Due to the pandemic, thousands of cinemas in North America have been dark for the better part of nine months, while those that have reopened are operating at dramatically reduced capacity. Mid-December is usually a launching pad for yuletide-fueled holiday blockbusters. That isn't the case this year as Hollywood and theater owners grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and a virtual nine-month standstill in moviegoing that will result in the worst showing for domestic ticket sales in at least four decades. Case in point: There were no new wide releases at the North American box office over the Dec. 11-13...