Phase 4 to Release Lucy Walker’s ‘The Crash Reel’ Dec. 13

Walker depicts the struggles of snowboarder Kevin Pearce after he suffers a life-threatening injury

“The Crash Reel,” Lucy Walker’s documentary about snowboarder Kevin Pearce, will open in theaters Dec. 13, Phase 4 Films said on Wednesday. It will start in 10 different markets, including New York and Los Angeles, before expanding.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Walker steps into the world of extreme sports with this film, documenting Pearce’s rivalry with Shaun White, the severe injury that ended his career and his recovery.

The documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by HBO. HBO gave the film a one-week run over the summer so it would qualify for the Oscars, and then aired it on TV starting July 15. It will now return to theaters.

Also read: Why Director Lucy Walker Couldn’t Say No to a Movie About Injured Snowboarder Kevin Pearce

In an interview with TheWrap this summer, Walker admitted the release strategy was an experiment.

“We’re doing this release in December with Phase4, they’re crazy enough to go after HBO in the U.S. In other territories we’re doing it the conventional way around,” she said at the time. “I think it’ll work, but who the hell knows? It’s an interesting experiment.”

Walker co-wrote the movie with Pedro Kos and produced it with Julian Cautherley.

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