A really wet Friday in New York – National Weather Service flash flood warning wet – is likely to take a bite out of specialty film in one of its biggest markets this weekend. Alamo Drafthouse shut its NYC locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island until further notice due to “severe flooding in and around the area,” saying “Please everyone stay dry & stay safe, and we hope to have you back at the movies very soon.” Subways are jammed up and the water makes it hard to get around.
So wider is better. New openings include Carlos, Sony Pictures Classics’ Carlos Santana doc, at 188 locations. Stop Making Sense expands to 800 screens (1,000 worldwide). The Kill Room from Shout! Studios and Blue Fox Entertainment opens at 355 theaters. On Fire from Cineverse is in 400. And Netflix debuts Fair Play in 70+ locations. It hits the streamer next week.
Carlos, by Rudy Valdez, the life and career of the 10-time Grammy-winning musical icon and father of Latin American jazz fusion, premiered at Tribeca. It was jointly financed by Sony Music Entertainment and Imagine Documentaries. A special event, Carlos: The Santana Journey Global Premiere, debuted in cinemas worldwide for three nights (Sept. 23, 24, 27).
The 1984 Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense, restored and re-released by A24 this month, continues to expand from an initial Imax run to 800 screens nationwide. The Jonathan Demme-directed feature premiered at TIFF, where it set an Imax record, and is attracting a young audience, including many that had never seen it.
The Kill Room from Shout! Studios and Blue Fox Entertainment opens on 355 screens with some star power in Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson and Maya Hawk. Directed by Nicol Paone, written by Jonathan Jacboson. A hitman, his boss, an art dealer and a money-laundering scheme that accidentally turns the assassin into an overnight avant-garde sensation and forces her to play the art world against the underworld.
On Fire from Cineverse, out on 400 screens, is inspired by one of Northern California’s most catastrophic wildfires. Directed by Peter Facinelli, who also stars as a humble man, husband and father living in a remote area whose world suddenly and violently torn apart as devastating wildfires rip through the surrounding area. Also starring Asher Angel, Fiona Dourif and Lance Henriksen.
Netflix’ Fair Play opens at 70+ theaters in over 40 DMAs including The Paris, IFC Center and (when it opens) Alamo Drafthouse in NYC, as well as Landmark Westwood, Landmark Sunset, Los Feliz and the Bay in LA. Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich star as a young couple whose relationship and more is pushed to the brink by an unexpected promotion at the cutthroat hedge fund where they both work. Chloe Domont’s film premiered at Sundance, Deadline review here.
From Magnolia Pictures/Magnet Releasing, religious horror Deliver Us day and date on a dozen screens. Directed by Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis, and written by Lee Roy and Kane Kunz. The film follows a woman who is about to give birth to twin boys, who will be born to be a Messiah and an Antichrist, based on ancient prophecy. Stars Lee Roy Kunz, Maria Vera Ratti, Alexander Siddig, Jaune Kimmel, and Thomas Kretschmann.
More to come…