Posted on 11/22/2020 1:47:53 PM PST by EdnaMode
The weekend before Thanksgiving is one of the most desired release dates. It’s been home to entries in the Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games franchises; in 2019, “Frozen II” opened to $130 million. This year, weekend grosses won’t pass $7 million and only “Freaky” made more than $1 million.
These numbers cap a week of bad-to-worse news for theaters. Announcements from Universal codifed its Premium VOD plans, which suggest that the new maximum window, likely adapted by other distributors, is five weekends after opening. Warner Bros. placed “Wonder Woman 1984” on HBO Max for 30 days, along with theaters that want to play it. (The logic behind the 30-day rule is murky; perhaps the hope is by the end of January, more theaters will be open?)
With elevated government restrictions and COVID-19 cases that seem to hit new highs on a daily basis, 2,800 theaters were open this weekend. That’s down from 3,400 last weekend, and about half of the possible locations.
The average gross per complex, with 60 percent of these having eight or more screens, was around $4,000 or $500 per screen. That can’t even cover operating costs, especially with half of the revenue going to film rental.
“Croods: A New Age” (Universal) opens this Wednesday for the long holiday weekend. Alone, it should gross more than this weekend’s total. That will be the last major new release until “Wonder Woman 1984” Christmas Day, which it will share with “News of the World” from Universal, “Promising Young Woman” from Focus Features, and Sony’s “Monster Hunter.”
Theater closings took their toll on holdovers. After weeks of seeing many films hold well in the absence of competition, all dropped by at least 40 percent and some more than 50 percent. “Freaky,” which is #1 for a second weekend, dropped 56 percent.
One film that continues to show (relative) strength is “The War with Grandpa” (101). The comedy actually jumped a slot to#2 this weekend, with only a 45 percent fall. At over $16 million, it is the top gross among all releases that dared to open since “Tenet.”
Several films took advantage of the opportunity for easy access to big-circuit theaters, but the results were negligible. “Vanguard” (Gravitas Ventures), with Jackie Chan reuniting with director Stanley Tong, placed seventh, but with only $291 per theater. “The Last Vermeer” (Sony), originally a Sony Pictures Classics release when it premiered at the 2019 Telluride and Toronto festivals, landed at #9, $247 per theater. “Fate: Stay/Night: Heaven,” a Fathom presentation of a Japanese animated film, had rare access to multiple days and screenings. It took #10 with a somewhat better but still weak result ($647 PTA).
Sure gonna miss paying $14.00 for a medium drink and popcorn. /s
This keeps up,we may all be living like it’s the 1800’s...
I like going to movies but there are very few any more that have any appeal to me. I have zero interest watching some lame-brain movie about global warming or trying to convince me that homosexuality is normal. Also, they seem to be long on computer generated graphics and short on story. That also goes for the ones available through streaming as well as the theater movies.
I hardly consume any US made entertainment anymore, most now comes from other countries.
Straight to Redbox!
Such a shame.
Hollywood is so very happy and proud that they support dictatorial leftists.
They loved Hitler in the 1930s, didn't want to lose access to the German market.
I’d like nothing better than to see the Hollywood entertainment industry collapse, at all levels.
It also grossed me out a little to have people munching food around me at the movie theater. Can't people go a couple hours without cramming their mouths?
I watch pretty much vintage stuff.
Mostly on DVDs around here I’ve piled up.
Lately, it’s been the upbeat comedy Ironside.
I tried to be funny.
Disney could go bankrupt and have to reorganize
DIE ! May every one of these America-hating Stalinazi Hollyweird degenerates lose every last cent of their income and livelihoods.
I’m Lockdown Larry Hogan, and I approve this message.
I just killed dishtv, even at the bare minimum it was approx. $600 per year. And I was watching less and and less of their offerings.
Roku has a lot of good vintage stuff.
Hard to think I call 90s TV that at times.
Time Trax is on and I’ve been watching it off and on. Decent series.
It’s as though justice coming to Harvey Weinstein triggered the reset that was to come of Hollywood and its blockbuster Multiplex moviehouses.They really had nothing to do with one another, the re-setters are if anything onboard with Hollywood’s perversity AND cravenness, but this is just another casualty of the their stupidity and generalized sadism in trying to bring the American economy down.
-Harvey Weinstein
And to think there was a time when I saw at least one movie per week!
Box Office Sinks to New Low as 600 Theaters Close and Few New Films Open
__________________________________________________
Great news!
In Georgia, the movie industry is trying to gain a foothold. It could be one of the things that slowly turns the state Blue if we’re not careful. The worse they do the better. It’s like having a little slice of California inside Atlanta.
No doubt the actors and movie crews have other work skills.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.