Jump to content

Cocaine Bear

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 62.133.12.120 (talk) at 12:00, 24 February 2023 (→Plot). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the 2023 film. For the bear upon which the film is based, see Cocaine Bear (bear).

Cocaine Bear
Theatrical release poster
Directed byElizabeth Banks
Written byJimmy Warden
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJohn Guleserian
Edited byJoel Negron
Music byMark Mothersbaugh
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • February 24, 2023 (2023-02-24)
Running time
95 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$35 million[2]

Cocaine Bear is a 2023 American black comedy-thriller film directed and co-produced by Elizabeth Banks and written by Jimmy Warden[3]. It is loosely inspired by the true story of the "Cocaine Bear", an American black bear that ingested a duffel bag full of cocaine in 1985. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, Matthew Rhys, and Ray Liotta in one of his final performances before his death.[4]

Cocaine Bear was released in the United States on February 24, 2023, by Universal Pictures.

Plot

Cast

Inspiration

The eponymous "cocaine bear" in Lexington, Kentucky (left) and director Elizabeth Banks

The film is loosely inspired by the events surrounding a 175-pound (79 kg) American black bear that died after ingesting a duffel bag full of cocaine in December 1985. The cocaine had been dropped out of an airplane piloted by Andrew C. Thornton II, a former narcotics officer and convicted drug smuggler, because his plane was carrying too heavy a load. Thornton then jumped out of the plane with a faulty parachute and died. The bear was found three months later in northern Georgia alongside 40 opened plastic containers of cocaine.[10][11] The bear is currently on display at the Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington, Kentucky,[12] which named the creature "Cocaine Bear" in 2015.[13]

Creative liberties

The film's plot differs from real-life events in a number of ways. Notably, the real-life Cocaine Bear is not known to have killed anyone after consuming drugs, and what transpired in the time leading up to its death from overdose is unknown.[14][15]

Response to the film

Prior to the film's release, the story behind Cocaine Bear went viral on social media.[16] Yasmin Tayag of The Atlantic wrote that part of the film's popularity on social media may have been due to the appeal of man versus nature narratives or the shock value of the premise. However, she noted that the bear was also presented in a sympathetic light by the film.[17]

Production

In December 2019, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were announced to be producing an untitled horror comedy project inspired by the true story, and based on a spec script written by Jimmy Warden. The producers approached Radio Silence collectives Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett to direct, but both opted out of the film in favor of making the fifth Scream installment.[3]

On March 9, 2021, Universal Pictures announced that the film was in development. It was also confirmed that the film would instead be directed by Elizabeth Banks, and produced by Banks and Max Handelman for Brownstone Productions, who joined the producing team alongside Lord, Miller, Aditya Sood for Lord Miller Productions, and Brian Duffield.[18][19] The ensemble cast was revealed between July and August 2021.[20][21]

Principal photography took place in County Wicklow, Ireland, between August 20 and October 17, 2021.[22][23][24] The production budget was $35 million, with a large portion of it going to Wētā FX to create the bear with CGI.[25]

Music

In February 2022, Natalie Holt was reported to compose the film score.[26] However, Mark Mothersbaugh replaced her as composer in November 2022.[27] It marks his second collaboration with Banks after Pitch Perfect 2 (2015).

The film's trailer made use of the song "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Melle Mel,[28] which also plays in the film's end credits.

Release

Cocaine Bear was Released theatrically on February 24, 2023, by Universal Pictures.[29]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, Cocaine Bear will be released alongside Jesus Revolution, and is projected to gross $15–20 million from 3,500 theaters in its opening weekend.[2]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 72% of 107 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6/10.[30] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 52 out of 100, based on 44 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[31]

References

  1. ^ "Cocaine Bear (15)". BBFC. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (February 21, 2023). "Box Office: 'Cocaine Bear' Takes on Marvel's 'Quantumania,' Aims for $15 Million-Plus Debut". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Anderton, Ethan (December 17, 2019). "Phil Lord & Chris Miller To Produce A Bear-Driven Horror Comedy From Ready Or Not Directors". /Film. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 26, 2022). "Ray Liotta Finished Filming Cocaine Bear and Apple's True-Crime Series Black Bird Before Death". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shrishty (January 24, 2023). "New 'Cocaine Bear' TV Spot Highlights Audience Excitement for the Black Comedy". Collider. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e ‘Cocaine Bear’ Star Alden Ehrenreich on Lord Miller Reunion, ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Ironheart’ and Falling Behind on ‘Star Wars
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 'Cocaine Bear' Cast and Character Guide: Who Stars in the Grizzly Horror Comedy
  8. ^ Miller, Mik. "Yes, 'Cocaine Bear' is based on the true story of a bear who ate way too much cocaine". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h ‘Cocaine Bear’ Review: Audiences Will Get High Watching Drugged-Up 500-Pound Beast Eat People In Elizabeth Banks’ Darkly Amusing Horror Comedy
  10. ^ Massie, Graeme (March 10, 2021). "True story of infamous bear who consumed duffel bag of cocaine to get Hollywood treatment". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "Cocaine and a Dead Bear". The New York Times. December 23, 1985. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  12. ^ Rabon, Gabrielle (April 25, 2021). "Cocaine Bear: The True Story Behind the Ultimate Party Animal". Backpacker. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Larkin, Coleman (August 19, 2015). "Meet Our New Mascot: Cocaine Bear". KY for KY. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  14. ^ Sands, Leo (December 1, 2022). "'Cocaine Bear' is based on a true story: Pablo Eskobear, who overdosed". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  15. ^ Holpuch, Amanda (December 1, 2022). "Yes, 'Cocaine Bear' Was Real. Here's the Back Story". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  16. ^ Sottile, Zoe (December 3, 2022). "Yes, the viral 'Cocaine Bear' movie is based on a true story (kinda)". CNN. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Tayag, Yasmin (December 5, 2022). "Cocaine Bear: Why?". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  18. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 9, 2021). "Elizabeth Banks To Direct Cocaine Bear Thriller For Universal, Phil Lord & Chris Miller". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Galuppo, Mia (March 9, 2021). "Elizabeth Banks to Direct Cocaine Bear Thriller for Phil Lord, Chris Miller". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  20. ^ Kroll, Justin (July 1, 2021). "Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson, Ray Liotta, Alden Ehrenreich and Jesse Tyler Ferguson To Star in Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear For Universal". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  21. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 2, 2021). "Margo Martindale, Kristofer Hivju, Christian Convery, Brooklynn Prince & Others Round Out Cast Of Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  22. ^ Osterman, Kyle (August 21, 2021). "Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear Set Photo Reveals Movie's Bold Logo As Filming Starts". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  23. ^ Evans, Chris (July 1, 2021). "Cocaine Bear to double Ireland for Georgia, US". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  24. ^ Malhotra, Rahul (October 17, 2021). "Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear, Story of Kentucky's Legendary Pablo EskoBear, Has Wrapped Filming". Collider. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  25. ^ Vary, Adam B. (February 8, 2023). "'This Could Be a Career Ender': Elizabeth Banks Risks It All for the Gory, R-Rated 'Cocaine Bear'". Variety. Retrieved February 8, 2023. Cocaine Bear is budgeted in the mid- to high-$30 million range, with most of the money going to Weta FX [...] to create the furry drug addict with CGI.
  26. ^ "Natalie Holt Scoring Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear". Film Music Reporter. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  27. ^ "Mark Mothersbaugh Scoring Elizabeth Banks' 'Cocaine Bear'". Film Music Reporter. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  28. ^ "The 'Cocaine Bear' Trailer Is as Insanely Fun as It Sounds". GQ. November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  29. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 2, 2022). "Universal's Elizabeth Banks Directed Thriller Cocaine Bear Sets Winter 2023 Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  30. ^ "Cocaine Bear (2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  31. ^ "Cocaine Bear Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cocaine_Bear&oldid=1141311422"