Coming from Focus Features, “Stillwater” follows an American oil-rig roughneck from Oklahoma who travels to the French city Marseille, to see his daughter, who is now in prison for a murder she said she did not commit.
FIRST LOOK: Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin and Lilou Siauvaud in #STILLWATER, a film by Tom McCarthy. In theaters July 30. pic.twitter.com/3FP4CKkAvd
Matt Damon stars as the father, Bill Baker, who at every turn is confronted with obstacles; language barrier, cultural clashes and navigating complicated foreign legal systems. No matter, Baker immerses himself into life on the other side of the world in order to exonerate his daughter.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Director Tom McCarthy explains Damon’s character – “He’s a guy that’s had a difficult life, he’s struggled, but he sort of tried to make amends and do what’s right, I think, when we meet him”.
This dramatic thriller will be in theaters only starting July 30th, 2021. Directed by Tom McCarthy, the Oscar Award winning filmmaker responsible for “Spotlight”. Along with Damon, the film stars Abigail Breslin and Camille Cottin.
Echoes of the Amanda Knox ordeal, as well as “Taken” with Liam Neeson come to mind but neither quite fit, which is a good thing. Not even gonna mention the Bourne Identity connections! Check it out below for yourself and see if it feels derivative or original and if Matt is inhabiting the cowboy-esque character in an interesting way…
Christmas day will give millions a nice dose of the much-needed entertainment most of us crave. Fortunately there’s a whole bucket of highly-anticipated blockbuster releases. There will be many options on where to stream, with almost every major streaming service set to release a major film on December 25th including movie theaters.
We’ve created a comprehensive list below of movies plus trailers of all you can watch!
“Wonder Woman: 1984”: Theater release and HBO Max:
Most noteworthy, as its release date has been pushed and pushed for what seems like years, will be the Xmas release of “Wonder Woman: 1984” to both theaters and a 30 day streaming period on HBO Max. Patty Jenkins’ follow-up to the 2017 “Wonder Woman” has generated so much buzz, DC Comic fans can rejoice the film will finally be available to watch. Based on the fan reaction from the early showings, there is no secret that this is a must see movie, starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, and Pedro Pascal.
“Soul” / Disney+:
This Pixar movie has also been riddled with issues relating to a final release date. Instead of the traditionally theatrical release, “Soul” will be premiering exclusively on the Disney+. This will mark the first Pixar film to bypass a theater release altogether and instead offer it solely on the streaming platform This animated production boasts a star-studded cast including Jamie Fox, Tina Fey, Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Basset and long-time Pixar alum John Ratzenbrerger.
“News of the World” / Theaters:
A Western drama that follows a widowed Civil War veteran, Jefferson Kyle Kidd, who comes across a young girl taken by the Kiowa people. Jefferson played by Tom Hanks must take a long and perilous journey to return the girl to her family. Taken place within the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas, the two encounter many dangers and must fight for survival. Based on the historical novel by Paulette Jiles. The movie will reportedly be released through Netflix internationally, however there is no clear release date for U.S. viewing on the streaming platform at this time.
“We Can Be Heroes” / Netflix:
A follow-up or homage of sorts to the 2005 “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” done by Robert Rodriguez is another fun film to be released. This time around, a group of children of superheroes must team up to save their parents after being kidnapped by aliens. Taylor Dooley reprises her role as Lavagirl. “We Can Be Heroes”stars Priyanka Chopra, Pedro Pascal, Christian Slater, Christopher McDonald and more.
“Promising Young Woman” / Theaters:
A dark comedy/thriller follows Cassandra Thomas, who goes by “Cassie” played by Carey Mulligan. Nothing is what it seems in Cassie’s life, with an unexpected encounter, she is given the chance to take charge of her life. Moviegoers will watch as this “Promising Young Woman” takes revenge against the men who have treated her wrong in the past. Emerald Fennell makes her directorial debut along with a support cast that include: Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Laverne Cox and Alfred Molina.
“Sylvie’s Love” / Amazon Prime Video:
Set in the late 1950’s Harlem, a young woman named Sylvie played by Tessa Thompson has a whirlwind summer romance with a saxophonist that takes a job at her father’s record store. Years later, the two reconnect and soon discover that their feelings have not faded.
“One Night in Miami”/ Theaters:
This film centers around the fictional tale of a meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. Set in the aftermath of Ali’s (Cassius Clay) 1964 boxing match against Sonny Liston. Together the 4 iconic black men meet up in a Miami hotel room to change the course of history in the segregated South. Based on the play written by Kemp Powers. Regina King directs this period drama with cast including: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge and Leslie Odom Jr. This movie is available to watch in Theaters on Christmas day, however it won’t be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video until January 15.
“Pinocchio” / Theaters:
This retelling of the classic animated Disney version gets a live-action reboot with Roberto Benigni playing as Geppetto and Federico Lelapi as Pinocchio. The film has already been released in Italy, the movie is set to be released in theaters for the U.S. on Christmas day.
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Immediate streaming option set after unprecedented, game-changing announcement
Warner Bros. has announced it will be releasing its 2021 movies in a unique hybrid, consumer-focused, yet very 2020 way. Warner Bros. will release its films theatrically worldwide, while also adding exclusive access to the HBO Max streaming platform on the same day for a one month period (U.S. only).
HBO Max and Warner Bros. are both owned by WarnerMedia, which is owned by AT&T.
This shift and strategic response by WarnerMedia is a game changer and highlights a major shift industry’s are recognizing in how viewers consume entertainment, or at least for the next year.
There will be a wide range of releases on HBO Max throughout 2021 for every all types of movie lovers. Alongside Wonder Woman:1984 for Christmas release 2020, there will be an additional 17 movies to be released over the next 12 months.
The Little Things
Judas and the Black Messiah
Tom & Jerry
Godzilla vs. Kong
Mortal Kombat
Those Who Wish Me Dead
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
In The Heights
Space Jam: A New Legacy
The Suicide Squad
Reminiscence
Malignant
Dune
The Many Saints of Newark
King Richard
Cry Macho
Matrix 4
The only other studio that is currently set up for dual release besides Warner Bros with HBO Max, is Disney with Disney+, which certainly will help to secure its position in the top tier of the very competitive world of streaming entertainment.
Only time will tell if the pandemic will permanently alter the way we watch movies. Yet if given the option of getting access to blockbuster films at home and on the same exact date as the theatrical release, poses a serious question to how theaters will react.
“No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021. With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films. We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we’re extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances.”
-Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, WarnerMedia Studios
What will come of Theater Chains and the future of the movie viewing experience
he debut for WB’s slate of movies to hit streaming services concurrently with theater releases, will undoubtedly have drastic consequences for the the already hard-pressed and struggling theaters.
Warner Bros. made mention that the hybrid release is strictly due to the pandemic, yet it’s unclear how the studio will navigate with movie releases for 2022 and beyond given the new model they are setting into motion.
Movie theater stock prices fell on the news. AMC shares dropped more than 15 percent, while Cinemark was down 14.5 percent.
Following the announcement, theater chain AMC’s CEO and president, Adam Aron made note they have “already commenced an immediate and urgent dialogue with the leadership of Warner on this subject.” He continued by saying “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business.”
Theaters like AMC were agreeable to the one time exception of the Wonder Woman:1984 release to both theaters and streaming, however it appears they are less on board with the decision to upload the entirety of 2021’s schedule of films with that same release model.
Another large theater chain, Cinemark, wasn’t able to comment on how the hybrid model would impact its theaters in the long-term, “In light of the current operating environment, we are making near-term booking decisions on a film-by-film basis,” said a spokesperson.
It’s hard to not to have seen something like this coming. Streaming videos are been on the rise. Earlier this year Disney+ released “Mulan” and Universal released “King of Staten Island” and “Trolls: World Tour” straight to on-demand platforms.
Warner Bros and HBO are doing it a little differently. What has been typical during the pandemic, is the rise of premium video-on- demand (PVOD) where viewers are given access to blockbusters on the same day as theater release but you have to pay a premium price, upwards of $30. Yet in the case of WB’s 2021 movies, if you are already a HBO Max subscriber, you get to watch these movies at no additional charge, other than your monthly fee. Compared to a PVOD price of $30 for one movie, $14.99 a month for the 17 movies for 2021 is a no brainer.
Even though, announcements like those for WB are in a way a form of the studio experimenting to see what works while we are in a pandemic, there’s some major signs that this is the beginning of the end for movie theaters.
It’s unclear whether the dual release model will become the new precedent for how Warner Bro operators in business, as currently only 2021 films are on the table. However, at present, theaters, like Regal Cinema are nearly at the brink of bankruptcy.
A more permanent “new normal” appears to be emerging in effort to adapt to a post-pandemic future
The debut for WB’s slate of movies to hit streaming services concurrently with theater releases, will undoubtedly have drastic consequences for the the already hard-pressed and struggling theaters.
Warner Bros. made mention that the hybrid release is strictly due to the pandemic, yet it’s unclear how the studio will navigate with movie releases for 2022 and beyond given the new model they are setting into motion.
Movie theater stock prices fell on the news. AMC shares dropped more than 15 percent, while Cinemark was down 14.5 percent.
Following the announcement, theater chain AMC’s CEO and president, Adam Aron made note they have “already commenced an immediate and urgent dialogue with the leadership of Warner on this subject.” He continued by saying “As for AMC, we will do all in our power to ensure that Warner does not do so at our expense. We will aggressively pursue economic terms that preserve our business.”
Theaters like AMC were agreeable to the one time exception of the Wonder Woman:1984 release to both theaters and streaming, however it appears they appear less thrilled to be on-board with the decision to upload the entirety of 2021’s schedule of films with that same release model.
Another large theater chain, Cinemark, wasn’t able to comment on how the hybrid model would impact its theaters in the long-term, “In light of the current operating environment, we are making near-term booking decisions on a film-by-film basis,” said a spokesperson.
It’s hard to not to have seen something like this coming. Streaming videos are been on the rise. Earlier this year Disney+ released “Mulan” and Universal released “King of Staten Island” and “Trolls: World Tour” straight to on-demand platforms.
Future evolution of entertainment distribution is a big unknown, like nearly everything else
Warner Bros and HBO are doing it a little differently. What has been typical during the pandemic, is the increased number of options for premium video-on-demand (PVOD) where viewers are given access to blockbusters on the same day as theater release but are required to pay a premium price, in some cases upwards of $30.
Yet in the case of WB’s 2021 movies, provided you are already a HBO Max subscriber, you will be able to watch these movies at no additional charge, other than your monthly fee. Compared to a PVOD price of $30 for one movie, $14.99 a month for the 17 movies for 2021 seems like a no-brainer.
There is a 30-day availability limitation currently set on these special same-day release titles, but that would likely only be an issue if you wanted to sign up for a single month to game the system, so to speak.
It does appear to be the case that this announcement and others that may be soon to come, still represent a form of experimentation by WB / HBO max to see what works during a pandemic. At the same time, there are some major signs that this is the beginning of the end for movie theaters, at least as the primary vehicle for the initial release phase of major feature films.
It’s unclear whether the dual release model will set a permanent new precedent for how Warner Brothers conducts its business, as currently only 2021 films are on the table. Come 2022 it is also possible that the entire entertainment landscape will be unrecognizable, since, for example, theater chains, such as Regal Cinema, are already at the brink of bankruptcy.
Entire WB slate will have simultaneous HBO max availability
Warner Bros. has announced it will be releasing its 2021 movies in a unique hybrid, consumer-focused, yet very 2020 way. Warner Bros. will release its films theatrically worldwide, while also adding exclusive access to the HBO Max streaming platform on the same day for a one month period (U.S. only).
Among the 17 titles now slated to be available on HBO max on the same day of theatrical release are Matrix 4, Mortal Kombat and Godzilla vs. Kong. There will be no “video-on-demand” uncharge as long as you are an HBO max member. There is also a 30 day limitation on the availability of each title from the day of release, with an unknown “dark” period until it would, presumably, become available again as part of the general HBO max offerings.
Strong enticement to subscribe if you tend to enjoy WB films and other HBO exclusives
Although, for example, DreamWorks Animation sequel Trolls World Tour was made available for rental, and Disney’s Mulan was on Disney Plus in September, in both cases there was an up-charge to stream them and considered at the time to be “early” for streaming release and therefore require this extra payment to view. HBO max, due to it’s affiliation to Warner Brothers, will be offering its films for no extra charge as long as you have a membership.
It’s also important to note that HBO Max has discontinued the previously established weeklong free trial. So, for example it you want to see Wonder Woman on December 25th or stream any of the upcoming films, a minimum of one month of the service, which is $15 would have to be paid or, in some cases you might be able to take a regular HBO subscription and use it to snag a free upgrade to HBO max. There may also be specials to sign up that can be found, with a little sleuthing on your part.
“No one wants films back on the big screen more than we do. We know new content is the lifeblood of theatrical exhibition, but we have to balance this with the reality that most theaters in the U.S. will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021.
With this unique one-year plan, we can support our partners in exhibition with a steady pipeline of world-class films, while also giving moviegoers who may not have access to theaters or aren’t quite ready to go back to the movies the chance to see our amazing 2021 films.
We see it as a win-win for film lovers and exhibitors, and we’re extremely grateful to our filmmaking partners for working with us on this innovative response to these circumstances.”
![STILLWATER - Official Trailer [HD] - In Theaters July 30](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9cq1lPPeMUY/hqdefault.jpg)
![PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN - Official Trailer [HD] - This Christmas](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7i5kiFDunk8/hqdefault.jpg)
