The film world mourns one of their festivals with the news that South By Southwest has been canceled due to the rapid spread of COVID-19, or Coronavirus. The festival has always been a massive week for film screenings, with many of the films having their premieres there.
It can't be overstated how hard this is on the filmmakers who had their films scheduled at the now-canceled fest. Many of the films that play there go on to find massive success, due to critic reviews or just word of mouth coming out of their screenings. To bring attention to the importance of the festival, and to highlight the immense loss that its cancellation brings, here are ten of the biggest films to have their premieres at SXSW, ranked by their Rotten Tomato's score.
Evil Dead - 63%
Fede Alvarez's remake of the cult classic horror film shocked audiences when it premiered in the late-night horror slot at 2013's SXSW, and for good reason. The film is a barrage of violence, terror, and intensity that was truly unlike anything that came before it.
The horror film follows a group of young adults that head out to an abandoned cabin in the woods, only to find themselves facing off against supernatural evil forces. While it may sound simple in premise, the direction and practical effects quickly turn the film into an experience you'll never forget.
Keanu - 77%
Coming fresh off the end of their hit sketch comedy show, Keegan-Michel Key and Jordan Peele starred in the 2016 comedy film about two "normal" people getting haphazardly thrust into a world of crime and chaos to get their kitten back. The film played great to the crowd at SXSW, with nearly every story coming out of the fest claiming it was the funniest comedy to play.
After the festival, the film was pretty successful at the box-office, and the years since its release have only confirmed that the two stars are going to continue to succeed.
Furious 7 - 81%
Arguably the biggest premiere on this list was 2015's Fast and Furious sequel. The film is, of course, a wild and explosive blockbuster, full of stunts, cars, and most importantly, family.
The seventh entry in the franchise was a somber one as well, being the send-off for the late Paul Walker, who died before its release, causing it to be re-edited to include a farewell. The scope of the movie, mixed with the tragic story accompanying it, made it the film not to be missed at the festival that year.
21 Jump Street - 85%
The action-comedy reboot about two baby-faced police officers going undercover in a high-school was one of the biggest surprises of 2012. Many wrote the film off as another unneeded remake, but the premiere at SXSW told people that they needed to give it a shot.
Reviews coming from the festival were positive, claiming the film was hilarious, original, and heartfelt. Audiences listened, making the film deservedly successful at the box office when it was fully released.
Bridesmaids - 90%
One of the most impressive screenings of the entire list is Paul Feig's now-classic comedy about a group of bridesmaids that get into some raunchy hijinks. The movie received massive praise from reviewers at the festival, who clearly saw that Feig had something special.
What makes all of this bafflingly impressive is that the cut shown at the festival wasn't finished. The premiere used a work-in-progress version of the film that was reworked more before it hit wide-release. When your unfinished cut is still turning heads, you know you have a hit on your hands.
Knocked Up - 90%
Judd Apatow's 2007 comedy about a career woman getting pregnant after a one-night stand with a slacker has already reached cult status, like many of Apatow's other comedies. And the big story surrounding this film when it premiered was Seth Rogen.
Even though he had only had some smaller comedic roles, his performance wowed the audience at SXSW, with many of the writers correctly predicting his rise to comedy fame that would come after the film.
The Disaster Artist - 91%
The Disaster Artist was James Franco's dramatic retelling of the production of Tommy Wiseau's cult film The Room. Due to the conceit and the people involved, like Seth Rogen, Allison Brie, Zac Efron, and notably James acting alongside his brother Dave Franco, the film was widely anticipated, with no one really sure what Franco's vision was going to look like.
The premiere at SXSW went well, with the crowd giving the film a standing ovation after the credits rolled.
The Cabin In The Woods - 91%
The cult horror hit written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (as well as directed by Goddard) follows a group of young adults that head out to an abandoned cabin in the woods, only to find themselves facing off against supernatural evil forces. Sound familiar?
Whereas Evil Dead (2013) subverted the expectations of the trope premise by upping the claustrophobic intensity, Cabin in the Woods does so by expanding the world to be part of a much bigger plot. The twists and surprised of the film keep coming, which is why is has been lauded as one of SXSW's most fun late-night premieres they've ever had.
Baby Driver - 93%
The stylish action/heist/comedy by Edgar Wright was one of 2017's most highly anticipated films, making the premiere at SXSW a massive one. The film headlined the festival, with a full red carpet walk-up for the team involved.
Having a festival that just played so many other great films throughout the week put such a focus on yours to be stupendous is an incredibly daunting task. Luckily, it delivered, being well-received and proving it deserved all the special treatment it was given.
A Quiet Place - 95%
The best festival premieres are the ones that shock audiences and one of the biggest shocks was just how good 2018's intense creature feature was. The reviews coming out of the festival helped to turn the movie into a must-see, making it a massively successful upon wide-release.
The film played opening night, as the kick-off film for the festival, and instantly set an impossibly high bar for the week's worth of films left to try to reach. Sorry, everyone else.