Sasquatch Sunset directors Nathan and David Zellner (Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter) always wondered what these hairy giants do when they’re not walking – the only Bigfoot footage available has been a minute of a supposed Sasquatch wandering in the northern California woods. They decided to flesh that out in unique dialogue-free comedic imagining of the creatures’ daily life – eating, fighting, etc. Stars Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, Christophe Zajac-Denek and Nathan Zellner are unrecognizable as the hairy tribe of four that entranced Sundance (see Deadline review). Bleecker Street is opening the film, written by David Zellner, executive produced by Ari Aster, in 9 theaters in New York, LA, San Francisco and Austin, ahead of a big jump to about 800 screens next week.
IFC Films opens Nicolas Cage-starring Arcadian on 1,100 screens. Premiered at SXSW, see Deadline review. Eying a low single-digits start. The Benjamin Brewer directed movie follows a father and his twin teenage sons who are fighting to survive in a remote farmhouse at the end of the world.
The Long Game, Julio Quintana’s sports drama starring Jay Hernandez and Dennis Quaid, opens on 1,050 screens, presented by Mucho Mas Media. A SXSW premiere, it won the fest’s Narrative Spotlight Audience Award. Inspired by Humberto G. Garcia’s Mustang Miracle, the true story of five young Mexican American caddies in 1955 who created their own golf course in the middle of South Texas brush country. Despite outdated and inferior equipment and no professional instruction at first they would go on to compete against wealthy all-white teams and win the 1957 Texas State High School Golf Championship.
Well Go USA opens its widest-ever theatrical release, horror thriller Sting, on 975 screens. Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, it stars young actress Alyla Browne (upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) as 12-year-old Charlotte, whose pet spider rapidly transforms into a giant flesh-eating monster, forcing the young girl to fight for her family’s survival.
“We expect exhibitors’ enthusiasm for the film to be shared by theatrical audiences,” said Jonathan Alvarez, senior coordinator for theatrical distribution. The film “nails all the important elements horror fans look for, from the stellar practical effects helmed by Wētā Workshop’s Richard Taylor to Kiah Roache-Turner’s classic blending of humor and horror to incredible performances.” With Ryan Corr (House of the Dragon, The Water Diviner), Penelope Mitchell (Hellboy), Robyn Nevin (Relic, Wolf Like Me), Noni Hazlehurst (The End), Silvia Colloca (Van Helsing), Danny Kim (Born to Spy) and Jermaine Fowler (The Blackening).
Iconic Events Releasing presents the BET+ original Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead in 600+ theaters. The remake of the 1991 coming-of-age comedy is directed by Wade Allain-Marcus, written by Chuck Hayward. Stars Simone Joy Jones as Tanya, who finds her summer plans canceled when her mom jets off for a last-minute retreat and the elderly babysitter who arrives at her door unexpectedly passes away. With Nicole Richie, June Squibb, Tremaine Hensley, Jermaine Fowler and Ms. Pat with Miles Fowler, Iantha Richardson, Gus Kenworthy and Tyriq Withers.
Roadside Attraction and Vertical open The Absence of Eden, starring Zoe Saldana, at 108 theaters. The first feature for artist and producer Marco Perego, husband of the Saldaña, executive produced by Martin Scorsese, is grounded in the human side of migrants trying to cross the border in search of a better life. Perego has said it was inspired by a sculpture he did in 2017 filling hundreds of shoes with concrete to represent children fleeing from Syria to Italy.
Set at the U.S.-Mexico border, an undocumented immigrant Esmee (Saldaña), working as a private dancer, finds herself in trouble after killing a drug cartel member. The film is dedicated to Saldaña’s late maternal grandmother, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic in the 1960s.
Written by Perego and Rick Rapoza. Also stars Garrett Hedlund, Adria Arjona, Chris Coy, Sophia Hammons, Noah Ziggy James.
With immigration a hot-button political issue, Deadline’s review calls it a perfect time for this “powerful new film.”
Music: Trafalgar is playing concert fim Suga/Agust D Tour ‘D-Day’ The Movie on 784 Screens in North America. Started with two dates, 4/10 and 4/13, but has been adding playdates due to demand. Suga is part of the blockbuster pop group BTS and the film features appearances by members RM, Jimin and Jung Kook.
Oscilloscope is playing Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All, Alexandria Bombach’s documentary on the iconic duo that opened the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Opened at 90 locations on Wednesday and exhibitors are adding encores this weekend and beyond to meet demand. The distributor expects to add a significant number of engagements throughout April and May.
Greenwich Entertainment presents Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill — the never-before-told story of folk-rock icon Judee Sill, who in just two years went from living in a car to appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone. The doc directed by Andy Brown and Brian Lindstrom (Alien Boy: The Life & Death of James Chasse) premiered at DOC NYC in 2022 and charts Sill’s troubled adolescence, meteoric rise, and early tragic death. Featuring Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Fleet Foxes, David Geffen, JD Souther, Big Thief, Weyes Blood, Tim Page and more. Executive producers include Maya Hawke and Cheryl Strayed. Day and date with full week theatrical runs in New York (IFC Center), Los Angeles (Laemmle Noho), Santa Fe (Center For Contemporary Arts) and Callicoon, NY (Callicoon Theater).
Limited openings: Food, Inc. 2 from Magnolia Pictures, Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo’s following to their 2008 doc that reunited the directors with investigative authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) for a fresh look at the U.S. food industry. Also credited as an EP is the late Diane Weyermann, the beloved producer and former Participant CCO, who passed away in 2021. The film, which premiered at Telluride, shows how unchecked corporate consolidation has left us with a shockingly vulnerable food system dedicated solely to profit. It also seeks solutions, introducing innovative farmers and food producers, workers’ rights activists and legislators working towards a more sustainable future.
Played on 122 screens for an event screening Tuesday. Opens in NY and LA today (Union Square and Laemmle Monica), day and date.