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National Association of Theater Owners President and CEO John Fithian shares his thoughts on the future of the film industry in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Universal and Blumhouse’s horror comedy “Freaky” topped the box office this weekend, marking an impressive winning streak for studios amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The film stars Vince Vaughn as a serial killer who inadvertently swaps bodies with a young high school student. When the duo find out what happened to them, they embark on a psychopathic killing spree designed to frame the young girl inhabiting her former body for her crimes.
According to Deadline, “Freaky” landed $ 1.4 million on Saturday, putting it on track to earn around $ 4 million in its opening weekend (which includes Thursday night previews). The outlet notes that Universal is one of the only major studios to offer consistent content throughout the pandemic. In fact, “Freaky” gives the studio its third consecutive week at No.1 between “Freaky”, “Come Play” and “Let Him Go”.
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This image released by Universal Pictures shows Kathryn Newton, foreground, and Vince Vaughn in a scene from “Freaky.” (Brian Douglas / Universal Pictures via AP)
Meanwhile, Blumhouse, the studio arm behind horror comedy, now has two No. 1 opening films in 2020. However, the previous film, “The Invisible Man,” marks a much more impressive box-office victory. pre-pandemic office at $ 28.2 million. . In what the outlet reports is unusual for a comedy, “Freaky” received a certified fresh rating of 84% from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
While this is a startling figure in the pre-pandemic era, it is reinforced by the significant lack of new blockbusters that have led theaters across the country to go out of business until state and government restrictions can be lifted. and that new films can be marketed.
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Cineworld, the second-largest theater operator in the United States and owner of the Regal chain, announced in October that it would close almost all of its theaters in the United States and the United Kingdom in light of the coronavirus pandemic, not only forcing closures in some places, but pushing the release of major films to at least 2021.
Last week, the theater chain announced it would be closing the doors of its last remaining venues in New York and California.
Concession workers stock bins of popcorn and other goodies as the theater opens for some of the first screenings at the AMC Theater when it reopened for the first time since it closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thursday August. 20, (AP Photo / Keith Srakocic)
In a statement to Fox Business Wednesday, a spokesperson for Regal said: “In keeping with our previously announced strategy, Regal is temporarily suspending operations late Thursday in the rest of our theaters in New York State and California until the public health and operational environment permits the resumption of a full release list. This change affects a very limited number of our rooms, which we had kept open following the deferred approval of reopenings. rooms in their markets and in line with our wish to allow more of our customers to see “Tenet” on the big screen. “
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The lack of new releases not only has an impact on Regal. AMC Theaters, the nation’s largest exhibitor, recently said it could run out of cash by the end of the year if things don’t improve.
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