WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: The Little Things Takes Top Spot With Solid $4.8 Million

The latest test of Warner Bros.’ day-and-date theatrical and streaming strategy arrived this weekend with The Little Things, the Denzel Washington vehicle co-starring Rami Malek and Jared Leto. Debuting in 2,171 locations, the serial killer thriller finished in first place with an estimated $4.8 million in its opening frame, a solid result given the film’s simultaneous availability on the HBO Max streaming platform. As noted by the studio, The Little Things is the biggest opening for an R-rated film since the beginning of the pandemic, with 62% of the opening weekend audience being over the age of 35 — not surprising given Washington’s appeal with older moviegoers. Top markets for the film were Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Houston, Greater New York Metro Area and Chicago. Only about 44% of domestic theaters are currently open in North America. The Little Things did reasonably...

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Long Range Box Office Forecast: Q1 2021’s Souring Pace Amid Further Delays — When Might Theatrical Recovery Begin?

As we say goodbye to the first month of a new year and eagerly await the next — if only to get one step closer toward recovery amid the pandemic — there’s good news and bad news. The good news: Vaccine distribution plans are beginning to take shape after a disorganized head start in 2020, studios like Universal, Warner Bros., Disney, and a number of indie distributors are putting what limited content into theaters they can, and there remains cautious optimism that this — at some point — will be the year moviegoers are able to return en masse. The bad news: Although we’re one month through what has long been predicted to be a dire winter in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic and the movie industry itself, there remains a long road and plenty of work ahead. For perspective on the number of setbacks encountered by cinemas in recent weeks and months, January 2021’s retail reporting...

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China’s The Eight Hundred Becomes First Non-Hollywood Film to Top Yearly Global Box Office w/ $450.5M

The highest grossing movie on planet earth in 2020 was China’s The Eight Hundred, becoming the first title outside the Hollywood system to accomplish the feat with $450.5 million, according to numbers provided to Boxoffice PRO by Chinese distributor Huayi Brothers. The film beat Sony’s Bad Boys For Life, the year’s second-biggest earner with $426.5 million total. The action drama directed by Guan Hu was based on the true story of 452 Chinese soldiers who fought against thousands of Japanese invaders in a 1937 battle. (The title The Eight Hundred is based on the exaggerated number of troops their commander claimed they had.) The first Chinese film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, more than 99 percent of of its earnings came in China, with $448.2 million. When Tenet — the first major Hollywood release since the pandemic — debuted in China on the September 4 weekend,...

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How Popcorn Has Helped Theaters Endure the Pandemic

After being forced to close his Florence, Oregon theater City Lights Cinemas for a third time last fall, Michael Falter decided to test a curbside popcorn drive as a means of keeping his staff employed. Though Falter had his doubts about how fruitful it would end up being, the community’s response was so great that he’s still feeling the aftereffects. “Our first edition in November was insane – I’m still working through repetitive strain injuries to my shoulder from popping so much popcorn,” Falter tells Boxoffice Pro. “At one point, staff counted a line of 40 cars.” The November event was so successful for City Lights Cinemas that Falter and...

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Weekend Box Office Forecast: The Little Things Debuts as Warner Bros.’ 2021 Hybrid Release Experiment Continues

As January comes to a close, exhibition and willing/able moviegoers are still looking for fresh content on the big screen. Warner Bros., as part of their 2021 strategy to release films simultaneously in theaters and streaming on HBO Max, will provide just that with The Little Things starting this Friday. With a trio of A-list stars fronting the thriller, The Little Things is a strong candidate to bow atop the domestic box office in its first weekend. Still, it’s hard to deny the pic could be heavily impacted on two fronts: the ongoing pandemic and major market closures, plus cannibalized earnings due to streaming availability. It’s likely that not even Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto will be able to change that narrative. Still, in a market where Liam Neeson has already driven two films to $3 million-plus opening weekends (last October’s Honest Thief and...

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Motion Technology Inc. Promotes Kathy Smith to President

PRESS RELEASE Motion Technology Inc. (MTI), manufacturer of the AutoFry and a provider of ventless foodservice equipment technology, today announced the promotion of Kathy R Smith to president. Ms. Smith joined MTI in 2008 in a sales management position and quickly rose to supervisory and management positions, including vice president of sales and marketing. “Kathy has been a key contributor to our success and in her new role will be instrumental in developing and implementing our future growth strategies,” said Bill McMahon, CEO. As the economy shifted due to the pandemic, Ms. Smith helped MTI navigate through the many changes experienced by the industry. She benefits from over thirty years of experience in both manufacturing and marketing, which places her in an ideal position to lead MTI as the company continues to develop ventless foodservice solutions. “I am honored...

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Ireland-Based Exhibitor Arc Cinema to Launch New Location at Forge Island, Rotherham

PRESS RELEASE Ireland-based boutique exhibitor Arc Cinema has signed a long-term lease with national urban regenerator Muse Developments to become the leisure anchor at Rotherham’s Forge Island, which will see a key area in the heart of the town centr repurposed into a vibrant mixed-use destination.  Arc Cinema currently has six sites across the U.K. and Ireland, with a further two U.K. sites under construction and due to open in mid-2021. It specializes in providing a VIP cinema experience for the price of a standard ticket.  Plans for Forge Island include the new Arc Cinema location, a new hotel, food and drink outlets, and a car park. The new leisure facilities will be set within a public square with a new pedestrian bridge connecting the area to the wider town center. Brian Gilligan, director at Melcorpo, which runs The Arc Cinema, said: “We were delighted...

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This Week on the Boxoffice Podcast: Bond Move Triggers a Wave of Release Date Shifts

This week on the Boxoffice Podcast, Boxoffice Chief Analyst Shawn Robbins—along with co-hosts Russ Fischer and Daniel Loria—break down the latest wave of release date shifts, which has seen a bevy of titles (starting with No Time to Die) vacate the first half of 2021 for the ever-more-crowded latter part of the year. This week’s episode of the Boxoffice Podcast is brought to you by QSC. Visit QSC.com/podcast to find out more.  The Inevitability of No Time To Die‘s Release Date Change It was really pretty clear by the holidays that [No Time to Die sticking to April] was very unlikely to happen. It’s not our job to discuss politics, but I think it’s hard to deny the fact that within 24 hours of every major media outlet reporting that there had been virtually no vaccine rollout plan, this film is officially delayed, followed by a slew of others. It really underscores...

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UNIC Reports 70.6% Box Office Drop for European Cinema Industry in 2020

The International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), which represents cinema trade associations and operators in 38 markets across Europe, has released preliminary 2020 box office estimates for the territories covered by the organization. Their findings indicate that, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and its resultant closures and occupancy restrictions, European cinemas saw a 70.6 percent drop in box office in 2020, accounting for a total decrease of €6.2 billion in revenues compared to 2019. A 69 percent reduction could be observed in the cinemas hailing from the European Union, resulting in a €4.0 billion drop in revenues.  These figures come...

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Comscore Announces ‘Movies Everywhere’ Product to Better Track Viewership Statistics Across Platforms

Comscore will release a product intended to better capture viewership across platforms — including theatrical, streaming, and premium video on demand (PVOD) — they announced Monday. The data analytics company already serves as one of the main third-party organizations for theatrical box office verification, but with this upcoming tool will also provide daily sales reports across assorted film release windows and platforms in a combined form for the first time. Additional features including breakdowns of audience demographics, regional in addition to national data, and the ability to track viewership of advertisements. This new product comes as the Covid-19 pandemic and shelter-at-home measures have led to increases in streaming subscriptions, purchases, and viewership. A company press release did not include a launch date for the product. “We look forward to continue...

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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: The Marksman Narrowly Holds On To No. 1 Ranking Over Slow Weekend

On a weekend with no new wide releases in the marketplace and just 43% of theaters across the country remaining open, Open Road’s The Marksman kept its hold on the No. 1 spot at the box office with an estimated $2.03 million, a drop of 35% from its debut. The Liam Neeson thriller now has $6.09 million after ten days of release. Easing just 9% from last weekend was The Croods: A New Age, which continues pulling in family audiences in its ninth weekend of release. The Universal sequel grossed an estimated $1.82 million, bringing its total to $41.83 million to date. Wonder Woman 1984 finished in third place with an estimated $1.6 million, a drop of 38%. That brings the domestic total for the Warner Bros. sequel to $37.7 million through the end of its fifth weekend. Coming in fourth place was Sony’s Monster Hunter, which grossed an estimated $820,000 for the weekend (a drop...

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MJR Digital Cinemas to Reopen In-Theater Concessions February 1

The Michigan-based cinema exhibition chain MJR Digital Cinemas will reopen all in-theater concessions on February 1, they announced Friday. The chain ranked #33 on the Boxoffice PRO list Giants of Exhibition 2020, with 164 screens at 10 locations, all located in Michigan. After Michigan relaxed some pandemic-era restrictions, MJR reopened all 10 locations on October 9, before closing them again in mid-November, then reopening once again starting December 23 in time for Wonder Woman 1984 and other holiday releases. The company’s concessions include pizza, nachos, pretzels, and hot dogs. European chain Kinepolis acquired MJR in October 2019, its first U.S. acquisition after previously acquiring Canada’s Landmark Cinemas in 2017. The post MJR Digital Cinemas to Reopen In-Theater Concessions February 1 appeared first on Boxoffice. from Boxoffi...

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POSitive Cinema Signs Agreement with New Zealand’s Silky Otter Cinemas

PRESS RELEASE — Cinema software company POSitive Cinemas announced a partnership with the nascent New Zealand exhibition chain Silky Otter Cinemas on Friday. Operated by The Otter Group, the budding chain currently operates one location, a two-screen site located in Ōrākei. Two additional sites, both with eight screens, are scheduled to open Christchurch in June and in Richmond, New Zealand later in 2021. POSitive Cinema software allows exhibitors flexibility and options with features including scheduling showtimes, dine-in and menu items, and digital signage. “We had a very clear idea on how we wanted our customers to buy tickets and food items and needed a solution flexible enough to match our concept and a solution provider that was willing to listen,” The Otter Group’s Managing Director Ahmed Almukhtar said in a press release. “We looked closely at several solutions...

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Ushio Deutschland and BLV Merge to Form New Company: Ushio Germany GmbH

PRESS RELEASE — Lighting company Ushio Deutschland GmbH announced Friday that it will merge with its sister company BLV under the new name Ushio Germany GmbH, effective on February 1. Ushio is a specialty lighting producer, whose products include cinema lamps and laser projectors. With the parent company headquartered in Japan, their European subsidiary Ushio Deutschland GmbH was founded in 1992. BLV is another lighting company whose product lines include offerings for sports facilities, aquariums, zoos, horticulture, and indoor greenery. Founded in 1968, they joined the Ushio Group in 1990. The joint company will be based in Steinhoering, Germany. A press release notes that the name change will not affect any existing or future orders, contracts, or framework contracts. The post Ushio Deutschland and BLV Merge to Form New Company: Ushio Germany GmbH appeared first on...

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No Time to Die and Ghostbusters: Afterlife Vacate Q2 for Fall Theatrical Debuts, Among Other Key Release Date Shifts

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues impacting the world and vaccine distributions remain nascent, Hollywood studios have delivered another round of major release delays this week. The lead story here is another push of MGM’s No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s presumed final installment in the iconic James Bond franchise. The film is now slated to open in North American theaters on October 8 later this year. The anticipated film was previously dated to open over Easter weekend on April 2, that following earlier pandemic-induced delays from April 2020 to November 2020. As a result of the Bond move, MGM will now open The Addams Family 2 on October 1, one week earlier than planned, where it will (for now) go against Warner Bros.’ Dune. Another effect of 007’s latest shift applies to Sony’s Morbius, which only recently had been delayed from March to October 8. That Marvel adaptation...

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Weekend Box Office Forecast: The Marksman, Croods, & Wonder Woman 1984 to Continue Holding Down the January Fort

After meeting expectations with a $3.1 million debut, Open Road’s The Marksman looks poised to again lead the domestic box office in its sophomore frame. The Liam Neeson-driven thriller provided open cinemas their latest boost as the pandemic continues to ravage the country. Honest Thief, the actor’s previous thriller to open during the health crisis last October, eased 43 percent in its second weekend. That’s a fair comparison for Marksman, although coming off of MLK weekend could skew holdover models to some slight extent. Countering the potential holiday drop-off is the reality that no new wide releases will enter the market this weekend. It’s a running theme this winter as studios try to weather the worst stages of the pandemic and audiences wait for vaccine distributions on a much wider scale. That’s something many are hopeful will improve in the near future as a...

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Cinionic Brings 4K Laser Cinema to CineStar Bosnia and Herzegovina

PRESS RELEASE CineStar Bosnia and Herzegovina has chosen 4K laser projection by Cinionic for its new destination cinema, CineStar 4DX Sarajevo – Bingo City Center. As part of the deal, Cinionic—a joint venture of Barco, CGS, and ALPD—brings its award-winning Barco Series 4 laser projection to the theater’s 10 auditoriums. The CineStar Group, which was named UNIC’s International Exhibitor of the Year in 2019, is one of the fastest growing theater circuits in Europe. Sarajevo – Bingo City Center is CineStar Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sixth location and the largest multiplex theater in the country. Cinionic was the “clear choice,” says Jadranka Islamović, CEO of CineStar Cinema and member of their board. “Our goal is to provide the most immersive and enjoyable cinema experience for our customers, and Cinionic continues to deliver the support and technology we need. … We’re...

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This Week on the Boxoffice Podcast: CMX Cinemas CFO Luis Castelazo on His Call for Lower Film Rentals

This week on the Boxoffice Podcast, Luis Castelazo—CFO of CMX Cinemas, the U.S. arm of Mexican circuit Cinemex—elaborates on a December 2020 open letter in which he called for a change in the exhibition status quo: If the theatrical exclusivity shrinks, so will movie theater attendance, and thus so too should film rental fees. Below is a condensed version of the conversation with Castelazo, which can be listened to in full here or on your podcast service of choice. It’s been an interesting start to 2021 as we’re all balancing what this recovery is going to look like. To get started, why don’t you tell us a little bit about CMX Cinemas? It’s...

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