Will coronavirus change the kinds of movies that are popular?

Will there be a summer movie season?

There’s no telling when moviegoing will return to

normal, or what “normal” even means in a post-pandemic world. Presently, only 35% of North American movie theaters are open and ticket sales have been hovering at an all-time low. That puts the future of summer movie season, the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day that typically drives 40% of the yearly box office, in jeopardy. Normally, new blockbusters debut nearly every weekend of the summer. But given the constantly fluid release calendar, it’s unclear if prime summer premiere dates — including “F9” on May 28, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” on June 11,

“Top Gun Maverick” on July 2 or “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” on July 9 — will stick. Studios may have to spread the wealth throughout the year in months removed from popcorn season to avoid a pileup as patrons start to feel comfortable returning to theaters.

Big blockbusters and franchise titles are largely what makes Hollywood go ‘round — that won’t change anytime soon. Yet the financials of producing a $200 million-budgeted film (as potential blockbusters such as “No Time to Die,” “Jurassic World: Dominion” and “Black Widow” regularly cost) don’t exactly add up if traditional studios entirely skip the big screen in favor of streaming services or digital rental platforms. Beyond time-tested superhero adventures and animated family flicks, it remains to be seen what kinds of movies will be in high

demand. Will people be hungry for feel-good films? Will coronavirus-induced storylines and with it, the mere sight of characters who are wearing masks and social distancing, throw people back into an existential tailspin? Possibly!

Will people be hungry for feel-good films? Will coronavirusinduced storylines and with it, the mere sight of characters who are wearing masks and social distancing, throw people back into an existential tailspin? Possibly!