Popcorn dreams of screen savers

There’s still a glimmer of hope for the movie-theater industry this year, despite dismal box-office earnings and rising coronavirus cases, analysts say.

The country’s two biggest markets, New York City and Los Angeles, still could give sickly sales a muchneeded jolt if they reopen before the end of 2020.

“A true box-office restart might not be that far off on the horizon,” said MKM Partners media analyst Eric Handler, who noted that Warner

Bros.’ “Wonder Woman 1984” and Disney’s Agatha Christie mystery, “Death on the Nile,” are both still slated for December 2020 premieres.

The analyst noted that New York City and LA are inching closer to meeting their respective state criteria for reopening cinemas.

Gov. Cuomo allowed movie theaters to reopen around the state last weekend. And media watchers expect New York City to follow close behind as COVID-19 clusters shrink in parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

While Los Angeles is battling rising cases, Handler said he is “hopeful that by Thanksgiving,” both cities will be able to reopen.

“A lot can happen in the next four to six weeks,” the analyst said, adding that if those cities resume ticket sales, the grim box-office predictions for this year and 2021 could be “eased.”

Currently, about 90 percent of US movie houses are open, but they are operating at reduced capacity and are all located outside of the country’s highest-grossing markets.

So far this year, the domestic box office has grossed about $1.95 billion, compared with $11.32 billion in 2019, according to ticket-sales tracker Box Office Mojo.

The National Association of Theater Owners said if major markets reopen, box-office returns could get a meaningful boost, as long as studios release new films that draw people to the theaters.