Three new movie releases and the brief big screen return of Noughties romantic comedy favourite How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. That’s what South African cinemagoers can enjoy from this Friday.
If you thought Disney had cornered the market on live-action remakes of animated films, think again. DreamWorks’ beloved 2010 fantasy adventure How to Train Your Dragon is getting the flesh and blood treatment too, with the original film’s co-director Dean DeBlois helming this translation. The story is the same: On the isle of Berk, young Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames) defies centuries of tradition, and his chieftan father (Gerard Butler), when he befriends rare Night Fury dragon Toothless, instead of hunting him. Sure to be this weekend’s box office winner, How to Train Your Dragon (2025) is notably also screening in IMAX 3D.
Following her Oscar-nominated feature debut Past Lives, playwright turned filmmaker Celine Song is back with glossy romantic comedy drama Materialists. Dakota Johnson’s ambitious and highly successful New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match (Pedro Pascal) and her imperfect ex (Chris Evans). Made by Song and released by A24, it feels safe to say that Materialists will be much meatier and more interesting than the usual featherlight on-screen love triangle.
The tonal flipside of Materialists is survival thriller Dangerous Animals, from horror filmmaker Sean Byrne, out of Australia. Free-spirited surfer Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) finds herself trapped miles out at sea on the boat of a uniquely twisted serial killer. You see, Tucker (Jai Courtney) likes to ritualistically feed his victims to sharks. This one is apparently claustrophobic and emotionally intense, all under sunny blue skies.