New Movie Releases in the UK and Ireland
This weekend, Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One battle after another, is set to be the largest title opening in cinemas in Great Britain and Ireland, with Warner Bros screening it in 650 locations. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a washed-up revolutionary who must take action again when his daughter goes missing. This is one of Anderson’s biggest releases before his last feature, Licorice Pizza, which debuted on 203 sites with £436,005 in 2021.
Box Office Expectations
Anderson’s largest opening was Boogie Nights in 1998, which earned £794,295. Although it went on to make £4.5 million over its lifespan, it is behind the director’s title There Will Be Blood in the territory, which made just shy of £5 million. With a reported budget of $130-175 million, Warner Bros will be hoping that One battle after another can reach new heights with the help of DiCaprio and strong reviews. The film also features a star-studded cast, including Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina King, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti.
Other New Releases
Horror and Event Titles
Lionsgate’s horror film The Strangers: Chapter 2 is also opening in 427 sites this weekend. The film focuses on the consequences of a home invasion and follows the debut of Chapter 1 in May 2024, which earned £452,507. In event titles, Disney is re-releasing Hamilton in 738 venues to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the stage show. Trafalgar is also releasing BTS 2016 Live: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life on Stage: Epilogue Remastered in 108 locations.
Classic Films and New Releases
Universal is re-releasing Billy Elliot in 375 cinemas for its 25th anniversary. The 2000 British drama, about a working-class boy who discovers a love of ballet, opened with £1.5 million and went on to make £18.2 million over its lifespan. Other new releases include the British crime drama Bullet Boy from Blue Finch Films and Spider-Man 2.1 from Park Circus. Emma Thompson stars in The Dead of Winter, which is being released by Vertigo in 170 cinemas. The action thriller follows a woman who travels alone in Minnesota and stumbles upon the kidnapping of a young girl.
International Films and Documentaries
Japanese animation Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is opening in 62 locations for Trinity Film and Cine Asia. Homebound, India’s submission for the best international feature at the Oscars, is being released by Kinosphere Entertainment in 46 venues. The film, which is about two childhood friends who train to become police officers, has Martin Scorsese as one of its executive producers. UK Queer Romance A Night Like This is opening in 27 sites for Verve Pictures. Justin Kurzel’s documentary Ellis Park is being released in 12 cinemas and is about the Australian musician Warren Ellis and the wildlife sanctuary he co-founded.
Additional Releases
Other releases this weekend include the French drama Better Days from Parkland Film Capital, Nadia Fall’s Brides from Vue Lumiere, and the documentary Irvine Welsh: The Reality is Not Enough from Kaleidoscope. The US documentary The Librarians is being released by Dogwoof, and the football film Euro 75 is being released by Bruises. Downton Abbey: The Great Finale and The Magic: Last Rites remain the top holdover titles.
