Today, Universal opens “Kevin Hart: What Now?” – another stand-up comedy special from the actor/comedian – in wide release, on over 2500 screens, which speaks to their high expectations of it. According to Box Office Mojo’s database of stand-up comedy specials released in theaters over the decades, this is the widest release ever. Before “Kevin Hart: What Now?”, the title was held by “Richard Pryor: Here and Now,” which was released in 1983 by Columbia, on 1411 screens nationwide.
Hart’s previous stand-up comedy special, “Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain,” was released by Lionsgate/Summit in 2013 on just 876 screens. He’s certainly a long way since then, becoming a bona fide box office draw, with one $100 million grossing movie after another!
“Kevin Hart: What Now?” is competing for eyeballs this weekend with the Ben Affleck thriller, “The Accountant,” which Warner Bros is opening on almost 1,000 more screens than Hart’s comedy special, and is expected to take the number slot at the box office. But Hart’s special just may surprise analysts, and *upset* Affleck’s $50 million movie.
Critics certainly like “Kevin Hart: What Now?” better, giving it a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while they are split on “The Accountant” which currently rates at 50%.
We’ll know which release wins the battle and comes out on-top by Sunday afternoon.
As you’ve seen in the trailers, a sequence in “Kevin Hart: What Now?” features Halle Berry and Don Cheadle, as Hart, obviously having much fun (as one of the busiest actors/comedians working at the moment), channels James Bond. In a new clip from the special, embedded below, Hart taunts Cheadle in a scene that’s likely spoofing a similar poker sequence from “Casino Royale” (2006). What happens next – as in whether Cheadle turns into War Machine and blasts Hart, you’ll have to go see the movie special to find out.
The film, which also includes a cameo from Halle Berry and was directed by Leslie Small and Tim Story, opens everywhere today, October 14.
Watch the clip with Cheadle at a poker table below, and watch the full trailer with Berry and Cheadle, underneath:
And here’s the trailer:
