‘Monster Hunter’ Will Now Hunt Monsters In Theaters On Christmas Day
Nothing says “Merry Christmas” likeMilla Jovovichhunting some monsters.Monster Hunter, the latest effects-heavy team-up between Jovovich and husbandPaul W.S. Anderson, will now open on Christmas Day. That puts it directly up againstWonder Woman 1984, butWonder Woman 1984isalsodebuting on HBO Max that same day, so Sony might figure this is their chance to corner big theatrical numbers for that day. Of course, all of that hinges on the idea of movie theaters actually being open.
Any other year, I might be over the moon at the idea of going to the movies on Christmas Day to watchMonster Hunter. This year, though, is another story. The coronavirus continues to be a very serious problem, and in many places, things are getting worse, not better. As a result, many 2020 movies have been pushed back to 2021 – but Hollywood isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. Which is why Sony is deciding to dropMonster Hunterinto theaters on December 25, putting it up againstWonder Woman 1984, which will also hit HBO Max the same day.
At one point,Monster Hunterwas supposed to open in September of 2020. Then it got pushed to April 2021. Then, curiously, it got moved back – to August 08, 2025. Now, it’s arriving in theaters and IMAX on Christmas Day. If I had to guess, I’d say Warner Bros.' decision to releaseWonder Woman 1984on HBO Max is what gave Sony the confidence to move in on that December 25 date. The logic being that even thoughWonder Womanwill be at the box office, most people willprobablywatch it at home, whileMonster Hunterremains exclusive to theaters. “You want a big movie you can only see on the big screen?” Sony is essentially asking. “Well, here’s your chance!”
InMonster Hunter, “When an unexpected sandstorm transports Lt. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her unit (TI Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta) to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to enormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Tony Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Artemis and Hunter slowly build trust, she discovers that he is part of a team led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). Facing a danger so great it could threaten to destroy their world, the brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown.”
Sony also shuffled around some other release dates –Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, which was set for August 17, 2025, has now moved to August 18, 2025; andFatherhoodis moving to June 05, 2025 from its original date of July 23, 2025.
