Perhaps because of the slowdown in production due tolast year’s industry-wide strikes, studios have really been doubling down on re-releases this year. With several major movies having already delivered excellent results at the box office —Coralineis generating record revenue as we speak, 15 years after its original run — Focus Features re-issued the cult classic British horror comedyShaun of the Deadinaround 130 domestic theatersthis weekend, in celebration of its 20th anniversary.
Originally released in 2004,Shaun of the Deadlaunched the careers of directorEdgar Wrightand starsSimon PeggandNick Frost. The moviegenerated around $600,000 domestically this weekend, which represents a healthy $4,400 per-theater average and pushes its running domestic total past the $14 million mark.Globally, the movie has made over $38 million, against areported production budget of $6 million. The film’s success launched Wright’s widely celebratedThree Flavours Cornetto trilogy, which also includes 2007’sHot Fuzzand 2013’sThe World’s End.
Each standalone film features Pegg and Frost in the central roles and parodies a popular film genre. WhileShaun of the Deadwas a send-up of zombie movies directed byGeorge A. Romero,Hot Fuzzparodied action films of the 1990s, andThe World’s Endfound humor in alien invasion movie tropes. Combined,the three films have generated over $150 million worldwide. Each movie in the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy has also beencritically acclaimed.
2024 Has Been the Year of Re-Releases
Shaun of the Deadholdsa “fresh” 92% scoreon the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, while its audience score stands at 93%. Admired for its post-9/11 commentary and its indictment of British middle-class mundanity,Shaun of the Deadfollowed two friends caught in a zombie apocalypse that’s equal parts gory, humorous, and heartfelt. The movie also featuredKate Ashfield,Lucy Davis,Dylan Moran,Bill Nighy, andPenelope Wiltonin supporting roles.
This year has been unusually packed with re-releases. WhileStar Wars: Episode I — The Phantom MenaceandThe Mummycelebrated their 25th anniversaries in theaters,Ridley Scott’sAlienwas re-released in celebration of its 45th anniversary. More recently, LAIKA’sCoralinedelivered incredible results in its 15th-anniversary re-release, and some months ago, Sony also re-issued each live-action Spider-Man movie in theaters, while Fathom Events re-releasedPeter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogyacross several consecutive weeks.
You can watchShaun of the Deadin theaters and on Peacock in the United States. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
