Santa will bring a sleigh full of event films to give exhibitors a bellringing boxoffice Christmas.
- Theatres will heat up on 12/16 with twin tentpoles — WB/DC’s SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS & Disney/20th’s AVATAR 2.
- In FURY, Zachary Levi returns (as Shazam), as does David F. Sandberg, who directed the original, which opened 4/5/19 to $53.5M & did $366.1M/WW.
- AVATAR 2 (pictured) is directed by James Cameron, whose legendary original opened 12/18/09 to $77M & did $2.847B/WW, making it the top-grossing movie ever. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang & Giovanni Ribisi return. Joining them are Michelle Yeoh & Kate Winslet.
- Wed., 12/21: Sony/TriStar’s musical bio-drama I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, directed by Kasi Lemmons (HARRIET) with Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston & Stanley Tucci as record mogul Clive Davis. MGM/Bron’s Aretha Franklin bio-pic RESPECT opened 8/13/21 to $8.8M & did $32.1M/WW.
- Also, 12/21: Universal/Illumination’s animated comedy adventure based on SUPER MARIO BROS. video game stars the voices of Jack Black & Seth Rogan and should draw families with younger kids.
- 12/25: Sony/Playtone’s adult appeal comedy-drama A MAN CALLED OTTO stars Tom Hanks & is directed by Marc Forster (WORLD WAR Z). It’s a remake of a 2015 Swedish film, the best foreign film Oscar nominee.