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DOWNLOADS PASS THE 100M MARK…
…AS SHOWMAN RULES THE RING
KONG IS CURRENT CHART TOPPER
SIGNATURE UNVEILS Q3 SLATE…
BLOMKAMP’S DEMONIC ONE OF THE BIGGIES…
…WITH MORE WAR AND HORROR ON THE WAY
"HERE COMES A SUPERNOVA…”
STUDIOCANAL ALSO REVEALS QUARTER’S BIGGIES…
…AND SERVES UP BOGARDE CLASSIC
ARROW HARVESTS CORN IN SEPTEMBER
INNOCENT ARRIVES IN STORES
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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The march towards digital and the acceptance of downloading films at home hit another landmark this week with the announcement that total downloads recorded since the Official Charts Company began recording them have passed the magic 100 million mark. The organisation, working with trade body BASE, began logging downloads in 2016, ahead of the pair launching the first ever listing in the world pulling together physical and digital sales in the shape of the Official Film Chart two years later. Of those 100 million downloads in little more than five years, some 8 million have come in 2021, with the magic ton-up figure being hit this week. Commenting on the milestone, Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, said: “Reaching 100m digital movie downloads is a huge milestone for the evolution of the video sector. Ownership of movie downloads was already growing rapidly before the beginning of 2020, but over the past 18 months it has genuinely surged. Film fans of all generations have embraced the convenience of instantly delivered, always available digital entertainment – and I have no doubt that it won’t be long before we are celebrating the 200 million landmark.” Liz Bales, chief executive of BASE said: “This is a huge moment of celebration for the Home Entertainment category as it shows just how much audiences have embraced the freshest ways to grow their film library, with a number that translates to around five film downloads per household in the UK. It’s also so exciting to see digital formats snapping at the heels of the nation’s long held favourite, the DVD, and sister premium formats Blu-ray and 4K UHD. Today’s news, coupled with the billions of physical film sales since the inceptions of those formats, continue to demonstrate just how much audiences love watching their favourite films at home as well as in cinemas.”
And also announced at the same time from BASE and the Official Charts Company, the showman has done it again… The Greatest Showman, the film that has consistently broken records at first theatrical and then home entertainment has passed another milestone and shattered another record this week. For as the organisations released a chart compiling the best selling downloads since records began, not only is the Hugh Jackman musical top of the listings, but it has now become the only film to pass the 1 million mark in terms of downloads. It had already become the first to go past half a million, its total now standing at 1.1m, making it the only one to achieve downloads in seven figures. The top 10 has a distinct Disney flavour since the studio’s acquisition of Fox, with Showman at number one and Bohemian Rhapsody at two, followed by two Avengers films (Endgame and Infinity War at numbers three and four respectively); with two animated titles behind those (Moana and Frozen 2), the top six are all Disney releases. A seventh, Star Wars The Force Awakens at number nine, it has 70 per cent of the top 10. The other three titles, Trolls, Jurassic World – The Lost Kingdom and the oldest entrant, 2000’s The Grinch, are all Universal. Johnnie Thompson, director, Digital Stores, Disney EMEA, said: “The 100m digital downloads milestone shows that the Home Entertainment category continues to thrive. It’s even more special to see how much fans have embraced our movies over time, with seven of the top 10 downloaded titles coming from the The Walt Disney Studios stable. Consumers crave flexibility, and whether it’s a digital download, in cinema, or via Disney+, there are more ways than ever for fans to enjoy our world-class storytelling.”
Disney may be winning the overall download sales, but this week’s Official Film Chart is Warner dominated, as the studio’s Godzilla Vs Kong hits the number one position on the back of its physical release – it outsold the rest of the top 10 combined in the June 23 chart, with almost nine out of every 10 copies sold coming on disc. Warner had the next three places too, with Zack Snyder’s Justice League at two, and Wonder Woman 1984 and the new Tom & Jerry movie just behind it. New entries came in the shape of Studiocanal’s new 4K release of erotic thriller classic Basic Instinct and Lionsgate’s Ammonite broke into the top 10 on the back of its physical release.
The next quarter kicks off at the start of July and, as ever, The Raygun has been chatting to distributors about their forthcoming slates. Chief among these, as ever, is Signature, with the independent having enjoyed a strong lockdown thanks, in no small part, to its ongoing efforts in the premium video on demand space, a release strategy it has helped pioneer in the UK. PVOD is, the company noted, still very much a part of its plans, and, despite the stream of blockbusters now set to arrive in reopened cinemas, it is still managing to find good slots for its titles. As the company’s Emilie Barra said: “It’s not just the usual summer blockbusters, there’s a backlog of other studio films too, but we’re very good at finding space for our titles, at finding the right partners and the right dates. And PVOD and cinema are still very much a part of our strategy.” Q3 kicks off on July 5 for Signature with Witch Hunt, a film that is, as Signature noted, very much of the moment, with its witchcraft-themed story following in the wake of the successful Craft reboot. On the same day, there's Lapsis, which, as Barra explained is “a very buzzy high concept sci-fi thriller” which arrives with great word of mouth. “There’s a real appetite for strong sci-fi at the minute and this really caters for that.” On July 9 comes the first PVOD of the quarter in the shape of more sci-fi in Occupation: Rainfall, which stars Jason Isaacs. “The VFX are really jaw-dropping, but it's not only a visual feast, there’s really striking assets too and great opportunities for PR with the cast,” said Barra. On July 12, there’s Black Medicine, an Irish crime drama about a surgeon doing illegal work for a ruthless gang which is already picking up a strong buzz and starring new Stranger Things alumnnus Amybeth McNulty , while Trigger Point, due on the same day, stars Barry Pepper who has transformed himself into an action hero. Saving Grace is a catalogue release of a feelgood British comedy starring Martin Clunes and Brenda Blethyn. Also on the 12th is runaway success Alone receiving a Blu-Ray release full of great extras including a commentary. The next PVOD arrives on July 16 in the shape of The Birthday Cake, a mobster thriller starring Ewan McGregor and Val Kilmer, the latter enjoying something of a resurgence thanks to the recent Amazon documentary on his life. “We’ve got very high hopes for this and we’re aiming for the kind of elevated coverage we an achieve thanks to the potential of the cast". Arriving three days later on the 19th is Werewolves Within, a horror thriller with a comedic edge that turns the genre on its head, alongside The God Committee, starring Frasier himself, aka Kelsey Grammar and Julia Stiles with some great broadcast interviews lined up for them. Memento meets meets Zodiac in high-tech scifi thriller Plurality. On July 23, there's Vanquish, an action thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Ruby Rose. The month is rounded off by edgy and provocative All About Sex, which, as Barra noted: “We’ve got an excellent track record when it comes to this genre like The Escort.”
Into August with Signature and The True Don Quixote, part adventure tale and part buddy comedy which is reminiscent of Hunt For The Wilderpeople and stars Spiderman funny guy Jacob Batalon. Mission Galaxy on the 9th is one of those family animated titles that Signature works so well, while Red Soil (August 16) is a Cannes selection from 2020. “It’s got a great pedigree and some great reviews behind it as well,” said Emilie Barra.On August 27 there’s homegrown dark comedy thriller The Toll, starring Michael Smiley and Game of Thrones' Iwan Rheon, which, given its strong Welsh connections, will benefit from day and date theatrical screenings too. At the end of August comes arguably the biggest title of the quarter, the latest from Neill Blomkamp, the man behind the likes of District 9 and Chappie – Demonic. “It’s a really ambitious sci-fi thriller and Blomkamp has a real cult following. It features state of the art VFX and he’s heavily supporting it at PR– he’s already found time to do some exclusive interviews for long-lead publications.” Confession, due at the end of August, is another of Signature's own productions, starring Colm Meaney. "It's a high concept one location thriller from the director of the Hatton Garden Job,” said Barra. Deed Of Death is an action film that is, Signature promised, “technically stunning” and features “fight scenes that are amazingly choreographed”. August is rounded off with Resistance: 1942, starring Cary Elwes and Jason Patric, the latest in a long line of wartime thrillers from Signature and another genre that it consistently excels in, alongside a welcome addition to its FrightFest Presents imprint in the shape of a modern-day twist on the vampire flick in the shape of Bloodthirsty.
Continuing September with Signature and there’s more Second World War thrills in Plan A (“a thought-provoking and heartbreaking film with a killer cast,” said the company’s Emilie Barra). Yakuza Princess is, as the title suggests, a tale of the daughter of a Japanese crime boss starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Nic Cage fans can sate their unquenchable thirst for their hero with an anniversary edition of one of his most out-there performances in The Wicker Man. The Gateway is a gritty thriller, while Felix And The Hidden Treasure’s home entertainment release will arrive on the back of a strong theatrical outing where it was one of the first films to welcome families back to cinemas recently and earned itself plenty of exposure. Executive Order, a timely and shocking Brazilian thriller starring Seu Jorge, rounds off the busy Q3 period at the end of September.
Studiocanal is back with a bang at cinemas, with Supernova starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci arriving this weekend and Mads Mikkelsen arriving in the excellent Another Round next weekend, and it’s been discussing its upcoming slate with us this week too, revealing its plans for Q3, adding new release titles into the mix alongside its usual excellent work in other areas such as classic restorations. Commenting on the slate, the company’s Kristin Ryan said: “We’re really excited about our strong Q3 line up. We’re thrilled to bring our cinema releases to the home later in the quarter from the quiet subtlety of Supernova to the rowdy brilliance of Oscar winner Another Round alongside our strong catalogue offerings with two Joseph Losey restorations, The Servant and Mr Klein, jazz gem A Man Called Adam and the UHD release of the visually incomparable Ran. As always our quarterly line up is a varied mix of quality new release and restored gems from our catalogue.
On Supernova, due to arrive later in the quarter, and which certainly brought a tear to our eyes, the company’s Nicola Browning said: “Starring Academy Award Winner Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, Supernova is a beautiful modern love story that delicately portrays the impact of dementia. Set in the stunning Lake District, the cinematic quality of the film bodes well for its theatrical release this week. The theatrical campaign has been well received and showcases the intimacy of a long-term relationship perfectly. Releasing on Blu-ray, DVD and EST this Q3, we’ve secured some interesting extras that show the excellent off-screen relationships between the cast and crew. It’s definitely one to watch!” Its other big new release is equally strong, although in Another Round it offers a genuinely uplifting ending, and, as the company’s Carys Gaskin said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing festival favourite Another Round, the intoxicating Oscar-winning film from director Thomas Vinterberg to home ent this September. Starring Mads Mikkelsen as a weary high school teacher embarking on an experiment to improve his quality of life by maintaining a constant level of inebriation; the film touches on themes of modern masculinity, friendship and ageing whilst being ultimately uplifting and inspiring. In cinemas from July 2 after previews this weekend featuring a recorded filmmaker Q&A, before releasing on Digital, DVD and Blu-ray to round out Q3, the next round is on us!”
As noted here previously, Studiocanal has been making inroads into television recently and there’s another one due in Q3 as the latest series of American Gods arrives. Carys Gaskin said: “American Gods returns for the third and final epic season about an inevitable war building between the Old Gods of mythology and our New Gods of technology, with original novelist Neil Gaiman acting as the executive producer. Recently described by the NME as ‘a powerful parable for our times’, it will arrive on DVD and Blu-ray as well as complete 1-3 boxsets in September.” And, of course, it wouldn’t be Studiocanal without some classic catalogue titles given a new lease of life. Chief among these is The Servant. The company’s Alison Arber said: “Joseph Losey’s and Harold Pinter’s acclaimed collaboration, The Servant has been restored in stunning 4K. Starring the inimitable Dirk Bogarde who won a BAFTA for his performance and with a masterclass in cinematography from the incomparable Douglas Slocombe, this is a release not to be missed by film fans. The new restoration will be premiering at the Cinema Rediscovered festival in Bristol in July, followed by the Edinburgh Film Festival in August with follow on screenings across the country. We are releasing a stunning new 4K UHD Collector’s Edition with 64-page booklet and artcards, plus stunning new artwork and brand new extras, including a locations featurette and video essay.” And in August there’s Sammy Davis Jr in a title ripe for rediscovery, A Man Called Adam. Studiocanal’s Mona Schlotter said: “We are releasing A Man Called Adam on August 16 starring Sammy Davis Jr. in a career defining role alongside Louis Armstrong and Cicely Tyson. We are very excited for audiences to experience it on a big screen this summer at Cinema Rediscovered and the Edinburgh Film Festival, to give this film the focus it rightly deserves in advance of its release on DVD and Blu-ray in late August.”
Meanwhile, Arrow and its wonderful Arrow Video imprint is continuing with its monthly reveals, using, as ever, the final Friday of the month to reveal a forthcoming slate, this time announcing the titles due in September. Here’s the company’s Fran Simeoni outlining the titles due in the last month of the quarter. He said: “We're delighted to the great reaction to our new title announcements. Our Olivier Assayas films are now presented in a new boxset featuring striking new artwork. Walk On The Wild Side is a worldwide Blu-ray debut of the cult film from Edward Dmytryk featuring a stellar cast. VHS-era slasher Death Screams is presented in a limited edition featuring two discs, multiple cuts and two artwork options. Cold War Creatures collects four films from venerable producer Sam Katzman, our fans love monsters and this set delivers the wolfman, zombies, prehistoric creatures and an atomic creature befitting its era, packed with goodies on disc and in physical it comes with multiple books, posters and postcards. Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch continues our association with Japanese creatures as the film, from a brand new restoration, is presented for the first time in the west on any digital format. Finally, in the lead up to Halloween the Children Of The Corn trilogy us unleashed on UHD (for the first film only) and Blu-ray in a collector's box set featuring loads of new extras, booklet and poster. It's another bumper month for Arrow Video and we look forward to continuing this trend through Q4.”
Due in stores on Monday is the latest outing from former Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly in the second series of Innocent, released by Acorn. The company’s Helen Squire said: “Another gripping drama completes our home entertainment line up for Q2. Innocent series 2 stars Katherine Kelly and it’s a brand new story based around the same big question as the first series – has there been a miscarriage of justice and if so, who is the guilty one? It won the battle of the chiller-thrillers when it first launched on ITV in April, beating BBC1’s The Pact and now comes to DVD along with a Series 1 and 2 boxset.”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The elderly couple who put me up tried really hard to educate me further, so we’d sit in front of the telly together every evening and then talk about the programmes afterwards. I was hooked. Since then I’ve not been able to imagine my life without British TV and film. I like the quality, the tone, the humour, the way it has taught me to express myself in colloquial English. For me it’s been an education over three decades.”
Some of us are still reeling from the shock of the Brexit referendum. We’ve thought about the consequences of things like freedom of movement, import duty, or fishing, perhaps, but this is one of the things we had not paid attention to. I guess if it happens I will try to circumnavigate the problem even if it means going to the UK and buying up loads of DVDs.”
British telly fan (and German citizen) Nicola Neumann on news European streaming companies and TV channels may be limited in how much British product they can show following the Brexit vote…
AT THE MOVIES
These days, it seems like if a casting announcement is not about Knives Out 2, then it’s going to be about La La Land director Damien Chazelle’s Babylon. And that was the case this week, with another raft of names being added to the director's next film about Hollywood during its 1920s heyday. The latest big names signing up alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie are Olivia Wilde, sometime director and actor Spike Jonze and Tobey Maguire…
Over on the indie side, Brandon “son of David” Cronenberg is getting ready to follow up his hugely successful, and completely excellent Possessor with his next outing, which he’s also penned. It’s a sci-fi thriller, and it will be called Infinity Pool. The plot, penned by the director himself, is about an all-inclusive resort where something strange lurks outside the gated hotel and will star Alexander Skarsgard. We can’t wait…
Audiences have yet to see Rachel Zegler taking the lead in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake, but the starlet is already being lined up for another major project, this time with Disney. For she will star as Snow White on the forthcoming live action remake of the perennial favourite. It will include new songs as well the much-loved originals, although it won’t film until next year…
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
New Marvel…
Ted’s back for Apple…
And Michael's back too…
This'll make you Think
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