11:41 AM PST 3/7/2021
in
Pamela McClintock
Box office revenue for the weekend of March 5-7 is estimated at $ 25 million, with cinemas in New York now allowed to reopen at 25% capacity.
During the weekend of March 6-8, 2020, movie ticket sales in North America totaled $ 101.2 million before it began its precipitous – and unprecedented – decline due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
Revenue fell to $ 54.8 million the following weekend, according to Comescore. As of March 20, almost all cinemas were closed, except for drive-ins. That weekend, ticket sales plummeted to $ 195,952, generating a collective sigh of regret in Hollywood and the exhibition industry. Since then, it has been a roller coaster ride; some cinemas reopened, while others had to close again.
Almost a year later, there is finally hope for a recovery. On March 5, New York City cinemas – the second largest cinema market in the country behind Los Angeles, where cinemas are expected to turn on the lights in the coming weeks – were finally allowed to reopen, albeit at 25 percent capacity or 50 people.
But he managed to push the needle. Box office revenue for the weekend of March 5-7 is estimated at $ 25 million – the best showing since the forced closure of pandemic cinemas, and barely exceeding the $ 23.8 million earned over the weekend. Christmas when Wonder Woman 1984 released in theaters that were allowed to reopen, according to Comscore estimates.
“Perhaps this could be interpreted as an inflection point for the industry and a very welcome sign of the ongoing big screen recovery,” said Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian.
“Fortunately, this weekend’s films generated solid overall numbers with Raya and the Last Dragon, Chaos Walking and Boogie, along with the remnants, bringing in a collectively impressive box office of more than $ 25 million, “he continues.” This is without a doubt the first ‘normal’ weekend since the start of the pandemic, benefiting from a combination of attractive big-screen programming that has generated a strong picture, despite only 45 percent of theaters currently open in South America. North. “
The previous weekend, only 42% of the cinemas were open. In addition to New York City, cinemas in San Francisco and other parts of the bay area were able to reopen on March 5.
“It’s going to be slow and steady,” says Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros.