Rotoscopers
  • News
  • Podcasts
    • Animation Addicts Podcast
    • Every Episode Ever
    • Animation Tier Ranking Episodes
  • Reviews
    • Animated Movies
    • Art Books
    • Blu-ray/DVD
    • Live Action
  • Interviews
  • Opinions
  • Studios
    • Aardman Animations
    • Disney
    • DreamWorks
    • Illumination
    • LAIKA
    • Paramount Animation
    • Pixar
    • Sony Pictures Animation
    • Reel FX
    • Studio Ghibli
    • Warner Animation
  • Animation Calendar
No Result
View All Result
Rotoscopers
  • News
  • Podcasts
    • Animation Addicts Podcast
    • Every Episode Ever
    • Animation Tier Ranking Episodes
  • Reviews
    • Animated Movies
    • Art Books
    • Blu-ray/DVD
    • Live Action
  • Interviews
  • Opinions
  • Studios
    • Aardman Animations
    • Disney
    • DreamWorks
    • Illumination
    • LAIKA
    • Paramount Animation
    • Pixar
    • Sony Pictures Animation
    • Reel FX
    • Studio Ghibli
    • Warner Animation
  • Animation Calendar
No Result
View All Result
Rotoscopers
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘The Nut Job 2’ Still Exists (and It Has a New Release Date)

Brandon Smith by Brandon Smith
April 12, 2016
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
the-nut-job-surly-nuts
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

the-nut-job-precious-surly

Despite being destroyed by critics (10% on Rotten Tomatoes) and not that better received by audiences (44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), The Nut Job did what nobody thought an animated movie released in the dead of winter would do and defy box-office expectations. An opening weekend gross of $26 million—the highest-ever gross for an indie animated film —rendered The Nut Job critic-proof as it went on to collect $120 million worldwide.

On a budget of $42 million (expensive by South Korean standards), that was good enough for Open Road Films to green-light a sequel to the film…which was set to release on January 15, roughly three months ago. Not that anybody was excited for a sequel to one of the worst animated films of 2014, but one downside was that it missed out on a box-office brawl with Norm of the North, the worst animated film of 2016 thus far.

But fear not, I have good news for the four people who actually liked that film (hello Mason). The Nut Job 2 is still a thing, and you might actually get to see it in theaters one day.

According to a recent report by Deadline, Open Road Films has set a May 19, 2017 release date for the film, boldly placing that film at the starting line of next year’s summer blockbuster season. On that day, The Nut Job 2 will have a box-office tangle with Paramount Pictures’ film adaptation of Baywatch and New Line Cinema’s Annabelle 2.

Most of the cast (Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, Gabriel Iglesias, and Jeff Dunham to name a few) will return, with new cast members to be announced later.

Do expect a different creative team behind this film, however. Peter Lepeniotis directed and co-wrote the first film with Lorne Cameron. This time around, Cal Brunker (Escape from Planet Earth) will direct The Nut Job 2 from a screenplay he co-wrote with Scott Bindley and Bob Barden. So at the very least, we have some new hands at the wheel (although Escape from Planet Earth does not fill me with confidence).

The plot of the film is also a change from the first film’s lousy attempt at a period caper film with animals. The sequel sees Surly Squirrel (Arnett) and his group of friends return to Oakton, where its evil mayor plans to bulldoze Liberty Park and put an amusement park in its place. Surly and his animal buds have to band together to defeat the mayor, take back the park, and save their home.

No mention of when this film takes place (since the first film was supposed to take place in the late 50’s). But I guess that’s appropriate, since the first film made no earnest attempt at placing us in that time-period. Even Minions wasn’t that lazy.

The only other thing of substance I have to say regarding The Nut Job 2 is how big a move it is for Open Road Films, Gulfstream Pictures, and Toonbox Entertainment that they are letting that film play in the summertime. Will it perform well? Depends. A May 2017 release window should give the studios more time to put out a more polished effort (at least visually), but I’m not really waiting on pin and needles to find out.

What do you think? Are you one of the few people looking forward to The Nut Job 2?

Edited by: Kelly Conley

Tags: open road filmsthe nut jobThe Nut Job 2
Previous Post

Evolution of a Franchise: ‘All Dogs Go to Heaven’

Next Post

Return to Disney’s ‘Descendants’ Franchise with ‘Return to the Isle of the Lost’ in May

Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith

Brandon is your average nerd with a love for nerdy things (games, comics, anime/manga, etc.). He also loves reading and writing and plans to be an author someday. For now, he writes with passion and curiosity about the world of animation. He lives with his family in North Carolina and is currently attending college.

Related Posts

[INTERVIEW] ‘Hugs’ Animator, Nicolas Fong (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #6)
News

[INTERVIEW] ‘Hugs’ Animator, Nicolas Fong (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #6)

February 1, 2026
[INTERVIEW] ‘Busy Bodies’ Animator, Kate Renshaw-Lewis (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #5)
News

[INTERVIEW] ‘Busy Bodies’ Animator, Kate Renshaw-Lewis (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #5)

February 1, 2026
[INTERVIEW] ‘The Gnawer of Rocks’ Animator, Louise Flaherty (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #4)
News

[INTERVIEW] ‘The Gnawer of Rocks’ Animator, Louise Flaherty (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #4)

January 28, 2026
[INTERVIEW] ‘Cabbage Daddy’ Animator, Grace An (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #3)
News

[INTERVIEW] ‘Cabbage Daddy’ Animator, Grace An (Sundance Animator Spotlight Series 2026 #3)

January 26, 2026
Load More
Next Post
Return to Disney’s ‘Descendants’ Franchise with ‘Return to the Isle of the Lost’ in May

Return to Disney's 'Descendants' Franchise with 'Return to the Isle of the Lost' in May

Latest Posts

  • Meet the Characters and Voices Behind Disney’s ‘Zootopia’ 9 views

  • [REVIEW] ‘The Star’ 8 views

  • [INTERVIEW] ‘Orion and the Dark’ Composers Collaborate with Style 7 views

  • International ‘Mr. Peabody & Sherman’ Trailer Released in English 7 views

  • New ‘Frozen’ Books Reveal New Character Images 7 views

Rotoscopers

© 2023 Rotoscopers

Important Links

  • About
  • Support
  • Contact
  • Store
  • Privacy Policy
  • User Posts

Follow Us

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Podcasts
    • Animation Addicts Podcast
    • Every Episode Ever
    • Animation Tier Ranking Episodes
  • Reviews
    • Animated Movies
    • Art Books
    • Blu-ray/DVD
    • Live Action
  • Interviews
  • Opinions
  • Studios
    • Aardman Animations
    • Disney
    • DreamWorks
    • Illumination
    • LAIKA
    • Paramount Animation
    • Pixar
    • Sony Pictures Animation
    • Reel FX
    • Studio Ghibli
    • Warner Animation
  • Animation Calendar

© 2023 Rotoscopers