2025 is off to a gradual begin on the field workplace, however that is true of most years. January is not precisely a marquee month; actually, it is normally a window for studios to dump motion pictures that they’ve much less religion in. Certain, we get the occasional breakout hit like Liam Neeson’s “Taken,” however these are extra of an exception slightly than the rule. As January offers approach to February, although, we must be taking a look at greener pastures. Main the way in which would be the new sci-fi horror flick “Companion,” which appears to be like to shut out this 12 months’s crop of January releases on a excessive notice.
Hailing from Warner Bros., first time function director Drew Hancock’s “Companion” is at present taking a look at a gap within the $10 to $15 million vary when it arrives subsequent weekend, per Box Office Theory. WB was thrifty with this one, which carries a mere $10 million price ticket. Even with a large advertising and marketing spend, a gap in that vary will set “Companion” up for fulfillment out of the gate. The one main challenge is that there will probably be ample competitors for the horror crowd: Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” will solely be every week into its run; slasher “Coronary heart Eyes” arrives the next weekend; and “The Monkey” will probably be simply across the nook as properly.
Working on this film’s favor will probably be constructive buzz. /Movie’s Chris Evangelista called “Companion” the “first great movie of 2025” in his 9 out of 10 review. He isn’t alone, because it at present holds an 89% approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes. If audiences agree, that ought to assist give the movie legs past opening weekend, which is able to assist so much within the face of stiff competitors inside the style.
Can Companion construct on the Barbarian mannequin of success?
A gap in that $10 to $15 million vary would put “Companion” in the identical ballpark as final 12 months’s remake of “Converse No Evil” ($11.4 million opening/$76.7 million worldwide). If issues go very well, we may very well be taking a look at one thing nearer to “Longlegs” ($22.4 million opening/$126.9 million worldwide). Even on the low finish, we’re taking a look at a success for certain.
Whereas the studio is properly retaining plot particulars beneath wraps to keep up a way of thriller, “Companion” is being billed as “a brand new sort of love story.” Broadly talking, it focuses on a extremely superior lady robotic that causes havoc. Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) and Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) lead the forged.
One other factor WB is leaning into is that this one hails from the producers of “Barbarian,” and particularly from that movie’s director Zach Cregger. WB and New Line have been fast to get into mattress with Cregger after his 2022 horror flick grew to become an sudden hit, signing a deal with the filmmaker as well as nabbing the rights to his new movie “Weapons.” Correctly, they’re utilizing an analogous playbook for this one as they did for “Barbarian,” leaning into the thriller of all of it.
Whereas horror has been a really dependable style within the pandemic period, issues have been somewhat hit/miss these days. Blumhouse’s “Wolf Man” recently disappointed with a sub-$11 million opening regardless of projections suggesting it might open nearer to $20 million. In that case, evaluations and phrase of mouth have been robust to beat. These items occur. Happily, with the data we’ve earlier than us, it appears to be like like Hancock’s function debut will keep away from such an end result.
“Companion” hits theaters on January 31, 2025.
2025 is off to a gradual begin on the field workplace, however that is true of most years. January is not precisely a marquee month; actually, it is normally a window for studios to dump motion pictures that they’ve much less religion in. Certain, we get the occasional breakout hit like Liam Neeson’s “Taken,” however these are extra of an exception slightly than the rule. As January offers approach to February, although, we must be taking a look at greener pastures. Main the way in which would be the new sci-fi horror flick “Companion,” which appears to be like to shut out this 12 months’s crop of January releases on a excessive notice.
Hailing from Warner Bros., first time function director Drew Hancock’s “Companion” is at present taking a look at a gap within the $10 to $15 million vary when it arrives subsequent weekend, per Box Office Theory. WB was thrifty with this one, which carries a mere $10 million price ticket. Even with a large advertising and marketing spend, a gap in that vary will set “Companion” up for fulfillment out of the gate. The one main challenge is that there will probably be ample competitors for the horror crowd: Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” will solely be every week into its run; slasher “Coronary heart Eyes” arrives the next weekend; and “The Monkey” will probably be simply across the nook as properly.
Working on this film’s favor will probably be constructive buzz. /Movie’s Chris Evangelista called “Companion” the “first great movie of 2025” in his 9 out of 10 review. He isn’t alone, because it at present holds an 89% approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes. If audiences agree, that ought to assist give the movie legs past opening weekend, which is able to assist so much within the face of stiff competitors inside the style.
Can Companion construct on the Barbarian mannequin of success?
A gap in that $10 to $15 million vary would put “Companion” in the identical ballpark as final 12 months’s remake of “Converse No Evil” ($11.4 million opening/$76.7 million worldwide). If issues go very well, we may very well be taking a look at one thing nearer to “Longlegs” ($22.4 million opening/$126.9 million worldwide). Even on the low finish, we’re taking a look at a success for certain.
Whereas the studio is properly retaining plot particulars beneath wraps to keep up a way of thriller, “Companion” is being billed as “a brand new sort of love story.” Broadly talking, it focuses on a extremely superior lady robotic that causes havoc. Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) and Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) lead the forged.
One other factor WB is leaning into is that this one hails from the producers of “Barbarian,” and particularly from that movie’s director Zach Cregger. WB and New Line have been fast to get into mattress with Cregger after his 2022 horror flick grew to become an sudden hit, signing a deal with the filmmaker as well as nabbing the rights to his new movie “Weapons.” Correctly, they’re utilizing an analogous playbook for this one as they did for “Barbarian,” leaning into the thriller of all of it.
Whereas horror has been a really dependable style within the pandemic period, issues have been somewhat hit/miss these days. Blumhouse’s “Wolf Man” recently disappointed with a sub-$11 million opening regardless of projections suggesting it might open nearer to $20 million. In that case, evaluations and phrase of mouth have been robust to beat. These items occur. Happily, with the data we’ve earlier than us, it appears to be like like Hancock’s function debut will keep away from such an end result.
“Companion” hits theaters on January 31, 2025.
