If you were at AFM this year, you heard all the buzz and waded through halls of posters at the Loews Hotel to watch countless promos. Sure, you read all about the Hateful Eight, but there were 1,999 other films at AFM this year, many of which deserve another look. In light of this surplus, SSN Insider cuts through the noise to bring you 10 films out of AFM that we think are poised to be financially successful with U.S. audiences, some with domestic rights still up for grabs.
The Free State of Jones (Epic Action Romance)
Director: Gary Ross | Producers: Scott Stuber, Jon Kilik | Cast: Matthew McConaughey
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: STX (Domestic) IM Global (International)
Status: Pre-production
Logline: The true-story drama of a Mississippi-set, Civil War-era rebellion headed by Newton Knight, who creates a free safe haven and embarks on a forbidden love.
SSN Insight: This $65 million budgeted hot title, that stars hot commodity McConaughey, will be one to watch. Given the popularity and acclaim of 12 Years a Slave, this should garner similar results as it’s based on the same dark period of U.S. history. Even with all the documentaries, films, and books about the Civil War, there are still stories to tell, and Jones includes aspects of defiance, forbidden love, and risk. U.S. audiences love an underdog, and who better than McConaughey to fight against prejudice to create a place of peace and love.
Wish (3D, Animated, Family)
Director: Cory Edwards | Producer: Prana Studios
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: SC Films Animation
Status: In production | Delivery Q3 2015
Logline: Underneath a wishing well lies the magic underground land of Terranea, where an army of “Wish Agents” grant wishes and make magic happen.
SSN Insight: There were not many animated films to choose from at AFM, given their long production process, and of the animated films there, many lacked high production value. Wish stands apart for its production value; the small town of Wellborough, England, intricately designed in warm tones. The best part was the “Wish Agents,” reminiscent of Disney’s elf agents in The Santa Clause and Prep & Landing. The secret agent aspect will keep boys engrossed, while the wishing aspect should appeal nicely to girls. Prana Studios has good cred as well, as having produced Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue.
Take Down (Action Thriller)
Director: Jim Gillespie | Cast: Jeremy Sumpter, Phoebe Tonkin, Ed Westwick
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: Radiant Films International
Status: Post-production
Logline: A group of rich teenagers must fight for their lives when their remote school is taken over by dangerous criminals.
SSN Insight: Keeping up with the trend of plucking teen TV stars for features (ala Maze Runner), producers have compiled a hot cast whose credits include Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl, as well as up-and-coming star Jeremy Sumpter, who was just in Into the Storm. Take Down is a real-world Hunger Games, as a group of teenagers must survive against an isolated forest backdrop as they join together to escape the baddies holding them hostage. Audiences enjoy watching the upper-crust unlearn their bad habits and earn redemption; Take Down has that and more, with an escape plot thrown in to keep things suspenseful.
Paper Planes (3D Family Adventure)
Director/Writer: Robert Connolly | Cast: Sam Worthington, Ed Oxenbould
U.S. Distribution Offers Pending at Press Time | Sales Agent: Arclight Films
Status: Completed
Logline: Eleven-year-old Dylan is being raised by his dad in a remote Australia town. His life changes forever when he wins a place in the regional Paper Plane Championships in Sydney.
SSN Insight: A children’s sports competition is winning, quirky subject matter. Everyone has access to paper and can fly a paper plane (some further than others), so recognition is instant, and the marketing campaign could easily fly by holding similar competitions. It doesn’t hurt that the trailer is uplifting, coupled with the positive track by Sheppard called Geronimo. Worthington is a talented actor who comes off warm and endearing, and Oxenbould is hot off of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Shot in Australia, the films moves to Tokyo for the competition, where Oxenbould meets cute child actress Ena Imai. All told, Paper Planes is an uplifting film that should pull in a solid $40 – 50 million gross, comparable to similar U.S. films.
Lila and Eve (Crime Thriller)
Director: Charles Stone III | Writer: Pat Gilfillan | Cast: Viola Davis, Jennifer Lopez
U.S. Distribution Rights Handled by CAA | Sales Agent: Annapurna International
Status: Post-production
Logline: After their children are killed in a drive-by shooting, two grief-stricken mothers plot revenge.
SSN Insight: This taunt, twisting crime thriller has the hotter-than-hot Davis, buttressed by her role on TV’s How to Get Away with Murder, cast perfectly in the lead. Lopez meanwhile takes a step back from rom-coms to get back to her Enough roots. It’s a revenge tale that doesn’t need a male anti-hero like Liam Neeson to take care of business. These characters may not have secret agent backgrounds, but what they lack in skills, they make up for with a mama bear ethos that is plenty tough. Given the motherhood angle, the film will resonate well with female audiences.
Macbeth (Epic Drama)
Director: Justin Kurzel | Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard
U.S. Distribution: Weinstein Company | Sales Agent: Studiocanal
Status: Post-Production
Logline: In 11th-century Scotland, a lord takes power of the throne with the help of three witches and his ruthless wife.
SSN Insight: Shakespeare’s compelling play gets a visceral re-telling from King’s Speech producers and indie director Kurzel (Snowtown). The film looks pro all the way, with warm, intimate sets designed to the nines; and cold, unforgiving landscapes that become overtaken by clashing armies. Fassbender and Cotillard are perfectly cast, given their gravitas. Weinstein Company has picked up the rights, so expect a full press push, that, if positioned next winter, make this just the kind of period piece Oscar voters love to nominate for below the line roles and dramatic acting.
Replicas (Action Sci-Fi Thriller)
Director: Tanya Wexler | Producers: Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Keanu Reeves, Stephen Hamel | Cast: Keanu Reeves
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: Lotus Entertainment
Status: Pre-production
Logline: After his family is killed in a traffic accident, a neuroscientist defies a government-controlled laboratory, a police task force, and even the laws of science to bring them back.
SSN Insight: As the film is in pre-production, only a mood reel with a passionate Reeves interview was shown. Reeves’ name is synonymous with action sci-fi, which gives Replicas instant fanboy credibility. That Transformers and G.I. Joe producer Di Bonaventura is on-board means this project will get a fully-realized world. While some films about cloning and future tech have a tendency to come off as cold and out of touch with present needs, Replicas resonates by asking the question, if your family or loved ones are killed but you could bring them back, would you? That question, coupled with a solid production team, should yield promising box office results.
Girls’ Night Out (Period, Romantic Comedy)
Director: Julian Jarrold | Writer: Trevor De Silva, Kevin Hood | Cast: Sarah Gadon, Jack Reynor, Rupert Everett, Emily Watson
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: HanWay Films
Status: Wrapped
Logline: Princess Margaret and her sister Elizabeth are allowed out of Buckingham Palace for one adventurous night on the town in 1945.
SSN Insight: Across the world, as people celebrate the end of WWII, two princesses go out for a night of adventure and romance through the streets of London. While there are no major stars in the lead, the royal subject matter, Roman Holiday-esque story, and modern rom-com pacing should make this picture easy to sell. It offers a fun escape and a look back at a momentous time in history that for once isn’t about an ongoing war, but one that’s over. The actresses’ light and humor are infectious, while the romantic story between a princess and a soldier pulls at the heartstrings.
Absolutely Anything (Sci-Fi Comedy)
Director/Writer: Terry Jones | Producers: Ben Timlet, Bill Jones | Cast: Simon Pegg, Kate Beckinsale, Eddie Izzard, John Cleese (Voice), Robin Williams (Voice)
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: GFM Films
Status: Post-production, Delivery Q2 2015
Logline: Aliens give a man the ability to invoke magical powers to do anything he likes. A talking dog provides analysis of the chaos that ensues.
SSN Insight: The clips available for viewing at AFM were hilarious and fun for all-ages, with a little bit of that Monty Python bite. Dropped into a mainstream comedy, Pegg’s acting is colorful yet not cheesy; Williams’ personality permeates the voice of Pegg’s canine companion; and Beckinsale shines as the “straight man” love interest who balances out Pegg’s wackiness. When asked why Pegg decided to take the role, he said, “the chance to work with Terry Jones and the other Pythons … that was a real draw for me, the chance to work with some of my comic heroes.” Having Mike Medavoy along for the ride as executive producer doesn’t hurt either.
Elvis & Nixon (Drama, Period, True Story)
Director: Liza Johnson | Writers: Cary Elwes, Hanala Sagal, Joe Sagal | Producers: Cassian Elwes, Holly Wiersma, Carry Elwes | Cast: Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Emma Roberts, Luke Wilson, Kevin Connelly
No U.S. Distribution at Press Time | Sales Agent: Bloom
Status: Pre-production
Logline: The story of Elvis Presley’s White House visit with Richard Nixon on December 21, 1970.
SSN Insight: When Elvis wrote a letter to Nixon asking to become a federal agent, Nixon said OK. That happened. The event was most recently documented in an episode of Drunk History, with Jack Black as the pop icon. This time Shannon dons the rhinestones to portray Elvis against political project go-to Spacey as Nixon. Considering that Elvis still has a healthy audience base and the subject matter is ridiculously stranger than fiction, the film should, if nothing else, provoke ticket sales out of sheer curiosity.
4 Comments
I assume the other 500 or so films were total dogs if those are the best. everyone is totally derivative.
I think the operative word is ‘bankable’. The article does not promise originality.
So it has to be a yawn to be bankable? Like who says what is bankable and how often does it turn out that the soothsayers’ bankable actually find the budget actually returned? Let’s file the above titles and check back with Box Office Mojo in six months or a year. This list was really painfully blah.
Thanks for your comment Andy. I have to respectfully disagree on the blah factor as I look forward to seeing these films. On your bankability note, before becoming an editor at SSN, I worked in the film business plan division of the most trusted entertainment database company in the industry, StudioSystem. There we analyzed big data coupled with years of experience in the field to create business plans for films. In working for SSN I utilize that same data, among other sources, to come to conclusions. I do look at BoxOfficeMojo as well, however that site only shows a small snippet of grosses (the theatrical gross) of a film. Interestingly looking at films released on over 1,000 screens in the U.S. in the last 10 years, 28% had a positive theatrical ROI for the distributor, but after ancillary grosses were considered 76% had a positive ROI for the distributor.