Summary
Re-releases of sci-fi classics in theaters and IMAX have been a big success lately, and there’s one movie that deserves the same treatment right away —Blade Runner 2049. The Denis Villeneuve film didn’t break even when it was first released, but it later became a cult classic. That likely means more fans will flock to theaters now, and possibly redeem its original box office performance.
The 10th-anniversary re-release ofInterstellarwas a worldwide hit, and nowPrincess Mononokeis also doing well in its IMAX run. EvenVilleneuve’sDune: Part Two, which came out only last year, had a good run on select IMAX screens, especially on 70mm. That’s why it makes perfect sense forBlade Runner2049to return to the biggest screens.
163 minutes
Primary Cast
More than just a stellar sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 film,Blade Runner 2049is a bona fide sci-fi masterpiece. Continuing the same storyline asPhilip K. Dick’s 1968 novelDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Denis Villeneuve’s dystopian vision was truly a spectacle for the ages. The film’s imagery, in particular, remains a benchmark for cinematographers and visual storytellers, thanks in large part to Sir Roger Deakins, whose work finally earned him his long-overdue Academy Award. So, it’s only right that fans would want to experience it all over again on IMAX.
IMAX screens are significantly larger than regular ones, with some images in Laser or Xenon formats being several times bigger than their standard counterparts. Just likeDeakins' work inSkyfall,Blade Runner 2049was specially formatted for IMAX with an expanded aspect ratio of 1.9:1. And it’s not just the visuals; Hans Zimmer’s score and the film’s immersive sound design create a sonic landscape like no other, best experienced in theaters. Despite all this, the film has yet to receive a full-fledged re-release in theaters worldwide, IMAX screens or otherwise.
2049’s Original Box Office Was A Letdown
An IMAX Re-Release Is A Second Chance
Made on a budget of $150–185 million, the film grossed $276.6 million, falling well short of its reported break-even point of $400 million. A re-release may not be enough to recover such significant losses, but it could still earn back some of it while justifying any new marketing expenses. Re-releasing a movie depends heavily on potential revenue, which in turn relies on audience interest.Blade Runner 2049may not have gained the traction it deserved when it first hit theaters in October 2017, but eight years later, it has a devoted fandom that would flock to cinemas.
Another major factor is Denis Villeneuve’s massive popularity today, especially among mainstream audiences. The Canadian filmmaker has been delivering masterpieces throughout the 2010s, likeArrival,Prisoners, andSicario. However, his career could arguably be divided into “before Dune” and “afterDune.” While we wait for updates on hisDune Messiahproject, perhapsBlade Runner 2049’s producers, Alcon and Columbia, could capitalize on his success and use that momentum to push for a re-release.
A PotentialBlade RunnerDouble Feature?
Both The OG &2049Struggled Financially
Blade Runner 2099is currently in development at Amazon Studios, and aBlade Runner 2049re-release in the near future would serve as free marketing for the upcoming series. However, rather than now, a return to the big screen seems even more likely in two years for its 10th anniversary, similar toInterstellar. Fans have long been vocal on social media, calling for a widespread re-release.
ImagineBlade Runner 2049making a theatrical comeback alongside Ridley Scott’s 1982 original, possibly even as a double feature. Now that’s a prospect no true sci-fi nerd could say no to. Like its sequel, the originalBlade Runneralso struggled at the box office. It was released very close toThe Thing,Star Trek II, andE.T. Over time, however, it gained cult status, and subsequent versions followed, including the 2007Final Cut, which was released theatrically by Warner Bros.
Why Wasn’tBlade Runner 2049Successful?
It’s hard to understand whyBlade Runner 2049flopped in the first place. Some blame the film’s pacing, calling it too slow for mainstream audiences, while others point to its 163-minute runtime — much longer than the original film’s 117 minutes. To be fair, the film isn’t a loud, action-heavy blockbuster that can pull crowds at will. Villeneuve himself reflected on the film’s underwhelming performance ina 2017 interview withCinemaBlend.
I’m still digesting it. … I think because maybe people were not familiar enough with the universe. And the fact that the movie’s long. I don’t know. It’s still a mystery to me. I make movies, I don’t sell them.
AreBlade Runner(1982) &2049Connected?
Blade Runner 2049takes place 30 years after the original, where artificial humans called replicants live among real ones. The first film starredHarrison Ford as Deckard, a Blade Runner who hunted rogue replicants. In the sequel, Ryan Gosling plays K, a new Blade Runner who discovers a secret that could change everything. As K digs deeper, he crosses paths with Deckard, who has been missing for decades. Like the original, it explores identity, memory, and what it means to be human.
Blade Runner 2049
Ryan Gosling is Officer K, working for the Los Angeles Police Department as a new Blade Runner. On one of his stints, K unearths a secret about the department, and society at large, a secret which threatens to destabilize what’s left of their society. Set in a neo-futuristic world with enthralling visuals, Blade Runner 2049 is packed full of action, mystery and intrigue.
