Fantasy Movie League: Thanksgiving Leftovers

It’s been a week, but I’d be willing to wager many of us are still eating turkey and all the fixings. I know I am. That’s what happens when you have a bountiful feast — you have it again and again for days after. The same is true at the Box Office this week. Sure, there’s a couple new films in the game, but mostly it’s the leftovers of the bountiful feast week had Thanksgiving week, when five new movies opened in wide release.

But can I do better with them this week? Of all the things out there, I thought Creed II looked like it had a favorable chance to provide value. It wasn’t bad, even outpacing some projections. But Ralph Breaks the Internet was the Best Value, and The Grinch was a close second. Never underestimate the appeal of children’s films during holiday weeks. It’s a lesson I should have learned by now, and one I won’t forget as we consider this week after Thanksgiving when folks are looking to break up shopping trips with some movie revelry.

There isn’t much new in the game, so it’s really a matter of sorting through what’s left and trying to see what will draw a crowd. And as always, if you think you’re better at the game than me, I encourage you to join me in a Fantasy Life App Blog league! You can join the league here. Let’s see how this week stacks up. Last week of the current season, let’s see if I can end on a high note!

New at the Box Office:

If you’re looking at new stuff, it’s slim pickings right now. The only new wide release is The Possession of Hannah Grace because, after all, who doesn’t want a good exorcism movie for Christmas? The film doesn’t have a score on Rotten Tomatoes yet, but let’s go ahead and assume it won’t be great. There isn’t a big name cast here, but horror films are usually cheap to produce and seem to consistently find audiences no matter the time of year. That being said, this isn’t projected to break the bank opening weekend. The film is just $57 FML Bucks and projected at $3.2 million by Fantasy Movie League. Box Office Pro sees it at $3.2 million also, but Box Office Report sees $5.6 million. If it’s on the high end, that could provide some value. 

The only other new film in the game is the indie film The Favourite, which could be an award contender. The film boasts an incredible 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and has been in limited release a few weeks. It’s making an expansion. It’s only $18 FML Bucks but projected at just $1.1 million. It’s low-end filler.

The Search for the Best Value:

Last week, Ralph Breaks the Internet was not only the top film at the Box Office, but the Best Value. It’s again the most expensive option at $460 FML Bucks, and is again projected at the top of the Box Office. It carries projections between $27.5 and $28.7 million, but Fantasy Movie League is the highest. That makes it a questionable pick to return best value again.

In fact, looking at most of the top films in the game, the projections for Fantasy Movie League are again the highest. A notable exception is Bohemian Rhapsody, which has been out a month but keeps drawing a crowd. Fantasy Movie League sees it $7.8 million, but the Box Office Pro sees it at $8.2 and Box Office Report sees $8.3 million. That’s not a huge difference, but it is relative to the drop off seen by the films above it. To me, that’s a potential for value.

This Week’s Lineup:

I like the chances of Bohemian Rhapsody to return a value, and I’m willing to take a gamble on Hannah Grace.

Bohemian Rhapsody x6

The Possession of Hannah Grace x2