Can Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet' Reopen Theaters?

Tenet 2020

The $200M Nolan/Pattinson original Warner Bros. wants as the first movie back. The plan reportedly needs 80% of the world's theaters open, including New York, L.A., and San Francisco.

Unhinged 2020

The Russell Crowe thriller Sean fakes them out with before naming the real subject.

Trolls World Tour 2020

One of the few releases still moving during the shutdown, via premium VOD.

The Wretched 2019

IFC horror that made $85K across 21 drive-ins. Fine, but that wouldn't cover Tenet's catering.

Mulan 2020

Another big-budget title dated soon after, needing repeat weekend viewings to make sense.

The Forever Purge 2021

Blumhouse's fifth Purge, pulled off July 10 and pushed indefinitely. The pattern Sean expects to keep repeating.

Wonder Woman 1984 2020

The Aug. 14 date Tenet might slide into, which would bump WW84 to December.

No Time to Die 2021

If Tenet moves, the Bond team starts weighing options too.

Top Gun: Maverick 2022

Cited as 'Top Gun 2,' then dated for Christmas: 'that would be a Merry Christmas for me.'

Dune 2021

The other risky, semi-original tentpole they'd flagged for what already looked like a perilous year.

Black Widow 2020

Part of the winter slate that has to move if fall fills up first.

West Side Story 2021

Also in the logjam of big winter films competing for a shrinking number of slots.

F9 2021

Already moved a full year for audience safety: the precedent for why the Nolan movie can move too.

Bird Box 2018

Their example of a movie the internet loved to unpack at home, whatever the critics thought.

The Lighthouse 2019

The 'weird recent' Pattinson movie a Gen-Z viewer skips, versus his 'new flashy movies.'

Back to the Future 1985

Zemeckis had only made three films when he made it; Sean's point that a studio couldn't hand that kind of budget to a newcomer today.

Da 5 Bloods 2020

Spike Lee's Netflix film. Trailer dropped that morning, the kind of thing that keeps the show fed while theaters sit dark.

The King of Staten Island 2020

'I'd rather have it in my house than no movie at all.'

The Lovebirds 2020

Pulled from Paramount's April theatrical slate to Netflix.

Parasite 2019

Last year's Cannes debut, Palme d'Or, and Best Picture winner. Amanda's case: it won on a genius campaign as much as on being a great film.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2019

Also opened at Cannes.

Burning 2018

On Sean's short list of recent Cannes discoveries a canceled festival costs us.

Atlantics 2019

Bacurau 2019

Ash Is Purest White 2018

Shoplifters 2018

Kore-eda's Palme d'Or winner. His profile was lifted by a platform that may not exist this year.

Roma 2018

Part of why American moviegoing has gone more global, alongside Netflix and Parasite.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire 2019

Céline Sciamma already has an international following, one of the filmmakers who can survive without festivals.

The Irishman 2019

A New York Film Festival moment: the festival that inherits the burden if the fall circuit collapses.

Bohemian Rhapsody 2018

Sean's example that there's no universal objective greatness: 'those people are nuts, but they believe it.'

Best in Show 2000

Both name Fred Willard's dog-show color commentary as their favorite of his performances.

Humpday 2009

Lynn Shelton's mumblecore breakout out of the Swanberg/Gerwig moment, made after she came to filmmaking in her mid-30s.

Your Sister's Sister 2011

Laggies 2014

Outside In 2018

Her film with Edie Falco.

Sword of Trust 2019

Her last film, one the show never covered, which Sean now regrets.

Contempt 1963

Michel Piccoli, a familiar face of 20th-century European cinema.

Diary of a Chambermaid 1964

One of his collaborations with Buñuel.

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie 1972

Buñuel again.

Lady L 1965

Alongside Peter Ustinov.