Two major new releases hit UK and Irish cinemas on Thursday as the Easter weekend got under way, with Robert Pattinson and Zendaya's star-studded comedy-drama The Drama and Aaron Taylor-Johnson's crime thriller Fuze both opening to strong early audiences and generating significant buzz ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
The Drama, released by Entertainment Film Distributors, stars Pattinson and Zendaya as a couple whose wedding plans are thrown into chaos by a shocking secret, in what critics have described as a sharp, witty comedy-drama that showcases both stars at their most charming. The film, which premiered to strong reviews at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, is expected to be one of the biggest box office performers of the Easter period.
Fuze, released by StudioCanal, takes a darker turn, with Taylor-Johnson playing a bomb disposal expert drawn into a major heist in a tense, action-packed thriller that has been compared to the best of the genre. The film has been praised for its practical stunt work and Taylor-Johnson's committed physical performance.
Also opening this week is the 25th anniversary re-release of Amélie, the beloved French romantic comedy that has been restored in 4K for a new generation of cinema-goers, alongside the Irish co-production Father Mother Sister Brother, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is receiving its UK and Irish theatrical release through MUBI.
The Easter weekend is traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year for UK cinemas, with families and couples taking advantage of the bank holidays to visit multiplexes and independent screens alike. Industry analysts are predicting a strong performance across the board, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which opened on April 1, continuing to draw large family audiences into its second week.
Looking ahead, Lee Cronin's The Mummy opens on April 17, with the Irish director following up his acclaimed Evil Dead Rise with a supernatural horror reimagining of the classic Universal monster. The film is already generating significant anticipation among horror fans.
