As 2020 races to an end, it’s a good time to recognize that we’re looking at better times ahead.
The pandemic took its toll on moviegoing and was made all the worse by politicians in NY & LA who wouldn’t acknowledge that people weren’t catching COVID-19 at cinemas. Hollywood’s failure to lobby effectively didn’t help.
Now as multiple vaccines roll out, there’s good reason to think positively about moviegoing’s future. The virus surged nationally after people traveled to celebrate Thanksgiving as if there was no pandemic. Hopefully, we’ll see some restraint over Christmas & New Year’s. That could spark a January/February downturn in cases and help get cinemas back in business.
An indication that Hollywood sees light at the end of this tunnel is that 4 high-profile animated titles will open by early April. WB/Hanna-Barbera’s TOM & JERRY (pictured) hits theatres on 2/26. Disney’s RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON arrives on 3/12. Universal/ DreamWorks’ THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS is due 3/26. Sony/MRC’s PETER RABBIT 2 hops in 4/2 for Easter.
Families are the target audience for animation and that’s a very hopeful sign as we head into the New Year.