Aaron Poole looks ahead to what Hollywood highlights are lined up
This year has allowed cinemas to reopen without capacity restrictions. As 2021 closed, No Time To Die became the number one Bond movie of all time at the box office on the island of Ireland. Such an achievement during social distancing and limited attendances in cinemas was sizeable. A line-up of top movies on the big screen with surround sound lured people away from their sofas.
Strong footfall followed with The Batman, Sing 2, Spiderman: No Way Home, Uncharted and Belfast topping the box office year to date. Meanwhile, cinema advertising sales are edging towards pre-pandemic levels. Core’s latest forecasts show an increase in cinema advertising of 68 per cent south of the Border in 2021 and receipts are predicted to grow again in 2022 by 82 per cent.
There are opportunities for advertisers to grasp on-screen, whether in-reel or sponsoring seasonal line-ups. The forthcoming movie slate features fresh takes on popular properties and anticipated follow-ups to some of the most critically-acclaimed films. Jurassic World: Dominion sees the return of the series’ original stars, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill and Laura Dern, as supports.
Butler serves an ace as Presley: Elvis is Baz Luhrmann’s biopic of Elvis Presley, arguably the most famous and popular rock and roll star of all time. Austin Butler plays the title role of Presley, from his childhood days to his meteoric rise to fame in the 1950s and his complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Festival and is seen as a contender at next year’s Oscars.
Director Colin Trevorrow promises a gripping ending for Jurassic fans. Lightyear is the latest take on the Toy Story hero, telling the tale of Buzz’s early days at Star Command. Starring Chris Evans, this Disney-Pixar production promises to bring audiences to infinity and beyond.
Austin Butler was born to play the title role in Elvis, as he pulls off Presley’s look and mannerisms with ease. Set from the perspective of Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks, Baz Luhrmann’s biopic tells the story of The King’s rise to fame in the 1950s.
Those little yellow characters have become a symbol of fun and frivolity. Minions: The Rise of Gru picks up where the story began, serving as a prequel to Despicable Me. With the first Minions taking the number three spot at the ROI box office in 2015, it’s one to watch this summer.
Following Get Out and Us, director Jordan Peele’s penchant for thematic horror continues with his latest offering – Nope. The trailer hints at nationalism and colonisation woven into a neo-western narrative. With not much known apart from its distinct setting, there’s an expectation Nope will continue Peele’s barrier-breaking narrative exploring representation in Hollywood.
High-octane action and a star-studded cast promise to make Bullet Train unmissable. Brad Pitt stars as a retiring assassin on one last mission aboard the famous Japanese bullet train, but things vere off the tracks when he finds himself competing against other killers for his target.
Kevin Hart returns in The Man from Toronto, alongside his signature comedic style. Having been confused for an assassin while staying in at an Airbnb, Hart must team up with an actual assassin to complete the job. Expect situational, physical and slapstick comedy in Due Date vein.
Following on from Into the Spider-Verse, Sony are all-in on the animated Spider-Man property. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part 1 begins the next chapter in Miles Morales’ journey, with Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld returning as Miles and Spider-Gwen.
Black Adam promises to be a grittier, more unadulterated antithesis to 2019’s Shazam. The story follows the Justice Society of America (JSA), led by Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate, as the JSA attempts to stop the despot, played by Dwayne Johnson, from wreaking havoc on the world.
If ever there was a candidate for future guilty pleasure, it’s Ticket to Paradise. When a divorced couple try to advise their daughter on romance, things get messy. Starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, it is a feel-good romcom in the mould of Adam Sandler’s Just Go With It.
When Avatar (above) released in 2009, it soon became the highest-grossing film of the time. Nobody knows quite what Avatar 2 might offer, but expect revolutionary performance capture and cutting edge production. It could break box office records for sheer intrigue and nostalgia. Another sequel on the way is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever starring the late Chadwick Boseman.
From West End to the big screen, Matilda is a musical version of Roald Dahl’s classic. It has been a commercial and critical success since its debut, winning 12 awards. Starring Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull, it should pull in fans old and new when it comes out in December.
Aaron Poole is marketing operations administrator at Wide Eye Media
