Re-Porter Blog SMS 2024 Wrap Up: Season Awards

 

Happy Friday the 13th yall!!! Despite what day it is, today is a time for celebration and reflection for today marks the official start of the fall and winter movie slates. This means that summer is in the books and another summer movie season has come and gone. This year brought so much excitement and thrills to the theaters over the past few months that no one can deny its impact on so many people. As we transition into the final months and films of 2024, let us give out some well-deserved superlatives in our 11th edition of the SMS awards.

If there is one thing that you can count on is a veteran showing why they are the best at what they do. For Lupita Nyong’o, she exemplifies that and then some. Her work in this summer’s A Quiet Place Day One proves that she is one of the industry’s most reliable performers and a movie will always benefit from her being on the roster. Such a gift to have her in whatever story is set to be told. 

I’m sure everyone had a memorable summer this year. That said, I doubt that many of you had a better summer than Mr. Merc with the Mouth himself Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds truly lived the dream as he was able to manifest not just one of 2024’s most successful films but a dream team-up he’s wanted for so long. Few can deny his patience and perseverance to finally get to this point. Needless to say, Ryan has earned his place amongst the pantheon of superhero genre greats.

Best Animated Movie

As one of Pixar's most nuanced and beloved new IPs, expectations were high in regards to the follow-up to 2015's Inside Out. Thankfully, Inside Out 2 delivered in terms of comedy and emotional resonance. It takes a special type of skill to make us invested in both the journey of Riley and the journey of her emotions. The inclusion of new emotions like the cultural icon Anxiety added new layers to the narrative that elevated the stakes. Growing up is hard but the journey that takes place inside can help us embrace all of the parts of us that are key to making us whole.

Best Comedy 

In an unorthodox move, the official kick-off of the summer movie season was NOT the latest installment of the MCU. Still, what we did get was a worthy opening showcase. David Leitch's action comedy was full of adrenaline, laughs, romance, and poignancy. A smart and heartfelt love letter to the forgotten heroes of the entertainment industry who put their lives on the line for the enjoyment of the masses.

Movie of The Summer

As if there was any doubt. Coming in as one of 2024's most anticipated event films, the long-awaited team-up of Wade Wilson and Logan was every bit as chaotic, vulgar, bloody, and bats*** insane as one could hope for. Despite it all, the film never sacrificed heart and what has made these 2 characters such iconic figures in the superhero genre for years. We may not know where these 2 will end up next but the conclusion to the Fox era of Marvel was as classy as you could have it.

And with that, we close the curtain on another summer at the movies. I want to thank everyone who took the time to read my posts throughout the past few months. I do this every year and it's always a good time. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you all for 2025's staked summer slate. Have a wonderful fall and winter.

2024 Summer Movie Season - Monthly Recap (August/September 2024)

 

2024 SMS August/September Recap

Hi there followers!!! With the ending of this past weekend, we have officially begun to transition out of the summer movie season. The final films of SMS 2024 offered a lot but with the fall and winter film slates set to begin, summer looked to wrap up with a bang. Let's look back at the finale that was in our August/September recap.

Video game adaptations have had some pretty good fortune in the past few years. Unfortunately, some just miss the mark entirely. Squandering a talented ensemble, a seasoned director, and a potentially engrossing world, Borderlands will be looked back on as how NOT to do a video game adaptation. With evidence of the trend continuing down the road, this rising genre will have to conjure up more hits than misses to make up for one of 2024's most egregious cinematic misfires. 

The Alien franchise's history has been rocky as of late with some of its recent entries teetering between just ok to below standard when compared to the early days of the sci-fi horror series. Alien Romulus thankfully seemed to signal a return to form with its chilling and hauntingly intense standalone sequel. A younger cast mixed with an emphasis on practical effects recapturing the grounded grit of the 1979 classic, Romulus proved that the Xenomorph can be an effective tool for terror and tension that goes beyond simple glorified gore fest. If this is an indication of what's to come, it appears the franchise could be in for a long-awaited return to form.

 

It's been a while since the chaotic apparition has materialized but it seems he hasn't missed a step since the late 80s. Returning to the world of the gothic horror comedy, Tim Burton manages to conjure up some of his old-school ambiance in a crowd-pleasing legacy sequel that captures the spirit of the original while progressing the characters forward. The juice got loose and offered a great capper to the summer movie season while also serving as a kickoff for the spooky season. 

Here Are The Regarding How The Films Did Financially and Among Critics

Best Box Office Numbers (As of September 12th, 2024)

1. Alien Romulus: $315.3 Million

2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: $162.4 Million

3. Borderlands: $31.4 Million

Best Critical Success (via. Rotten Tomatoes)

1. Alien Romulus (80% Certified Fresh)

2. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (76% Certified Fresh)

3. Borderlands (10%)

What was your favorite movie of the month? Be sure to return later this week as we officially close our coverage of the summer movie season with our wrap-up special  See you real soon.