Dark Horizons has a rundown (from box-office mojo) of the latest release date switcheroos and there are some interesting changes to note.
The critically shrugged “The Runaways,” originally slated to open on March 19th has now been pushed three weeks to April 9. Update: Hold the phone. Anne Thompson explains via Apparition’s Bob Bearney. It will open in semi-limited release (220 screens in ten cities) on March 19, followed by another 1000 screens on April 9.
The move seems a little odd, as the film will now go up against the blockbuster comedy “Date Night.” Not sure what the thinking is on that one, except that in an already crowded spring that weekend remains relatively empty. However, in an email we received from the distributors of the film up north, it appears the March 19th release date still stands for Canadian audiences.
“MacGruber,” has moved from the crowded April 23rd weekend to May 21st. It’s a smart move, as the April weekend was already tied up with “The Losers” and “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” vying for teenage bucks. On May 21st, it will be a solid (and probably wise) counterprogramming choice against “Shrek Forever After.”
Among the other films getting dates or moved around are “Just Wright” (which we haven’t even heard about) starring Common and Queen Latifah, which gets a May 14th wide release; the Justin Long and Drew Barrymore rom-com “Going The Distance” moves from fall to an August 13 summer date; Sundance favorite “Winter’s Bone” will hit screens on June 11th; “Fast & Furious” has lined up June 10, 2011 release date while the remake no one cares about, “Straw Dogs,” has been bumped six months to September 16, 2011.
Also, it looks like Tim Blake Nelson’s “Leaves of Grass” starring Ed Norton has been bumped up. It was previously reported has having an April 2nd release date, but Box-Office Mojo now lists it as having a March 26 release date.