It’s always good cause to celebrate when a smart sci-fi for adults makes good, so break out the confetti becauseDenis Villeneuve’sArrivalhas just topped $100 million at the worldwide box office. And it’s only in its third week of release. Based onTed Chiang’s stunning short storyStories of Your Life, Arrival starsAmy Adamsas a world-class linguist Dr. Louise Brooks who is tasked with forging a with finding a way to communicate with a mysterious new alien race.
The film has grossed $65.8 million in the US and Canada, where it’s heading into its fourth weekend at the box office, and $35.1 million internationally.
It’s a beautiful movie, equal parts cerebral and emotional, and Adams gives one banger of a performance as Brooks, andArrivalis poised to become a major awards contender if word of mouth keeps up and Paramount gives it a big push.Arrivalhas been a critical hit since it debuted at the Venice Film Festival (you can read Brian’s review here), and buzz stayed strong as the film worked through the festival circuit. And now that it’s officially the season for annual accolades, Arrival has already started amassing a healthy roster of nominations and year-end list placement. It received 10 nominations
And now that it’s officially the season for annual accolades,Arrivalhas already started amassing a healthy roster of nominations and year-end list placement. It received 10 nominationsonfrom the Critics Choice Awards, including for Best Picture, Director, Actress and Adapted Screenplay and was recently named one of the National Board of Review’s Top Films of 2016. Amy Adams also took home National Board of Review’s Best Actress award. Looking ahead, the film is on the Oscar shortlist for visual effects, and Adam’s trusty Oscar Beat has it in contention forBest Actress,Best Director,andBest Picture. And let’s be real, if it doesn’t get a Best Adapted Screenplay nod, that would be a downright travesty.
If Paramount opts to giveArrivala big awards push (which is likely, but they’ve also gotFencesin contention), the film could be poised to have some serious legs at the box office in the long term. Regardless, the film is already a hit and a sound investment on Paramount’s part (they picked up the North American rights for $20 million back at Cannes 2014), and hopefully the kind of film that inspires studios to put out more intelligent, challenging, non-IP science fiction.
