The Box Office

[choptop]

To save the box office they need to stop putting movies on streaming services, and they need to keep the theater-to-DVD window at six months.

There's no money in that anymore it's about streaming now

[Gaastra]

For gvk They are predicting the first week box office--

WED opening day is outselling #WW84 XMAS opening day pre-sales at same circle of time in USA. Pre-sales excluding private watch parties estimated at roughly $800K for opening day. Looking good. Thinking $35-40M plus 5 days opening possible.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/god...t-opening-day/

[Gaastra]

https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend...nemas-re-open/

The steady progression of exhibition’s return to the public consciousness is living up to the “it’s a marathon, not a sprint” mantra cautioned for many months. While the pandemic remains upfront in the minds of most consumers, the re-opening of New York City and California theaters this month have marked significant steps forward.

The latter may already be showing an early impact at the box office. More than a handful of key titles are posting strong week-to-week gains against comparable days last week as Los Angeles and other key markets in the Golden State have turned theater lights back on this week. Raya and the Last Dragon, for instance, drew $514,812 on Wednesday — up 33 percent from its earnings on the same day last week.

Some of these bumps can be attributed to the peaking of spring break season for kids. Still, even adult-driven titles like The Marksman (up 44 percent Wednesday to Wednesday) are benefiting from an expanding theatrical footprint in areas where higher ticket prices are common relative to the parts of the country which have seen some theaters open since last fall.

Nevertheless, we remain in the early stages of recovery and product remains relatively limited as studios see through the ever-improving status quo of vaccine distributions in North America. As a result, only Roadside Attractions is entering the arena this coming weekend with a wide release in the form of The Courier.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Brosnahan, the film’s target audience will be men and women over 35. The period spy drama has a very encouraging 79 percent Rotten Tomatoes score as of Thursday evening, and potentially enough mainstream appeal through its stars to outstrip other recent dramas like Land, which bowed to $900K back in February with a smaller theatrical footprint and just as consumer confidence was starting to trend upward.

Male-driven films like The Marksman, Let Him Go, and Honest Thief were early standouts for the nascent days of new releases during the pandemic, suggesting Courier could be next in line. However, Roadside will not be distributing the film as widely as once expected — now going in an estimated 1,433 locations, and reducing the opening forecast range to between $1.5 million and $3 million.

With that film expected to play modestly compared to the more widely appealing family films at the top of the box office in recent weeks, a top three debut is possible, but not guaranteed, for The Courier. Raya and Warner Bros.’ Tom & Jerry look set to remain in the top two positions, respectively, leaving Chaos Walking in a potentially close battle for third. There could be room for over-performance on Courier‘s part in these days of unpredictability, but overall modest pre-release impact and late marketing have brought forecasts down to a more conservative level.

Elsewhere, location counts are not confirmed for various films (notably Warner Bros.’) but estimates via Showtimes Dashboard indicate titles like The Little Things and Wonder Woman 1984 may sharp declines in theater totals despite the California factor. Saban Films will also release City of Lies in an estimated 550 locations (not confirmed by the studio).

[GOLGO 13]

For gvk They are predicting the first week box office--



https://comicbook.com/anime/news/god...t-opening-day/

What a great idea to rent out a private screening. So hyped for Gz VS KONG.

[Gaastra]

LA movies have boomed. Raya and tom and jerry leading the pack!

https://deadline.com/2021/03/weekend...on-1234718593/

Kelly Marie Tran makes a special appearance at the El Capitan screening of 'Raya and the Last Dragon' as L.A. movie theaters returned Friday night.
SATURDAY AM Update: Even though just 37% of the entire Los Angeles theatrical market is back online, it was enough to propel the DMA to the top weekend spot on Friday with $427,2K, repping a +1,100% jump from the same period a week ago. Los Angeles will feasibly be the No. 1 box office market this weekend, besting New York, with well over $1M.

Meanwhile, over at the El Capitan Theatre last night on Hollywood Blvd, Raya and the Last Dragon star Kelly Marie Tran and the pic’s director Carlos Lopez Estrada greeted returning moviegoers. While the numbers may not appear amazing at first glance, Raya and the Last Dragon‘s Friday posted $1.4M at 2,261 theaters (+98), even with the same day a week ago, and headed for a third weekend of $5.7M, even percent-wise with last weekend. That’s a hold any studio would envy, and it’s indicative that there is a yearning in the nation to go back to the movies. Running total for Raya by tomorrow is $24.8M, with the pic also available to Disney+ subscribers for an extra $30.


Yesterday, the New York City DMA was the No. 1 marketplace, per distribution sources, with $241.1K, -5%. Last weekend, NYC grossed $1.018M and ended its second week of ops on Thursday with $1.35M.

As far as the complete return of exhibition, we still have a ways to go in the US and Canada market, with only 3.1K locations of 588K back online. That’s still with 98% of AMC and 92% of Cinemark operating. The lack of No. 2 chain Regal leaves a big hole. In addition, only 18% of the Canadian province Ontario, which contains the Toronto DMA, is open. On the bright side, 47 of California’s 58 counties have reopened cinemas and are operating between 25%-50%. Sources tell me that by Easter weekend, if not shortly after, Los Angeles movie theater capacities could jump to 50%, knock on wood.

Second place goes to Warner Bros.’ Tom & Jerry, which grossed an estimated $1.02M in its fourth Friday, +2%, on its way to $4.3M at 2,508 sites (+54), +5% for a running total on Sunday of $34.1M. The pic is still available on HBO Max, free to subscribers, for another eight days before theaters have the animation hybrid exclusively during the title’s second month run.

Lionsgate’s Chaos Walking in weekend 3 saw a $574K Friday, -11% for a 3-day of $2.1M, -5% at 2,132 (+112) for a $9.6M running cume.

Fourth goes to Roadside Attractions’ new wide entry thriller The Courier, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Brosnahan, which made $671K yesterday at 1,433 locations, on its way to a $1.95M 3-day debut. Pic has an 83% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned an 82% positive score, with a very good 62% definite recommend from Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak audience exits.

Fifty-seven percent guys showed up, 85% over 25, with 66% over 35 years old. Diversity demos were 72% Caucasian, 11% Hispanic, 8% Black, & 9% Asian. Courier played best on the East coast overall, but their best market was Salt Lake City, I hear. The Dominic Cooke-directed feature follows Cold War spy Greville Wynne and his Russian source, who try to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Croods: A New Age in weekend 17 at 1,411 sites (-29) did $170K yesterday, +45%, on its way to $780K, +44%, for a running total of $55.4M.

Sixth place is owned by Focus Features’ Eddie Huang movie Boogie, with a third weekend of $640K, -18%, for a running total of $3.3M. The movie, starring Taylour Paige, Pop Smoke, and Taylor Takahashi, grossed $180K on Friday, -18% from a week ago.

Also, way down the chart, making its first appearance in hard-top theaters since Los Angeles reopened, is Warner Bros’ Tenet. The movie is booked at many Imax auditoriums, including AMC Universal CityWalk, where it can be seen in 70mm, AMC Burbank, AMC Century City, AMC Promenade Woodland Hills, AMC Santa Anita, AMC Del Amo Torrance and AMC Covina, and at Cinemark Imax Lancaster. The movie grossed an estimated $23K last night from 35 locations for an estimated $80K weekend, putting its running total at $58.3M stateside, still the highest-grossing movie during the pandemic since theatres reopened in late August.

[Gaastra]

Demon slayer has slain tenent! Christopher Nolan is no match for a anime film! DS has beat tenents box office!


https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dem...l-tenent-2020/

[Kirby101]

First, its Tenet, not tenent. That was a Roman Polanski film. And I hope you are just having fun, because we know this last year far from normal. Too much to compare a movie whose release was cut off with a Japan only hit.

[Gaastra]

Sorry for the misspell but it's world wide box office and yes it counts. (the fact it did so well ww during the virus last year was a amazing feat o it's own!) Heck demon slayer beat titanic's box office in japan last year at the heart of the virus going on!

Japan only hit? It was first place in four counties so far including au where it sold out!

It not a japan only hit! Time, deadline, variety, hollywood reporter, EW, and the wrap all did stories on how big it's done! (even the link talks about how good it's done)

Also yes i'm also having fun bringing it up. Not taking it as serious as it sounds above but as a anime fan happy to see a anime film do so well world wide any year.

[Gaastra]

Movieweb wants to know if avatar will be the first $3 billion club? Is it that close?

https://movieweb.com/avatar-first-3-...-dollar-movie/

[Jim Kelly]

Hopefully one day we'll have a good metric for streaming.

[Gaastra]

Raya and tom and jerry on top again. Some of the oscar films jumped up due to oscar nods. Depps film bombed even in todays terms!

Also LA movies are open but won't get the full feel till next week.


https://variety.com/2021/film/news/r...es-1234935242/

Disney’s animated adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon” led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a moviegoing revival.

“Raya and the Last Dragon” collected $5.2 million from 2,261 theaters through Sunday, representing a scant 5% decline from its sophomore outing. Disney can thank the reopening of Los Angeles movie theaters for the stellar hold in ticket sales. Cinemas in the City of Angels were given permission to resume operations on March 12, but most film exhibitors weren’t able to get up and running until now.

Capacity in Los Angeles area movie theaters will be capped at 25%, or 100 people per auditorium, which is double the limit in New York, where its restricted to 50 people. Even with constraints, Los Angeles accounted for nearly 9% of all movie tickets sold this weekend, according to Comscore.

“This weekend showed solid results from holdovers, demonstrating the revenue generating horsepower of opening the biggest box-office market in North America,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst with Comscore. “Eager movie fans in Los Angeles showed up in solid numbers to enjoy the big screen experience once again.”

In a sign that moviegoing is on the mend, AMC Theatres, the cinema chain with the biggest footprint in the country, has reopened 98% of its locations, including 40 venues in California, as of March 19. The circuit expects to reopen even more locations by March 26.

“It was exactly one year ago that we closed all AMC locations in the United States,” said Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC. “It gives me immense joy to say that by the end of next week we expect that 99% of our U.S. locations will have reopened.”

“Raya and the Last Dragon” amassed another $8 million overseas from 29 countries. The film, which is available to Disney Plus subscribers for an additional $30, has generated $71 million globally to date.

Without much in the way of competition, “Raya and the Last Dragon” was able to easily repeat No. 1 in North America. Two new movies — “The Courier” and “City of Lies” — opened theatrically while several awards season hopefuls got a post-Oscar nomination boost.

“The Courier,” a Cold War drama led by Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Brosnahan, landed in third place with $2 million from 1,433 locations. Directed by Dominic Cooke, the movie premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival (with the title “Ironbark”) to a mostly positive reception. Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, the film’s backers, reported strong turnout in Salt Lake City, Orlando and Dallas.

Meanwhile, Johnny Depp’s “City of Lies,” a crime drama about corruption in the LAPD, mostly fell flat with audiences. The poorly reviewed film cinched 11th place on box office charts, scraping together $275,049 from 501 screens.

Focus Feature’s dark comedy “Promising Young Woman,” which landed five Academy Award nominations on Monday, enjoyed a 117% increase in ticket sales, with $195,000 over the three days. In all, “Promising Young Woman” has grossed $5.7 million at the domestic box office. And A24’s “Minari,” a heartwarming drama about a Korean American family that scored six Oscar nods, saw receipts climb 85%. The film earned $306,000 this weekend, bringing its tally to $1.3 million. Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Father,” one of the few best picture nominees to have a traditional theatrical release, made another $275,000 following nominations, lifting its total earnings to $879,000.

“Raya and the Last Dragon” wasn’t the only title to have a modest decline in ticket sales; none of the films in the top five dipped more than 15% from the weekend prior.

Warner Bros.’ live-action-animated hybrid “Tom and Jerry” remained in second place with $3.8 million, a 7% drop from last weekend. The film, playing on 2,508 screens, is also on HBO Max for 31 days. After four weeks on the big screen, it has made $33 million at the domestic box office. Internationally, “Tom and Jerry” added another $4 million, bringing its tally to $43.5 million overseas and $77.2. million globally.

At No. 3, Lionsgate’s sci-fi thriller “Chaos Walking” took in $1.9 million from 2,132 theaters, marking a slight 14% fall. After three weeks of release, the Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland-led film has made $9.69 million. Universal’s “The Croods: A New Age” rounded out the top five with $620,000 from 1,411 screens. The animated family film has made $55 million since it was released last November. Globally, “The Croods” sequel has made $160 million.

Another Universal title, the Bob Odenkirk action thriller “Nobody,” kicked off internationally with $2.6 million from four markets. It debuts in the U.S. next weekend alongside Warner Bros. monster mashup “Godzilla vs. Kong.”

Next up the john wick like movie and the ape and lizard get into a fight!

[Powerboy]

There's no money in that anymore it's about streaming now

The real test will be when Covid is a thing of the past or so under control that people feel safe gathering in large numbers again. I assume that, by then, studios will have a lot of streaming contracts. Then, do they start letting those contracts expire as far as first run and start getting back to movies in theaters first and then streaming and other means only after the theatrical runs?

Has streaming as the first resort been as lucrative as releasing to theaters first was before Covid?

[Gaastra]

Study finds 50% in north america are ready to go to the movies again! Also it's getting reported gvk is sold out aready in some areas for the first day! If you live in a huge city you may want to get your tickets if you are going first day.

[luprki]

To save the box office they need to stop putting movies on streaming services, and they need to keep the theater-to-DVD window at six months.

The studios would be crazy to do that, those days are over.
Streaming is the future and the future is now.

[Gaastra]

Kong on the way to opening big?

https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/go...huge-surprise/

https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainm...ai-saga-662946