There are no two bigger months at theaters. While the Summer may provide box office swing, both box office and Oscars dominate the final two months of the year with November likely the biggest of them all. This year, a number of top notch films will compete for audience dollars and critics’ appreciation going into the final weeks of pre-Oscar wrangling. This November features one of the most impressive line-ups Oscar has seen in some time, with many of them strong contenders for one or multiple nominations.

March 7-9, 2014

300: Rise of an Empire

Premise: From IMDb: “Greek general Themistokles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.”
Box Office Prospects: $65 M
Expectations: Weak. The first film was a huge success leading to an unsurprising sequel. However, it’s been so long since the first film came out, most of the original cast is gone (because, of course, they died), and the director is new. The previews have shown more of the same, but we’ve seen plenty of similar films in recent years buckle under disinterest. I think this will be just such a situation.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Premise: From IMDb: “Using his most ingenious invention, the WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman hurtle back in time to experience world-changing events first-hand and interact with some of the greatest characters of all time. They find themselves in a race to repair history and save the future.”
Box Office Prospects: $210 M
Expectations: Strong. Animated movies, even when they suck, can still be box office hits and this continuously flogged animated film is certain to build an audience in spite of likely disdain from critics. How high it will go is a mystery, though I’d be glad to be wrong with my figure.
Oscar Prospects: Good. If the film actually turns out to be good, it could follow The Croods‘ example to an Oscar nomination. That film was also released early in the year and wasn’t beloved, but made boatloads and secured a nod anyway.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.”
Box Office Prospects: $50 M
Expectations: Good. Wes Anderson is one of a handful of indie filmmakers that haven’t tried to branch out into box office kingpin status and are happy enough to do mid-range business. I see this one continuing that trend fairly easily.
Oscar Prospects: Good. Although Anderson failed to secure a Best Picture nomination for Moonrise Kingdom, he got plenty of attention from critics and a PGA nom. This time, the cast is larger and if the film is better, it could be an early contender for several nominations, including Best Original Screenplay.

March 14-16, 2014

Need for Speed

Premise: From IMDb: “Fresh from prison, a street racer who was framed by a wealthy business associate joins a cross country race with revenge in mind. His ex-partner, learning of the plan, places a massive bounty on his head as the race begins.”
Box Office Prospects: $45 M
Expectations: Weak. I love Aaron Paul from his work in Breaking Bad, but he’s yet to prove he can topline a movie. That isn’t stopping producers from giving it a go. The film’s previews look fairly generic, which may hinder the film’s chances.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Tyler Perry’s Single Moms Club

Premise: From IMDb: “Brought together by a vandalism incident at their children’s school, a group of single mothers from different walks of life bond, and create a support group that helps them find comedy in the obstacles of life.”
Box Office Prospects: $75 M
Expectations: Solid. Even when Tyler Perry’s box office numbers are off, they are still fairly reliable, so this film should do well. Where I think it might succeed more than others is in that the cross-demographic cast could genuinely appeal to more audiences than his standard fare.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Veronica Mars (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “Years after walking away from her past as a teenage private eye, Veronica Mars gets pulled back to her hometown – just in time for her high school reunion – in order to help her old flame Logan Echolls, who’s enrolled in an unraveling murder mystery.”
Box Office Prospects: $20 M
Expectations: Uncertain. The show was popular and it has its legions of fans, but this Kickstarter-backed film is opening limited and will have to perform tremendously well to make much of an impact. I’m not sure its fans will be able to accomplish that.
Oscar Prospects: None.

March 21-23, 2014

Divergent

Premise: From IMDb: “Beatrice Prior, a teenager with a special mind, finds her life threatened when an authoritarian leader seeks to exterminate her kind in her effort to seize control of their divided society.”
Box Office Prospects: $150 M
Expectations: Strong. Last year’s crop of tween adaptations wasn’t as good as we expected them to be, but the advertising campaign surrounding this one along with its very popular source material could help the franchise break the Tween Curse.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Muppets Most Wanted

Premise: From IMDb: “While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.”
Box Office Prospects: $80 M
Expectations: Solid. The film has its fans, but sequels to Muppets films have historically struggled. While the reboot was popular, it wasn’t a genuine blockbuster, so the second film’s chances are muted. However, I think it should be able to peform on par with its predecessor, possibly a little better.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertian. The film nabbed an Oscar for Best Original Song and could be a contender again this year if the film has a qualifying song. Also, releasing this early in the year may put a damper on its Oscar chances even with Original Song.

Stretch

Premise: From IMDb: “A chauffeur takes a job for a billionaire who makes his life hell.”
Box Office Prospects: $30 M
Expectations: Unknown. It may have a big star, but nothing about the film seems to shout “watch me!” It almost sounds like something Eddie Murphy might have starred in back in the ’80s. I don’t suspect it would have the same impact today.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Bad Words (Expanding)

Premise: From IMDb: “A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.”
Box Office Prospects: $30 M
Expectations: Uncertain. The producers are hoping that Jason Bateman is one of the reasons people went to see Identity Thief, but they may be sorely disappointed. They are starting out limited and moving wide, which might not build the word of mouth they want.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Nymphomaniac: Part 1 (Limited)

Premise: From IMDb: “A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.”
Box Office Prospects: $2 M
Expectations: Weak. Lars Von Trier has never been a box office power house and most of his films find only a niche audience. This film, which will likely carry an NC-17 rating in the U.S. will find it difficult to make much, especially bein broken into two films. That said, curiosity might give it a sizable boost.
Oscar Prospects: None.

March 28-30, 2014

A Haunted House 2

Premise: From IMDb: “Having exorcised the demons of his ex, Malcolm is starting fresh with his new girlfriend and her two children. After moving into their dream home, however, Malcolm is once again plagued by bizarre paranormal events.”
Box Office Prospects: $45 M
Expectations: Mediocre. The spoof genre isn’t what it used to be and none of the films have really been unqualified box office successes since Scary Movie. Hopes for a change are hung on this sequel to the popular first film. I’m not sure it can succeed, but they will certainly try.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Noah

Premise: From IMDb: “The Biblical Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.”
Box Office Prospects: $250 M
Expectations: Strong. Alone, Darren Aronofsky has been modestly popular, especially with the indie crowd. This is his first mega blockbuster and with the biblical themes, I have little doubt the film will be a blockbuster. Of course, rumor has it he made some controversial changes and additions to the story which could anger Christian conservatives who may make a dash to see it and then quickly turn away. However, if it’s even remotely faithful to the “message,” it could be one of the year’s biggest films.
Oscar Prospects: Strong. The film has technical wizardry all over the place and Aronofsky is no longer a stranger to Oscar. While the film might not make it into the Best Picture race, it should corner the market on tech and creative nominations, or at least figure prominently in the competition.

Sabotage

Premise: From IMDb: “Members of an elite DEA task force find themselves being taken down one by one after they rob a drug cartel safe house.”
Box Office Prospects: $35 M
Expectations: Uncertain. The film hasn’t had a lot of press yet and I can’t imagine the film will generate much buzz. The plot sounds interesting, but the title doesn’t fit and Arnold Schwarzeneggar isn’t the powerhouse he used to be, even if he keeps trying.
Oscar Prospects: None.

Cesar Chavez

Premise: From IMDb: “A biography of the civil-rights activist and labor organizer Cesar Chavez.”
Box Office Prospects: $50 M
Expectations: Strong. As Instructions Not Included showed us last year, Hispanic audiences are clamoring for better representation at the box office and with a film about a labor hero like Cesar Chavez, they should show up in force.
Oscar Prospects: Uncertain. The film’s first trailer doesn’t look that interesting, a type of paint-by-numbers biopic. However, if it’s better than it looks, there could be a push for some recognition for the film. The problem is the release window. Too early in the year is far worse than being too late.