Are you ready for some football? No, you’re not? You’re not the biggest football fan and will be sitting out the big game this weekend? That’s okay, you’re not alone. In fact, many people avoid the Super Bowl for plenty of reasons: lack of interest in sports, disdain for crowded bars or diets that don’t allow chips and beer. Fear not, there are tons of others things to watch this weekend as all your friends go out to enjoy the game. Let’s see what the next few days hold. I’ll resist making too many football puns.
Nick and Drew predicted the box office returns for these films last weekend. Check them out!
At the Movies
Rings
Director: F. Javier Gutiérrez
Stars: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki
Current RT Meter: No Score Yet
Drew’s box office prediction:$13,330,000
Nicks box office prediction: $11,000,000
The Ring is one of the better horror films of the last 20 years. It provides moody direction, a strong cast, compelling story and, most importantly, some serious scares. It was a real touchdown (sorry) for the genre. The sequel to The Ring? Eh, not as much. In fact, The Ring Two was downright terrible. So it’s been awhile since any Ring film hit theaters. Now here we are with a semi-sequel/reboot that seems to be closely following the footsteps of the first film. There’s no way it can be as scary or original as Gore Verbinski’s remake but it looks like Rings is definitely going to try. That means more of Samara and her TV-popping ways. The creepy phone call! The spooky video! The warped faces! It’s been so long – how will she adapt to a world full of smartphones?
The Verdict: With no reviews yet (meaning they’ll likely be bad) and a script that doesn’t seem to bring anything new, this doesn’t seem like it’ll be too hot. If you have an itch for something scary, go check out Split instead.
The Space Between Us
Director: Peter Chelsom
Stars: Asa Butterfield, Britt Robertson, Carla Gugino, Gary Oldman
Current RT Meter: 4% Rotten
Drew’s box office prediction: $6,500,000
Nicks box office prediction: $7,000,000
Young teens aren’t big football fans so debuting The Space Between Us this weekend is a smart call. A young adult drama about a boy who grows up on Mars then comes to Earth and falls in love is certainly not crafted for those who like watching the pigskin thrown around. But the reviews for this are bad. They’re really bad. The studio obviously has no faith in it since they’ve fumbled (again, sorry) the advertising and are pretending it doesn’t exist. All signs point to this being dreadful. But, again, young kids looking to avoid the big game might have interest in this.
The Verdict: Are you a teenage kid going on a date this weekend? The Space Between Us might be a good choice. Are you literally anyone else? There are plenty of other selections to pick instead.
On the Tube
Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix. All episode streaming Friday)
There’s a lot going for Santa Clarita Diet. The cast, headed by Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, is packed with comedy stars you know and love. The plot, about a cheerful family woman who becomes a zombie, is cute and clever with just the right amount of gore. All in all, this looks like something many of us would dig. The trailer makes it feel a bit pedestrian but the reviews have been favorable and it looks like a fun way to spend the weekend. Besides, zombies are like the complete opposite of football so this will feel light years away from the Super Bowl.
The Verdict: The cast, the premise and the ability to binge this new show make it one that should be on your radar. See how many episodes you can get through while everyone else watches the Patriots battle the Falcons.
24: Legacy (Fox. Sunday after the Super Bowl in all time zones)
For a while 24 was one of the best shows on TV. It eventually petered out and ended but it’s back now. Not only is it back, it’s back with a brand new hero. Corey Hawkins stars as a young veteran who has to team up with the Counter Terrorist Unit to take down a terrifying plot. The trailers make this feel like a true return to form with foot chases, high-stakes drama and, of course, that foreboding ticking clock. Fox has a lot of faith in Legacy since they’re giving it the post-Super Bowl spot. We’re curating movies and shows for avoiding the big game but you’ll probably have to keep tabs on it if you want to catch the beginning of Legacy. Or maybe just have a friend give you a call when the game is winding down.
The Verdict: It’s been a long time since 24 was worth watching but this feels like the time to give it another shot.
For the Gamers
Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World (Nintendo 3DS. Available February 3)
Aw, look how cute that trailer is. Even if you don’t own a 3DS you should watch that trailer for a couple minutes of pure adorableness. Of all the things on this list, Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World is the furthest away from the Super Bowl. It’s nothing like football. It’s cute, it’s soft, it’s filled with adorable music. Fire this game up if you want to be completely disconnected from this weekend’s match-up
The Verdict: There hasn’t been a great game for the 3DS in far too long. If you’ve got one and need a fun time, this is worth your time and money.