With many local releases meeting unfavorable results at the box office, the industry finds hope in the enormous success of a few films.
Is local cinema alive? The truth is, it remains struggling. With many mainstream releases flunking tragically at the box office, one could bot help but wonder, ‘will local cinema’s pre-pandemic might, make a comeback’?
Or has it already? Rewind‘s more than ₱900million at the global box office, seems to suggest, there is hope. But one should also note, it took more than six months, before the next blockbuster, arrived. Thanks again to Star Cinema and to the sensational love team of Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto a.k.a. JoshLia. The film already grossed more than ₱390 million and is expected to cross the ₱400 million-mark, once its theatrical run concludes.
There are a number of upcoming local productions we hope, and believe, would extend such a streak. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that that would really be the case.
Hello, Love, Again (Star Cinema/GMA Pictures).
If there is one movie coming out this year, that we can be sure would break records at the box office, it is Hello, Love, Again. The sequel to Hello, Love, Goodbye, which became the highest-grossing Filipino film in 2019, the Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards-starrer is projected to make new milestones at the local box office, when it premieres in November.
And The Bread Winner is…. (Star Cinema/The IdeaFirst Company).
This film features the much-anticipated collaboration of the Unkabogable Phenomenal Box Office Superstar, Vice Ganda, and the award-winning esteemed director, Jun Lana. The film hopes to give Vice’s brand of humor a new flavor, while pushing him back to box office limelight. The film is projected to be one this year’s MMFF’s top grossers.
The Green Bones (GMA Pictures).
After the critical and commercial success of Firefly at last year’s MMFF, GMA Network seemed to have found a new vigor in producing movies again. Featuring Kapuso Network’s finest leading men, Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid, and helmed by award-winning director, Zig Dulay, the film will surely earn the nods of both the critics and moviegoers.
The Kingdom (M-Zet/APT Entertainment/MediaQuest).
The first collaboration between box office royalties, Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual, The Kingdom is set to challenge projected top grossers at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.
My Love Will Make You Disappear (Star Cinema).
Originally intended to be released in this year, the film is reportedly moving to a new release date next year. That said, excitement for this Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino-starrer doesn’t seem to fade, as their eager fans vow to flock the cinemas once this film premieres.
Nokturno (Viva Films).
Fans are hoping this film will make it to 2024 MMFF’s list of official entries. Following the surprising and sensational success of Deleter in 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival, a much-anticipated follow up for Nadine Lustre and Mikhail Red’s team-up seemed inevitable.
Nang Mapagod si Kamatayan (Star Cinema).
With Daniel Padilla now busy taping for his newest ‘teleserye’, InCognito, development has suddenly came to a stall, for this planned adaptation of Ricky Lee’s short story with the same name. Let’s hope, production finally begins next year.
Which of these upcoming films excite you the most and you believe will invigorate local box office? Don’t forget to drop by our comment section to share your thoughts!
