Limited and VOD Releases: The Notorious RBG

May 4, 2018

RBG

There are not many limited releases on this week’s list and even fewer that have a real shot at box office success. Surprisingly, it is a documentary, RBG, that is earning the loudest buzz. Its reviews should also help it find an audience in theaters.

102 Not Out - Reviews
 Amitabh Bachchan plays a 102-year old man who is looking to become the oldest living man. There’s just one problem, his 75-year old son, played by Rishi Kapoor, has lost his zest for life. There are only three reviews on Rotten Tomatoes; however, Bollywood films often open with no reviews. Additionally, all three reviews are positive.

Angels Wear White - Reviews
 Two schoolgirls are sexually assaulted at a motel and the only witness, a 15-year old girl, can’t go to the police, because she’s working there illegally. This is obviously not an easy topic to make a movie about, but the director, Vivian Qu, is earning a lot of praise for the end result. It won’t expand significantly, but it could do relatively well in limited release.

The Cleanse - Reviews
 Video on Demand
Johnny Galecki stars as Paul, who is alone and unemployed. He doesn’t like where his life is going, but he gets a chance to go to a retreat that is supposed to cleanse the toxins from his body and improve his life. The film’s Tomatometer Score is 79% positive, but the average score is just 5.8 out of 10. This means while most critics liked the movie, very few loved it. That said, this is perfect for a VOD rental.

The Desert Bride - Reviews
 A live-in maid loses her job when the family she worked for sells their home. On her way to a new city and a new job, she loses all her possessions and has to turn to a traveling salesman to help her. The reviews are good, but foreign-language films rarely expand significantly on the home market. Additionally, there’s competition in the foreign-language market.

The Guardians - Reviews
 A French film set in World War I. It focuses on a group of women, who are taking care of the farm, while the men are away at war. The film’s reviews are over 90% positive and French films have a history of success in art house circuits. That said, its chances of expanding significantly are limited.

Racer and the Jailbird - Reviews
 A gangster and a race car driver meet and fall in love. French films do have a built-in fanbase among art house aficionados, but this film’s reviews will kill its box office chances.

RBG - Reviews
 A documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an octogenarian Supreme Court Justice and surprisingly a pop culture icon. The film’s reviews are good, while the buzz is louder than just about any other limited release coming out this week. It could do well at the box office, at least for a documentary.

The Son of Bigfoot - Reviews
 Video on Demand
This is an animated family film that is already on DVD and VOD. There’s no chance it will find an audience in theaters. In fact, I’m a little surprised it is even getting a theatrical release.

Secondary VOD Releases:
The 12th Man - Reviews - Video on Demand
Alex & The List - No Reviews - Video on Demand
Altered Perception - Reviews - Video On Demand
The Con Is On - Reviews - Video on Demand
Gehenna: Where Death Lives - Reviews - Video on Demand
Most Likely to Murder - Reviews - Video On Demand
Taco Shop - No Reviews - Video on Demand
The 12th Man is the best secondary Video on Demand release of the week. That said, Most Likely to Murder is also worth at least a rental.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, The Cleanse, Gehenna: Where Death Lives, Le Fidèle, Taco Shop, Most Likely to Murder, The Son of Bigfoot, Les gardiennes, Jia Nian Hua, La novia del desierto, RBG, 102 Not Out, Altered Perception, Alex & The List, Den 12. mann, Amitabh Bachchan, Johnny Galecki, Rishi Kapoor, Vivian Qu, Ruth Bader Ginsburg