NEW YORK (AP) – A not-so-distant recovery for cinemas could be seen on Sunday, as Warner Bros. ‘live-action hybrid “Tom & Jerry” hybrid. began with $ 13.7 million in ticket sales, the best domestic opening of the year.
The better-than-expected opening came despite the fact that only 42% of American cinemas are open, according to data company Comscore. “Tom & Jerry” also starred in 2,475 North American cinemas simultaneously, as well as at home, where it airs on HBO Max for a month.
However, “Tom & Jerry” still managed the second best pandemic opening after Warner Bros. ‘”Wonder Woman 1984″, which was released for $ 16.7 million in December, while landing and on HBO Max. The next closest debuts – “Tenet”, “The Croods: A New Age” – earned about $ 10 million over the opening weekend.
“With half the theaters still closed, the pandemic is still a threat and ‘Tom and Jerry’ are available at home, it’s a very good opening,” said David A. Gross, who runs film consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “Under normal circumstances, this weekend would be comfortable over $ 35 million – a positive sign for the business and theatrical appeal of home entertainment.”
“Tom & Jerry” also earned $ 25.1 million internationally, bringing its global total to $ 38.8 million, according to studio estimates. The film, directed by Tim Story and based on the characters created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, stars Chloë Grace Moretz.
Theaters in some crucial markets are also about to enter the line. On Friday, New York cinemas will be allowed to open at 25% capacity for the first time since they closed in March last year. Next week, Disney will release “Raya and the Last Dragon” animated in theaters and on Disney + for $ 30, without taking into account the cost of the subscription.
Although Warner Bros. has been criticized by some for abandoning cinemas when it announced it intends to send all 2021 movies to both HBO Max and cinemas, the studio is now a lifeline for cinemas. The studio’s films – including “Little Things”, “Judas and the Black Messiah” and “Wonderful Woman 1984” – accounted for about 80 percent of domestic ticket sales over the weekend.
Private rental bookings help to modestly return filming. Family, friends and “pods” booked an entire theater. Warner Bros. said “Tom & Jerry” has already seen more than 10,000 such bookings.
___
Watch AP Film writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP