‘Monuments Men’ Gets February 2014 Release; ‘American Hustle’ Moves Up a Week

George Clooney’s World War II drama was seen as an Oscar contender; Sony will open David O. Russell’s ABSCAM drama on Dec. 13 and go wide on Dec. 18

George Clooney‘s World War II drama “The Monuments Men” will be released on Friday, Feb.7, 2014, an individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap Thursday.

Also, Sony has moved up David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” by a week and it will now have a limited opening on Dec. 13 ahead of its wide release on Dec. 18, the slot previously held by “Monuments Men,” which is a Fox and Sony co-production.  That will put it up against the Paramount comedy “Anchorman: The Legend Continues” and the Fox family adventure “Walking With Dinosaurs.”

Additionally Sony’s “RoboCop” will move forward five days and open on Wednesday, Feb. 12, a move which puts it just ahead of the Presidents Day weekend and includes Valentines Day on Friday, Feb. 14.

Also read: George Clooney Struggles With Tone of ‘Monuments Men’: ‘It’s Been a Bit of a Dance’ (Exclusive)

“Monuments Men,” directed by Clooney and co-written by Clooney and Grant Heslov, is based on the true story about a group of men who were recruited to save priceless artworks before they could be destroyed by the Nazis in the final days of World War II. It has been considered an awards contender prior to the date shift.

The ABSCAM drama “American Hustle,” which stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner, is still very much in the Oscar spotlight. The earlier date will give it a week’s head-start in what’s shaping us as an extremely crowded holiday season.

It had  been scheduled to go wide on Christmas Day. That’s the same day that Paramount is rolling out the Martin Scorsese-directed Leonardo DiCaprio drama “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Fox has set “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” Universal’s debuts Keanu Reeves’ “47 Ronin” and Warner Bros. opens the Sly Stallone-Robert De Niro boxing comedy “Grudge Match.”

Also read: Justin Bieber Crashes Crowded Christmas Day at Box Office

The Weinstein Company is giving “August: Osage County” a limited release on Christmas Day, and expanding “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.” As if that weren’t enough, Open Road earlier this week slotted the Justin Bieber concert documentary “Believe” on Dec. 25 as well.

Paramount still has the Chris Pine action film “Jack Ryan,” which it believes has franchise potential, set for Dec. 25, but the studio is expected to push that to next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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