Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
‘Tenet’ international debut gives hope to studios
NEW YORK — The first wave of big new movies released since the beginning of the pandemic, including Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending thriller “Tenet” and the long-delayed “X-Men” spinoff “The New Mutants,” arrived in theaters last weekend, testing the waters of a radically different theatrical landscape.
Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” — the most hotly anticipated movie of the year and the one that has repeatedly positioned itself to lead the return of multiplex moviegoing — opened with an estimated $53 million overseas in 41 markets, including most of Europe, South Korea and Canada.
Given the circumstances, it was difficult to forecast the performance of the $200 million “Tenet,” starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki. But the result exceeded the expectations of most. Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, called it “a fantastic start.”
“… We know we’re running a marathon, not a sprint, and look forward to long playability for this film globally for many weeks to come,” said Emmerich in a statement.
In the United States over the weekend, the Walt Disney Co.’s “The New Mutants,” a critically panned horror riff for Marvel made by 20th Century Fox before the Disney acquisition, led the domestic box office with an estimated $7 million in 2,412 locations. Cathleen Taff, Disney’s president of global distribution, called it a success for times requiring recalibrated expectations.
“We continue to have faith and believe in the theatrical experience. We think consumers are ready to start having that experience with others sooner rather than later,” Taff said. “We’re encouraged. We’re very encouraged.”
While many of Hollywood’s largest productions have postponed their release and others have rerouted to streaming platforms, Warner Bros. gambled that “Tenet” could roll out abroad first, and then gradually debut in the states.
So far, it seems to be working. The overseas opening for “Tenet” was greeted by some as proof that blockbuster moviegoing can be resurrected even while the virus continues to circulate and large indoor gatherings are considered higher risk. As part of their safety protocols, movie theaters are mandating mask-wearing, cleaning cinemas in between showings and operating at 50% capacity to distance moviegoers usually crowded shoulder to shoulder.
“The strong international debut of Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ is an emphatic statement that audiences around the world are ready to return to theaters where local guidelines allow,” said Rich Gelfond, chief executive of IMAX. The large-format exhibitor accounted for $5 million of the film’s box office.
“Tenet” will open this week in the United States and China, the two largest markets. Here, the conditions remain far from ideal. About 60% of theaters are currently open. The largest chains, including AMC and Regal, reopened the week prior. Any new release is trying to coax moviegoers back to the movies — any movie — in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic.
Disney will this week release the live-action remake of “Mulan” for a $30 digital rental through its streaming service, Disney+. Originally slated for theatrical release in March, it’s the most expensive movie yet to go straight to the home. Taff, though, said she’s optimistic about forthcoming releases coming to theaters.
“Of course, it’s not going to be a linear process. We’ve been upended for sure, along with many other industries. But we have to continue to pivot and adjust our approach in real time,” Taff said. “Right now we’re feeling pretty good.”
Theaters remain closed in several states, including New York and California. On Aug. 28, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released guidelines that could allow county-by-county reopening of cinemas.
Searchlight Pictures opened “The Personal History of David Copperfield” to $520,000 across 1,360 locations. The PG-rated comedy likely would have opened as a limited arthouse release when it was originally scheduled to hit theaters back in May. But the Disney specialty label decided to open it wide, across the country.
“Copperfield” received a 93% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Armando Iannucci film, adapted from the Charles Dickens classic and starring Dev Patel in the title role, was the opening night selection of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.
United Artists unveiled “Bill & Ted Face the Music” simultaneously to theaters and PVOD and earned an estimated $1,060,000 for the weekend from 1,007 locations. Because the film was made available for home viewing, it was not booked by the major U.S. exhibition chains including AMC. Toplined by franchise stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, the time-travel comedy received a 79% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Solstice’s “Unhinged” added $3.6 million in its second week in the United States, and its third week in Canada, across 2,331 locations for a cumulative total of $8.8 million. That’s down 35% from $4 million last weekend when the Russell Crowe thriller was in 1,823 locations.