NEW YORK (AP) – A not-so-distant recovery for cinemas can be seen on Sunday with Warner Bros. ‘live-action hybrid of animation. “Tom & Jerry” debuted with $ 13.7 million in ticket sales, the best domestic debut of the year.
The better-than-expected debut came despite only 42% of American cinemas being open, according to data company Comscore. “Tom & Jerry” was also shown in 2,475 North American theaters simultaneously, as well as at home, where it is broadcast on HBO Max for a month.
Still, “Tom & Jerry” still got the second best opening of the pandemic after Warner Bros. ′ “Wonder Woman 1984”, which was released with $ 16.7 million in December, at the same time that it was released on HBO Max. The closest debut – “Tenet”, “The Croods: A New Age” – raised about of $ 10 million in the opening weekend.
“With half of the cinemas still closed, the pandemic still a threat and ‘Tom & Jerry’ available at home, this is a very good debut,” said David A. Gross, who runs the film consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “Under normal circumstances, this weekend would be comfortably over $ 35 million – a positive sign for business and for the attraction of theater to home entertainment.”
“Tom & Jerry” also earned $ 25.1 million internationally, bringing its worldwide total to $ 38.8 million, according to studio estimates. The film, directed by Tim Story and based on characters created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, stars Chloë Grace Moretz.
Cinemas in some crucial markets are also about to go live. On Friday, New York cinemas will be able to open at 25% capacity for the first time since they closed last March. Next week, Disney will launch the cartoon “Raya and the Last Dragon” in theaters and Disney + for $ 30, not counting the cost of the subscription.
Although Warner Bros. has been criticized by some for leaving theaters when it announced plans to send all 2021 films to HBO Max and theaters, the studio is currently a lifeline for theaters. The studio’s films – including “The Little Things”, “Judas and the Black Messiah” and “Wonder Woman 1984” – accounted for about 80% of domestic ticket sales over the weekend.
Private rental reservations are helping the modest return to the cinema. Family, friends and pods have booked an entire theater. Warner Bros. said that “Tom & Jerry” has seen more than 10,000 of these reserves.
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Follow AP film writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP