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1992 (film)

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1992
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAriel Vromen
Screenplay by
Story bySascha Penn
Produced by
  • Ariel Vromen
  • Maurice Fadida
  • Adam Kolbrenner
  • Sascha Penn
  • Andreas Rommel
Starring
CinematographyFrank G. DeMarco
Edited byDanny Rafic
Music byGilad Benamram
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)
Running time
93 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6.5 million
Box office$2.9 million[2][3]

1992 is a 2024 American heist thriller film directed by Ariel Vromen and written by Sascha Penn and Vromen from a story by Penn.[4] The film stars Tyrese Gibson, Scott Eastwood, and Ray Liotta.[5] The working title of the film, April 29, 1992, refers to the first night of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which is when and where the film is set; the title was later simplified to 1992.[6]

The film was released in the United States on August 30, 2024. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $2.9 million worldwide, making it a box office bomb.[7]

Plot

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In 1992, Mercer endeavors to restore his life and relationship with his son during the unrest following the Rodney King verdict. Meanwhile, in another part of town, a father and son confront their troubled relationship by planning a perilous heist at Mercer's workplace. As tensions in Los Angeles escalate and chaos ensues, the two families cross paths.[8]

Cast

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Production

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In August 2015, it was reported that Ice Cube and O'Shea Jackson Jr. would star in the film, then titled April 29, 1992, with Will Packer producing, Donovan Marsh directing and Lionsgate serving as distributor.[11] However, Cube's publicist released a statement confirming that Cube and Jackson have no involvement with the film.[12]

In March 2021, it was announced that Vromen would direct the film.[6] In July 2021, it was announced that Gibson, Liotta and Eastwood were cast in the film.[5] In September 2021, it was announced that Beasley was cast in the film and that filming was underway in Bulgaria and Los Angeles.[9] In February 2022, it was announced that Ammanuel and Arnold were cast in the film.[10]

Collider reported that Liotta completed the filming of his scenes before his death in May 2022.[13]

Release

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1992 was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 30, 2024.[14]

Reception

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Box office

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In the United States and Canada, 1992 was released alongside Reagan, Slingshot, AfrAId, and City of Dreams, and was projected to gross around $2.5 million in its opening weekend.[15] It debuted to $1.8 million over the four-day Labor Day weekend.[16]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 61% of 41 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10.[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 44 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[18] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.[19]

Randy Myers of the San Jose Mercury News said, "Genuine scenes between Gibson and Ammanuel, aid in making “1992” a genre exercise with much more on its mind than you might suspect."[20] Jeremy K. Gover of the Untitled Film Project Podcast said, "Remove the historical context and 1992 still encompasses a remarkable story about race relations, intergenerational empathy, socioeconomic divides, moral navigation and family dynamics, all while being a solid heist film."[21]

Ben Kenigsberg of The New York Times wrote that "The look is drab, the action is barely coherent, and Liotta deserved to go out with a better line than 'I did the best that I could, son. I’m sorry it wasn’t enough'."[citation needed] A sentiment echoed by Roger Moore of Movie Nation, who felt that the film "was even straining to get to the label 'solid'."[citation needed]

Richard Whittaker of the Austin Chronicle in a mixed summary noted the "feel" of the period, but was disappointed that Vromen's attempt to revive '90s Americana only really succeeds at resurrecting the "mediocre amoral crime flick",[citation needed] while other reviewers[who?] bemoaned the "glaring plot holes" and "Formulaic plotting".

References

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  1. ^ "1992 (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "1992 – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "1992". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "April 29, 1992". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Donnelly, Matt (July 6, 2021). "Tyrese Gibson, Ray Liotta, Scott Eastwood Join Ariel Vromen's 'April 29, 1992' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Donnelly, Matt (March 2, 2021). "Ariel Vromen to Direct Sascha Penn-Scripted LA Riots Thriller 'April 29, 1992' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (October 23, 2024). "Lionsgate's Losing Streak: What's Behind the Studio's Seven Consecutive Box Office Flops". Variety. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "1992 Official Movie Website". lionsgate.com. Lionsgate. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Hipes, Patrick (September 3, 2021). "Michael Beasley Joins Ariel Vroman's L.A. Riots Drama 'April 29, 1992'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e Vlessing, Etan (February 24, 2022). "Christopher Ammanuel Boards L.A. Uprising Thriller 'April 29, 1992' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Kit, Borys (August 20, 2015). "Ice Cube and Son to Reunite on L.A. Riots Thriller (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 20, 2015). "Ice Cube Denies Report About L.A. Riots Movie". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Gaughan, Liam (May 27, 2022). "Ray Liotta's Greatest Roles, From 'Goodfellas' to 'The Place Beyond the Pines'". Collider. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  14. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 1, 2024). "'1992', One Of Ray Liotta's Final Films, Sets Late Summer Release With Lionsgate; Snoop Dogg Boards As EP". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (August 28, 2024). "'Deadpool & Wolverine' to Top Box Office Yet Again Over Desolate Labor Day Weekend". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "Domestic 2024 Weekend 35 | August 30-September 2, 2024 – Labor Day weekend (US)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "1992". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "1992". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 30, 2024). "Summer Comes To An End With $3.6B+; 'Reagan' Sees $525K, Blumhouse's 'Afraid' Scares Up $400K In Previews – Labor Day Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Myers, Randy (August 29, 2024). "What to watch: Lee Daniels' solid 'Deliverance' delivers the shivers". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  21. ^ Gover, Jeremy K. (August 29, 2024). "1992 is not to be missed". Untitled Film Project Podcast. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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