2024 has been an terrible 12 months for Lionsgate with releases like The Crow and Megalopolis and there doesn’t appear to be an finish in sight.
Imaginary. Borderlands. The Crow. Megalopolis. 2024 has been a colossally dangerous 12 months for Lionsgate Movies. Whether or not it’s important rankings or field workplace take, there’s not rather a lot to be optimistic about for those who’re a fan or shareholder. That is too dangerous as Lionsgate has all the time been the studio I’ve all the time rooted for. As distributors of the Noticed, John Wick, and Rambo they’ve all the time had an edge to them, giving smaller movies an opportunity to achieve bigger audiences. And franchises like Twilight (bought from Summit), Divergent, and Starvation Video games confirmed their capacity to make/purchase broadly interesting movies. Then they’ve even gotten into the Oscar area with releases like La La Land, Knives Out, and Sicario. But it surely’s attending to the purpose the place I groan each time the Lionsgate emblem comes up because it’s now not an indication of high quality or enjoyable.
It’s onerous to not blame Lionsgate a minimum of a little bit bit for this. Borderlands, The Crow, and Megalopolis had been largely thought-about to be dangerous concepts from the beginning. One other adaptation of the graphic novel which hasn’t had an excellent movie for the reason that authentic? A movie primarily based on a online game fully miscast and coming from a horror director? And eventually, a ardour mission from a as soon as nice filmmaker who hasn’t made an excellent film in 32 years? Every of those was a transparent failure and largely made enjoyable of when introduced. So the truth that they threw a lot money at them is baffling. The Crow was all the time going to be a troublesome promote, and to make sure, Lionsgate is simply the distributor, not the producer (identical with Megalopolis). But it surely nonetheless begs the query as to why they might purchase a movie with such a low upside. One other head-scratcher is the discharge of White Fowl this weekend, which is a prequel/sequel to their 2017 hit Marvel. That film sat on the shelf for just a few years (regardless of completely respectable evaluations), however was launched in a really low-key approach for a movie associated to certainly one of their largest word-of-mouth hits.
Whereas Lionsgate is just not a significant studio, they’re nonetheless thought-about a mini-major the place they principally concentrate on overseas and impartial movies. Very similar to the Noticed franchise which was made for reasonable however made a boatload of money for the studio, Lionsgate was in a position to make large revenue off of it. But even their low-budget fare has been uninspiring. Broken, Miller’s Lady, Arthur the King, and The Duel show we’re far faraway from the times of high-quality acquisitions. Hell, the one time that they had a nice indie horror movie in Cobweb, they determined to launch it to rattling close to zero promotion on the identical day as Barbenheimer.
We additionally want to debate their unusual launch technique. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Arthur the King, and The Killer’s Recreation solely got here out in the USA (skipping Canada solely) and resulted in a tepid field workplace. Whereas I loved Ungentlemanly Warfare, releasing on this approach says to audiences that the movies aren’t value a whole launch/advertising technique. Certain, it prices some huge cash to market a movie, however why even make/purchase the movie within the first place for those who’re not even going to present it an opportunity to totally optimize its probabilities to revenue?
I do know I’m just about the one particular person on the planet who loved the ridiculousness of The Strangers: Chapter 1 nevertheless it’s clear primarily based on others’ reactions, that its sequels have a troublesome hill to climb. Whereas the primary movie did nicely, that would possible be attributed to followers of the unique eager to test it out. However after the horrible phrase of mouth, it’s going to be much more tough to get individuals in seats. That is possible why we haven’t seen something from Chapter 2 regardless of Chapter 1 releasing again in Might. Not even a trailer. And with the trilogy filming again to again, you must determine the sequels are close to completion, editing-wise. So will the trilogy full its story in theaters, or will it’s relegated to streaming companies for the remainder of its run? The extra Lionsgate wants a win, it appears the much less possible it’s to occur.
So far as massive releases to avoid wasting the 12 months, Lionsgate doesn’t have a lot of something left. With a small Cillian Murphy drama and The Finest Christmas Pageant Ever, the possibilities of recovering their losses don’t appear nice. However 2025 ought to be a little bit higher with the return of the Noticed franchise with XI, the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, and the favored magic collection Now You See Me 3. However then once more, they’re producing a Soiled Dancing sequel so I’m undecided in the event that they’ve discovered their lesson but. Particularly with the rumors that a lot of Ballerina needed to be reshot, as the unique minimize was such a large number. No matter occurs, Lionsgate is in want of some main adjustments going ahead because the studio has develop into a shell of its former self. Hopefully, they take inspiration from different mini-majors like A24 and begin specializing in high quality and creativity. However who is aware of, perhaps some Lionsgate exec simply acquired an amazing concept for The Crow 2. *shudders*
What do you suppose? Will Lionsgate ever recuperate? What’s the answer? Tell us within the feedback under!
