
Warner Bros' "Joker", the DC Comics origin story that could prove to be a game changer for comic book movies, has exploded on the big screen with $13.3 million from Thursday night previews. The film should be able to overtake "Venom", which opened last year in October with a record-breaking $80.2 million from 4,250 theaters. "Joker" is expected to finish its opening weekend with around $85 million from 4,374 theaters. The film has received mixed-to-positive reactions from critics, and an enthusiastic reception from moviegoers ("B+" from CinemaScore's polls).
In limited release we have some interesting picks as well. First, we have Noah Hawley's feature film directorial debut, the astronaut drama "Lucy in the Sky" starring Natalie Portman, which has been getting hammered by critics.
Then we have Pedro Almodovar's "Pain and Glory", which won Best Actor (Antonio Banderas), and competed for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
And last, but not least, Netflix's biopic/comedy "Dolemite Is My Name" starring Eddie Murphy as filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore, best known for portraying the character Dolemite in a series of 1970s blaxploitation films. The film also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson and Wesley Snipes. If you can't catch it in theaters, you can watch it when it begins streaming on October 25, 2019 on Netflix.
Synopses, details, critical/audience reception, trailers, and more after the jump.