Arguably an early contender for the wildest movie of 2023, Elizabeth Banks‘ “Cocaine Bear” is based on the true story of a 175-pound Black Bear who overdosed on cocaine after ingesting the drug in 1985. While the bear did not kill anyone and died shortly after consuming cocaine, Banks and screenwriter Jimmy Warden fictionalize a story where the bear goes on a killing spree while massively high on cocaine.
The film boasts an incredible ensemble featuring Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Christian Convery-Jennings, Alden Ehrenreich, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Margot Martindale, and Matthew Rhys. The movie also stars the late Ray Liotta in one of his final film roles, shot shortly before he suddenly passed away in May 2022.
Its plot synopsis reads, “Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner’s plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild thriller finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500- pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and blood.”
Our review of the film isn’t all that charitable, but hey, maybe to each his own, right?
Produced by Banks, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, Max Handelman, and Brian Duffield, “Cocaine Bear” releases exclusively in theatres on February 24. Watch four clips from the film below, and maybe get ready to binge on your weekend or whatever.