If you've been waiting to see Russell Crowe commit random acts of road rage, you'll finally get your chance this August. After shifting off of several release dates in July due to the ever-changing reopening dates for movie theaters, UNHINGED has finally set a new release date that will hopefully be its last.
Solstice Studios has announced that UNHINGED will open wide on August 21, making it the first new wide release to open in theaters since the shutdowns back in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UNHINGED has actually been leading the charge as the first wide release with each of its previous release dates that went all the way back to early July. While all the attention has been on TENET, this little road rage thriller has dared to be the guinea pig to see if moviegoers are ready to hit back to movie theaters and catch a new flick. Given that UNHINGED doesn't carry a gigantic budget, the risk may be worth it if the film can resonate with moviegoers. Solstice Studios had this to say about the new date:
"We know that theaters won't be open in every city or county when we launch. However, we anticipate that the vast majority of movie theaters will be open and ready to meet what nationwide polls consistently show is substantial pent-up audience demand to see new movies in theaters. That said, no opening in this time period will be largely about the opening weekend. A significant number of additional theaters plan to open in our second week, and with a relatively light schedule of competitive films, the expectation is that "Unhinged" will open more modestly but stay in theaters longer. Moviegoers have expressed a clear desire to return to theaters this summer (80% say they will definitely attend), while making it equally clear that they want the experience to be both comfortable and safe. Our partners in exhibition have answered this call by employing advanced sterilization and filtration methods, social distanced seating, no touch payment systems, and many other measures to prioritize safety over all else. Without their thorough commitment to safety, we would not be proceeding."
John Fithian, President, and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners, also release a statement about the release of UNHINGED and thank Solstice Studios for remaining committed to releasing the film theatrically:
"On behalf of the U.S. exhibition community, I want to thank Solstice Studios for their commitment to bringing Unhinged to theaters, and for doing their part to help reinvigorate the theatrical movie business. Movie theaters are able to safely reopen with thorough health and safety measures in many states across the country, but if studios wait until 100% of the theaters are open, it will be too late. We need supporters like Solstice Studios, and Unhinged is the perfect film to kick off the opening of theaters to capture the last weeks of summer box office, followed by Tenet on Labor Day weekend and a strong fall schedule."
UNHINGED has already opened in some international territories and actually opened at number one in Germany on July 16 and the studio has said the opening was a great result. The film remained number one in Germany over this last weekend and its overseas rollout will continue in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. this Thursday, July 30.
In UNHINGED, after a confrontation with an unstable man at an intersection, a woman becomes the target of his rage and obsession. The film, directed by Derrick Rote and written by Carl Ellsworth, also stars Jimmi Simpson, Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, and Anne Leighton.
Will YOU be seeing UNHINGED? See Russell Crowe display full-on road rage when the film opens on August 21, 2020.