to the concerns of lower attendance. There are no new wide releases for April 3, 2020.

Here we look at the upcoming month’s offerings.

April 10, 2020

Saint Maud

Premise: From IMDb: “Follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.”
Box Office Prospects: $40 M
Expectations: Uncertain. The film hasn’t had enough advertising to make it a hit, but with few options, it might do better than expected.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Trolls: World Tour

Premise: From IMDb: “Sequel to the 2016 animated hit.”
Box Office Prospects: $85 M
Expectations: Good. Another animated sequel that should likely underperform its predecessor. Then again, this music-oriented film has no compunctions about advertising that fact, unlike other recent animated flops who refused to acknowledge they were musicals. NOTE: Orignially predicted for 120 million, with COVID-19, it’s probable that theatrical attendance will be muted.
Oscar Prospects: Doubtful. The original film wasn’t nominated, so I don’t see the sequel taking a different path.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

April 17, 2020

My Spy

Premise: From IMDb: “A hardened CIA operative finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family.”
Box Office Prospects: $40 M
Expectations: Uncertain. This film has already been postponed once and could be again. However, the prospects of the film doing good box office are incredibly limited.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Promising Young Woman (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against men who cross her path.”
Box Office Prospects: $5 M
Expectations: Uncertain. This is the kind of film that, with critical support, can do quite well at the box office. That said, there’s no guarantee it will have that support. NOTE: Orignially predicted for 10 million, with COVID-19, it’s probable that theatrical attendance will be muted.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. The concept certainly makes this film seem like the kind of movie Oscar voters might honor, but it’s a long way to Oscar season.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

April 24, 2020

Antebellum

Premise: From IMDb: “Successful author Veronica finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late.”
Box Office Prospects: $75 M
Expectations: Good. The unique concept will do well at a box office that has already made hits of Get Out and Us. While this one isn’t directed by Jordan Peele, its uniqueness of vision is reminiscent of his films and could bolster its numbers. NOTE: Orignially predicted for 100 million, with COVID-19, it’s probable that theatrical attendance will be muted.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. If it’s as good as Get Out, it has to be a contender. If it’s as good as Us, it should also be a contender, but probably won’t be considering what happened to that film.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Fatima

Premise: From IMDb: “A powerful and uplifting drama about the power of faith, Fatima tells the story of a 10-year-old shepherd and her two young cousins in Fátima, Portugal, who report seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. Their revelations inspire believers but anger officials of both the Church and the secular government, who try to force them to recant their story. As word of their prophecy spreads, tens of thousands of religious pilgrims flock to the site in hopes of witnessing a miracle. What they experience will change their lives forever.”
Box Office Prospects: $30 M
Expectations: Uncertain. Religious films haven’t done well at the box office and while this film doesn’t have a lot of advertising going for it yet, it could well prove to be a success. NOTE: Orignially predicted for 60 million, with COVID-19, it’s probable that theatrical attendance will be muted.
Oscar Prospects: None.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.

Judy & Punch (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “Seaside (nowhere near the sea), puppeteers Judy and Punch are trying to resurrect their marionette show in an an anarchic town on the brink of mob rule.”
Box Office Prospects: $1 M
Expectations: Uncertain. This film doesn’t seem like the kind of film that does well at the box office. Without a strong showing of support from outside of its home country of Australia, there may not be many options. NOTE: Orignially predicted for 2 million, with COVID-19, it’s probable that theatrical attendance will be muted.
Oscar Prospects: Doubtful. The film did well at the Australian Academy Awards, but that’s not saying much considering the AACTA has rarely ever influenced the Oscars.
Cinema Sight Preview: See my preview of this title here.