Russell Crowe Thriller 'Unhinged' To Become First Theatrical Release post-Coronavirus

Solstice Studio's thriller starring Russell Crowe set to make history as the first theatrical release since the Coronavirus pandemic began, as US theatres start reopening

Russell Crowe in 'Unhinged' (CREDIT: Solstice Studios)

by Jack Linsdell

We just received an interesting development from the grapevine that the first theatrical release to open in theatres since lockdown measures began in late March, won't be Christopher Nolan's Tenet, but in fact...a low-budget, Russell Crowe-led thriller Unhinged. Before today no one had heard of this project (unless you follow Crowe's career like a hawk - pun very much intended), but now Unhinged will go down in movie history books as the first new theatrical release post-Coronavirus. 

Now, this is predominately a move for the US only, as theatres in many states (especially Texas) look to reopen their doors to audiences, with strict social distancing measures and staggered showtimes being implemented. However, we have word that for those international markets  who have cinemas open by July (for example, in the UK, if Boris Johnson's roadmap is correct, this could be plausible), then Unhinged will be the first new movie they can play. And, at the moment, it's arriving a whole two weeks before Nolan's previously mentioned blockbuster (providing it doesn't flee to safer waters), which will make the $26 million budgeted thriller the only new game in town for those brave (or desperate) enough to leave their homes for a trip to the theatre. So, July 1st is when you can see Unhinged, of course providing nothing worsens or changes (god forbid) in the current situation. 

Now, this is just the sort of PR marketing move Solstice Studios needed. Considering this is their first release as a company and movie distributor (they were only formed in late 2018), then this kind of positive publicity they could only dream of. Not to mention the free media coverage that Unhinged will get from this without them needing to spend a dollar on marketing. If you think of Universal's The Hunt, the controversial thriller that was pulled from theatres in September last year for fears it's violence would incite potentional terrorist attacks, which turned it's negative situation around by using it to sell the movie ("the most talked about movie of the year that no one has actually seen" tagline), then Unhinged could play a similar game by being the first new release post-lockdown. 

Yes, being the first movie out of the gate is a giant commercial risk. Not only are most markets still likely to have their theatres closed, but those that are open will be running far from profitable capacity. And, that's not including the rather big elephant in the room that people won't show up because they are too fearful and/or worried. However, considering the Russell Crowe thriller is a low budget movie that was not expected to make much money (as I said, no one had really heard of it until today), then that might be a gamble worth taking. And, that's why Solstice Studio's CEO Mark Gill has taken the risk, having talked to National Association of Theatre Owners and other cinema chains, because ultimately, what better way to announce you're arrival in the business than to be the owners of the first movie to be shown in theatres since the pandemic took a hold of the world. 

For those that don't know, Unhinged, which dropped it's trailer today, does look like a good-quality, meat-and-potatoes thriller, the sort of movie that doesn't blow minds or reinvent the curve, but one which entertains it's audience well enough. And, perhaps in this time, that's all people who do return to the cinemas really need. And, that might make it more profitable, especially with it having the caveat of it being the first new release. Considering that a recent poll in the US of 1,000 moviegoers found that 80% want to go back to the cinema in July, then it could stand a chance. 

Unhinged centres on a women (played by Caren Pistorius) who becomes entangled in a terrifying act of road rage when she beeps her horn at the wrong driver (Crowe). Written by Carl Ellsworth and directed by Derrick Borte, Unhinged will open courtesy of Solstice Studios in theatres that are open on July 1st.