Fantasy Movie League: The Last Weekend of 2019


This is the last weekend of the year, can you believe it? Time has flown in 2019, and if you’re looking for some movies to watch, you have options. And most everything is out already, since Christmas Day is traditionally the last big release day of the year. But before we look ahead, let’s look back.

Last week I thought that the Friday screening of Star Wars was the best anchor, and I bet on Frozen 2 to provide value. Friday was the right anchor for Star Wars, but Rian Johnson’s Knives Out was the Best Value, and paced the Perfect Cineplex on seven screens.

This week there are two new entries, and Star Wars is still in daily scoring. But with all the movies having opened at least by Wednesday, the question is what will keep audiences coming back for more. 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. On to this week’s competition.

New at the Box Office:

The biggest new release is Gretta Gerwig’s take on Little Women. The classic story has been told many times before, but this latest take is star-studded and has drawn strong reviews. It has a fantastic critical score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s $219 FML Bucks, fifth most expensive option, and projected at $14.8 million for the weekend. Box Office Pro sees $18 million, while Box Office Report sees $15 million. So it could have value if it goes higher than projections.
The other new release is the animated film Spies in Disguise. It boasts just a 72 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, but has done well with audiences. Still, it’s not even projected to be the highest grossing animated film of the weekend. It’s $147 FML Bucks, and projected at $13.6 million. Box Office Report sees $12 million, but Box Office Pro goes with $8.9 million. That gives me pause, making this likely a stay away.

The Search for the Best Value:

Jumanji: The Next Level is the most expensive option at $383 FML Bucks, but Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker figures to lead the Box Office. However, it’s in daily scoring, which skews the value some. Box Office Pro sees $100.3 million for the weekend, while Box Office Report goes with $91. Fantasy Movie League sees $34.1 million Friday, $32.7 million Saturday and $25.2 million Sunday. That’s a three-day total of $92 million, in line with other three-day projections. The question is if the breakdown is correct. With the big College Football playoff games Saturday, and the final NFL slate Sunday, that could weaken later weekend scores. In addition, we could see folks traveling this weekend to go back to work on Monday.

Jumanji, meanwhile, is projected at $37.5 million by Fantasy Movie League. But they are WAY more excited than others. Box Office Report goes with $33 million while Box Office Report goes with $24.5 million. That makes it a real tough bet for value. 

This Week’s Lineup:

It’s hard to stay away from Star Wars, and I also think some indie films could do well. Adam Sandler’s Uncut Gems is opening wider, and I think it could get a good bump.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Fri) x2
Uncut Gems x4
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood x2

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