Hollywood’s top studios gathered in Las Vegas to preview their upcoming films to theater owners and the media. Here’s the buzz from Caesars Palace, where CinemaCon wrapped on Thursday:
CINEMACON BUZZMETER | |
WHAT’S HOT AND COLD AT THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITOR CONFAB IN VEGAS: | |
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“BLADE RUNNER: 2049” |
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Visually stunning, with a few sly nods to Ridley Scott’s 1982 original and a super creepy Jared Leto. Sign us up. (Sony/WB) | |
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“DUNKIRK” |
The Christopher Nolan WW2 drama looked epic in every sense of the word. (Warner Bros.) | |
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“THE RED SPARROW” |
Jennifer Lawrence spy thriller oozes sex and intrigue. (Fox) | |
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“WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES” |
A big, fat surefire summer smash. (Fox) | |
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“AQUAMAN” |
The superhero film hasn’t shot yet, but that didn’t stop DC from showing images of its production design. This dreamy, arresting underwater world looks like it could be a comic book breakthrough. Fingers crossed. (Warner Bros.) | |
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“ATOMIC BLONDE” |
Charlize Theron looks badass as a Cold War spy. An action hero is born. (Focus) | |
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“THE BEGUILED” |
Dreamy, sultry, and Southern. This erotic drama weaves a spell. (Universal/Focus) | |
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“DOWNSIZING” |
Sure to go down as Alexander Payne’s most bizarre film. Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig as a couple who decide to shrink themselves in order to live the good life. The 10 minutes that screened were out there, but hilarious and compelling. (Paramount) | |
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“THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS” |
Exhibitors were thrilled with the over-the-top stunts, humor and icy villainess Charlize Theron, opining that it’s better than “Furious 7.” (Universal) | |
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“MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS” |
Star studded Agatha Christie mystery sparkles with an infectious sense of fun. (Fox) | |
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“THE HOUSE” |
Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler comedy about parents who turn to crime to pay for their kid’s college has the marking of an R-rated summer comedy smash. (Warner Bros.) | |
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“THE MUMMY” |
Scary, sexy, cool. Tom Cruise looks a tad too adrenalized, but this remake doesn’t skimp on the gotcha moments. (Universal) | |
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“BAYWATCH” |
A gag where Zac Efron’s dim bulb life guard examines a dead man’s genitals is worth the price of admission. (Paramount) | |
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“HITMAN’S BODYGUARD” |
Samuel L. Jackson gets most of the laughs as a hitman bonding with his bodyguard, played by a restrained Ryan Reynolds. (Lionsgate) | |
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“JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE” |
The filmmakers would have us believe that “Jumanji” is a beloved property. That may or may not be the case, but the combination of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black should translate into a big global hit. (Sony) | |
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“THE GREATEST SHOWMAN” |
Hugh Jackman musical looks like catnip for the “Chicago” and “La La Land” crowd. (Fox) | |
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“PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES” |
Tuesday’s screening left exhibitors praising the visual effects, Johnny Depp’s performance and a lively story viewed as a significant improvement on the fourth film, 2011’s “On Stranger Tides.” (Disney) | |
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“WONDER WOMAN” |
Still a bit dreary, but Gal Gadot has star power to spare. (Warner Bros.) | |
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“ANNIHILATION” |
Hard to know what’s going on in this Natalie Portman thriller, but it sure looked scary. (Paramount) | |
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“SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING” |
Lots more Michael Keaton as the villainous, Tony Stark-hating Vulture. Tom Holland has a wide-eyed appeal that could offer a fresh take on a familiar hero, but after five different Spider-Man movies, there’s a risk of fatigue. (Sony) | |
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“ALIEN: COVENANT” |
Undeniably scary, but basically a rehash of previous trailers. Plus, “Prometheus” under-delivered on its terrifying marketing campaign. (Fox) | |
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“DESPICABLE ME 3” |
By the numbers spot for the animated sequel. Doesn’t matter though. This sequel will make bank. (Universal) | |
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“SUBURBICON” |
George Clooney takes a cudgel to Eisenhower era conformity. It looks offbeat, well shot, and very, very bloody. (Paramount) | |
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“VALERIAN” |
Luc Besson’s passion project looks a lot like the French director’s “The Fifth Element.” There are outrageous aliens, a Day-glo color palate, and Rihanna in a nurse’s costume. Looks dangerously out there. (STX) | |
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“THE DARK TOWER” |
Some cool standoffs between Idris Elba, as a heroic gunslinger, and Matthew McConaughey as the villainous Man in Black. But the plot seems very convoluted and it’s opening in a crowded summer season. This may just be for die-hard fans of Stephen King. (Sony) | |
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“JUSTICE LEAGUE” |
Zack Snyder clearly got the memo that “Batman v Superman” needed a humor injection, but the jokey trailer still seemed like a joyless affair. (Warner Bros.) | |
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“MOLLY’S GAME” |
Aaron Sorkin makes his directorial debut in this thriller about a corner-cutting entrepreneur (Jessica Chastain) who dreams up a high-stakes poker game. Tough to see how this breaks out barring awards buzz. (STX) | |
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“THE BOOK OF HENRY” |
It’s a film about a boy genius! No, it’s a mystery! No, it’s an awards-bait drama! What it looks like is a mess. (Focus) | |
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“GEOSTORM” |
Wretched CGI and an utterly derivative plot, this Gerard Butler disaster movie looks like “Sharknado” with a slightly bigger budget. (Warner Bros.) | |
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“THE EMOJI MOVIE” |
Why? Just why? (Sony) | |
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Pictured above: Fox’s “War for the Planet of the Apes,” which opens nationwide July 14, 2017.