The $70 million opening weekend for Universal’s F9 was a blockbuster success for the industry, beating expectations and lifting spirits among exhibitors. But lingering concerns remain, including box office prospects for the upcoming lineup of summer releases. In particular, exhibitors are concerned that ticket sales for certain key movies will be dampened by studios releasing them online on the same day when they open in theatres.
Over the next 5 weeks, these major studio releases will all be released day & date: Disney/Marvel’s Black Widow (7/9), Warner Bros.’ Space Jam: A New Legacy (7/16), Disney’s Jungle Cruise (7/30), and Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad (8/6). The jury is still out on how much of an impact at-home, premium movie viewing will have on in-theatre ticket sales. On the bright side, theatres are happy that studios are providing a steady stream of major new releases to attract those who have felt cooped up for the last year and are now looking to be entertained outside the home.