To begin, let me tell you about how studios decide when to release a movie. These are patterns that I noticed after spending the past 7 years working for a movie theatre. And if you look back at recent years and see what was released on any given weekend, you'll notice the pattern as well.
January:
January is an interesting month. The quality of the movie could go either way here. For one, the cut-off date to be a contender for the Oscars is December 31st. But many Studios find a loop hole by only releasing their films in LA or New York to test the waters so they can more accurately predict how well it will do nationwide. And what a bunch of bastards they are for doing it. I can't tell you how many movies I've wanted to see that I put their "release" date on my calendar only to find out I have to drive an hour or more just to go see it, because I'm impatient.... and a tad bit crazy.
But I digress. In January, you will often see the wide-release of several Oscar contenders, just trying to refresh the Academy's memory of how good they are. Take last years Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Musical Score and Best Costume Design winner, The Artist. It was "released" in the New York Film Festival on October 14th, 2011, and then in the Austin Film Festival on October 25th, 2011. It was finally released to a limited audience on November 23rd, 2011 (Which by the way is the same day this year that Hitchcock will be released.... hopefully wide released). In this case, limited "release" means it was released on 4 screens. As a comparison, my theatre played Twilight on four screens at one time with one reel. And also had it playing on 6 other screens. At that was one theatre.
"Released" In January
January is also notorious (Notorious, the movie about Biggie was released on January 16th, 2009), for releasing action movies that weren't expected to do well competing with the summer blockbusters. Movies like The Green Hornet (2011), Contraband (2012), Legion (2010), and The Book of Eli (2010) would not have fared well with their summertime counter parts. Some barely broke even with no competition. And it's not their fault. January is Oscar time. The time where non-movie buffs see what all of the buzz is about.
February:
February is where movies go to die. Unless your a romantic movie released on Valentines day, or a horrible remake of an old 80s horror movie, you will be lost and forgotten. Studios usually book their unimpressive movies for this month. The reason being that people just don't go see movies in February, except on Valentines Dates. It's right smack dab in the middle of Winter and Spring breaks for all students. Everyone is two busy to see movies in February.
The only exceptional movie I have ever seen in February was Shutter Island (2010). That movie should have been released between September and December and should have contended for the Oscars. But for some reason, the studio did not see it fit to be released in another month. Who knows.
March:
The first or second week (depending on the date the Friday lands on) in March usually houses the years first potential blockbuster. For instance, John Carter (2012), Battle Los Angeles (2011), Alice In Wonderland (2010), and Watchmen (2009) were all released within the first two weeks of March. Despite what other people think, John Carter wasn't the bomb that everyone thought it was. Yes it took a long time to make back it's $250,000,000 budget, but it's world gross as of August 2012 was $282,778,100. So at the very least they made their money back and got some pocket change.
April:
In April, the heat kind of dies down again. Theaters aren't as dead as they are in February, but have varying attendance's from week to week. The excitement of going crazy and getting drunk enough during spring break to spend $11 on a movie ticket has since past, and ordinary life has kicked in. Movies released in this month make decent money, but not the crazy money of Summer blockbusters. April is kind of the Wild Card of Movie Theaters.
May:
If you look at the released for may, it usually is the release date for Marvel Superhero movies. Ever since the first Spiderman. Spider-Man, X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 3, Ironman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ironman 2, Thor, Marvel's The Avengers all were released in May. X-Men wasn't because that was before they tested out the month of May. Sam Raimi did some drugs and released Spider-Man 3 in June, only to be disappointed with a measly $783,766,341. And Captain America: The First Avenger was released in July, probably to coincide with patriotism... or not compete with their own Thor, which is more probable. The hot weekend for May are the first and last weekends of the month.
Pixar also released many of its films in May until they decided June was cooler, for some reason. All four of the Shrek movies were released in May as well as the entire Star Wars Saga.
June and July:
I think everybody knows this one. Blockbusters come out in June and July. How could you not know that? It makes perfect sense. The kiddies are out of school and everyone is taking a vacation at some point during these months. You'd be stupid not to release your best action-packed mindless movies during these months. Transformers, The Dark Knight, some of the Harry Potter series. Movies that were designed to put butts in seats.
August:
The blockbusters bastard children are released in August. But, like April, it can be a bit unpredictable. Movies like G.I. Joe, Total Recall(2012), Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, and what have you can also be released alongside such greats as District 9, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Help, and Lawless. It's gotta me something about the letter 'A'... or it's just a coincidence. I'm no doctor.
Now we come to my favorite time of the year. The time where the Oscar contention starts to heat up. From September up through December, great movie after great movie is released. At least the ones I see are great, but I know my taste very well. If you've been reading my blog at all, you might notice that with the exception of one movie, none of them have been given a low grade. The Master, Dredd (Not going to win an Oscar but still very entertaining), Ruby Sparks, Looper, Argo, Seven Psychopaths, The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, Cloud Atlas, Flight and Wreck-it Ralph were all fantastic. Not one of them left me disappointed.
Before the month is over, I want to see Skyfall, Lincoln, Anna Karenina, Hitchcock, Life of Pi, Rise of the Guardians, and Killing Them Softly. And that's just in two weeks! We still have the entire month of December left, and thats when they REALLY start pumping in the good movies.
Oscar season is the best season of them all. Unless you're really silly or don't do much research, it's hard to go see a movie and not enjoy it even a little bit. And then, in February when all the movies make me want to throw up, I can consult the Oscar nominations and see those movies.
Oscars > The Superbowl... and I burn less Queso Dip while watching the Oscars.
Below is the List of movies I want to see for the rest of the year. If you've seen any of these, please tell me what you thought. Everyone is a critic, and that's a good thing. Make your own opinions.
On the Road (Minus Stone Face Stewart)
Enjoy your movies!!!
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