We’re going to have to wait a little bit longer to see RaMell Ross’ highly raved-about adaptation of Nickel Boys. Originally slated for release in New York on October 25 and in Los Angeles on November, the film’s debut has been pushed back to December, with a new premiere schedule set for December 13 in New York City and December 20 in Los Angeles.
Nickel Boys, based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, tells the poignant story of two young Black boys navigating the harsh realities of a notorious reform school in Florida during the Jim Crow era.
It follows Elwood, a bright student on the verge of attending college, whose life is derailed after he was falsely accused by cops of being an accomplice of stealing a car and he is sentenced to the brutal institution called Nickel Academy (a fictionalized version of the Dozier School for Boys) . There, he befriends Turner, and the two form a bond — that will change their lives forever — as they try to survive the abuse by the school and its corrupt administrators.
The film stars Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Daveed Diggs, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Hamish Linklater. Watch the trailer below.
The film made a successful world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, followed by an opening night at the New York Film Festival. With critical reviews currently sitting at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon MGM Studios, in collaboration with Orion and Plan B Entertainment, opted for a later release date, mirroring the strategy used for other successful films like last year’s American Fiction, which earned $21 million after a December release.
This will also position the film for greater visibility during awards season. This strategic delay also places Nickel Boys among other significant late-year releases, such as A24’s The Zone of Interest and Warner Bros.’ Juror #2. The move gives Nickel Boys an opportunity to gain traction both with awards voters and moviegoers.
The delay also allows for Amazon MGM to prepare 35mm prints of the film, which will be shown during the December screenings, adding a touch of cinematic nostalgia to the release.
Directed by Ross and co-written by Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys features an original score by Alex Somers and Scott Alario. Producers include Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine, and Barnes, with Brad Pitt, Gabby Shepard, and others serving as executive producers. The film’s powerful themes and artistic direction have already generated buzz, making it one to watch as it heads into the year’s final release window.