Blade Runner 2049 Deserves A Re-Release More Than Any Other Movie

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 of Interstellar was a worldwide hit, and now Princess Mononoke is also doing well in its IMAX run. Even Villeneuve's Dune: 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 for Blade Runner 2049 to return to the biggest screens.

Related

The Blade Runner 2099 Series Is Going ‘Less 2049, More OG’ And That’s Exactly What It Needs

The upcoming Amazon miniseries will reportedly mimic the 1982 film's style, not 2049. This choice could help it stand out from recent sci-fi.

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By  Sandip Kishan Anbuselvan

Blade Runner 2049 Deserves To Return To Cinemas

Made For IMAX, Yet No Proper Re-Release

More than just a stellar sequel to Ridley Scott's 1982 film, Blade Runner 2049 is a bona fide sci-fi masterpiece. Continuing the same storyline as Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do 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 like Deakins' work in Skyfall, Blade Runner 2049 was 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 2049 may 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, like Arrival, Prisoners, and Sicario. However, his career could arguably be divided into “before Dune” and “after Dune.” While we wait for updates on his Dune Messiah project, perhaps Blade Runner 2049's producers, Alcon and Columbia, could capitalize on his success and use that momentum to push for a re-release.

A Potential Blade Runner Double Feature?

Both The OG & 2049 Struggled Financially

Blade Runner 2099 is currently in development at Amazon Studios, and a Blade Runner 2049 re-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 to Interstellar. Fans have long been vocal on social media, calling for a widespread re-release.

Imagine Blade Runner 2049 making 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 original Blade Runner also struggled at the box office. It was released very close to The Thing, Star Trek II, and E.T. Over time, however, it gained cult status, and subsequent versions followed, including the 2007 Final Cut, which was released theatrically by Warner Bros.

Why Wasn't Blade Runner 2049 Successful?

It’s hard to understand why Blade Runner 2049 flopped 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 in a 2017 interview with CinemaBlend.

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.

Are Blade Runner (1982) & 2049 Connected?

Blade Runner 2049 takes place 30 years after the original, where artificial humans called replicants live among real ones. The first film starred Harrison 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.

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Blade Runner 2049

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R

Science Fiction

Drama

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Release Date

October 4, 2017

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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.

Cast

Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana De Armas, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Sylvia Hoeks, Mackenzie Davis, Jared Leto, Carla Juri, Hiam Abbass, Lennie James, David Dastmalchian, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Barkhad Abdi, Wood Harris, Tómas Lemarquis, Sallie Harmsen, Loren Peta, Mark Arnold, Krista Kosonen, Elarica Johnson, David Benson, Kingston Taylor, Ben Thompson

Runtime

164 minutes

Director

Denis Villeneuve

Writers

Michael Green, Hampton Fancher

Prequel(s)

Blade Runner

Franchise(s)

Blade Runner

Budget

$150 Million

Studio(s)

Alcon Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Bud Yorkin Productions, Torridon Films, 16:14 Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

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