2025 is off to a gradual begin on the field workplace, however that is true of most years. January is not precisely a marquee month; in reality, it is normally a window for studios to dump motion pictures that they’ve much less religion in. Certain, we get the occasional breakout hit like Liam Neeson’s “Taken,” however these are extra of an exception relatively than the rule. As January offers approach to February, although, we must be taking a look at greener pastures. Main the best way would be the new sci-fi horror flick “Companion,” which appears to be like to shut out this 12 months’s crop of January releases on a excessive be aware.
Hailing from Warner Bros., first time characteristic director Drew Hancock’s “Companion” is at the moment taking a look at a gap within the $10 to $15 million vary when it arrives subsequent weekend, per Field Workplace Principle. WB was thrifty with this one, which carries a mere $10 million price ticket. Even with a large advertising spend, a gap in that vary will set “Companion” up for fulfillment out of the gate. The one main problem is that there will likely be ample competitors for the horror crowd: Steven Soderbergh’s “Presence” will solely be every week into its run; slasher “Coronary heart Eyes” arrives the next weekend; and “The Monkey” will likely be simply across the nook as nicely.
Working on this film’s favor will likely be optimistic buzz. /Movie’s Chris Evangelista referred to as “Companion” the “first nice film of 2025” in his 9 out of 10 evaluate. He is not alone, because it at the moment holds an 89% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes. If audiences agree, that ought to assist give the movie legs past opening weekend, which can assist loads within the face of stiff competitors inside the style.
Can Companion construct on the Barbarian mannequin of success?
A gap in that $10 to $15 million vary would put “Companion” in the identical ballpark as final 12 months’s remake of “Communicate No Evil” ($11.4 million opening/$76.7 million worldwide). If issues go rather well, we could possibly be taking a look at one thing nearer to “Longlegs” ($22.4 million opening/$126.9 million worldwide). Even on the low finish, we’re taking a look at a success for positive.
Whereas the studio is correctly maintaining plot particulars below wraps to take care of a way of thriller, “Companion” is being billed as “a brand new sort of love story.” Broadly talking, it focuses on a extremely superior girl robotic that causes havoc. Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) and Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”) lead the forged.
One other factor WB is leaning into is that this one hails from the producers of “Barbarian,” and particularly from that movie’s director Zach Cregger. WB and New Line have been fast to get into mattress with Cregger after his 2022 horror flick grew to become an sudden hit, signing a take care of the filmmaker in addition to nabbing the rights to his new film “Weapons.” Properly, they’re utilizing an identical playbook for this one as they did for “Barbarian,” leaning into the thriller of all of it.
Whereas horror has been a really dependable style within the pandemic period, issues have been slightly hit/miss recently. Blumhouse’s “Wolf Man” lately disillusioned with a sub-$11 million opening regardless of projections suggesting it will open nearer to $20 million. In that case, opinions and phrase of mouth have been powerful to beat. These items occur. Fortuitously, with the knowledge we’ve earlier than us, it appears to be like like Hancock’s characteristic debut will keep away from such an final result.
“Companion” hits theaters on January 31, 2025.
