The good news is moviegoers aren’t hesitating to come back as theatres reopen.
After a year of pandemic shutdown, NYC theatres reopened just in time for Disney’s RAYA & THE LAST DRAGON & Lionsgate’s CHAOS WALKING (pictured – Daisy Ridley & Tom Holland).
- RAYA opened at #1, earning $8.6M, according to Comscore, at 2,045 theaters ($4,205 per screen), with 45% of domestic theaters open. That’s below the $ 9M-$11 M exhibitors expected, but mostly reflects Disney, Cinemark (the third-largest domestic circuit), and some smaller chains not coming to terms to participate. Adding 500 screens could have upped RAYA to about $10.7M. In any case, it’s also a Disney+ hit streaming at $30 premium pricing.
Moviegoers were definitely excited about seeing RAYA. Its first choice average in tracking Friday was twice the norm, with matching best scores from -25F & +25F, exactly the right audience for this film. RT: 95%.
- WB/Hanna-Barbera’s TOM & JERRY was a lively #2 with $6.6M
(-53%) In weekend 2. Cumes: $23M dom/$34.3M intl.
CHAOS was a slow walking #3 with $3.8M, meeting Hollywood handicappers’ expectations. Friday saw it tracking at the norm and doing best with -25F. RT: 23%.
