In a limited release in the United States, Wonder Woman 1984 managed to capture $5.5 million in earnings during the New Year’s holiday. This superhero sequel, appearing in just 2,151 locations, also collected an additional $10.1 million from international markets, resulting in a global tally of $118.5 million. Despite facing several delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers can be considered relatively decent in light of the current state of the film industry. It is important to note, however, that there was a significant 67% decrease in domestic earnings compared to previous blockbuster movies unaffected by the pandemic.
Wonder Woman 1984 has set a pandemic record by pulling in $5.5 million during the New Year’s holiday, despite being shown in only 2,151 locations across the US. In total, the superhero sequel has earned $28.5 million in the country. While there has been some criticism on social media comparing it to its beloved predecessor, the film’s simultaneous release on HBO Max aims to support the streaming service and accommodate the global health crisis that has greatly affected theatrical distribution. Although WarnerMedia has shared vague numbers highlighting the movie’s popularity on HBO Max, they have not provided concrete data. However, the announcement of a third film in the franchise, with both Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins returning, suggests that the company sees Wonder Woman as a crucial part of its plans to expand the DC cinematic universe.
The follow-up film also captured an additional $10.1 million from international box offices, propelling its overall worldwide earnings to $118.5 million.
Wonder Woman 1984 has emerged as the most successful theatrical release during the pandemic. Despite falling short of the original Wonder Woman film’s opening of over $100 million, Warner Bros. still considers it a triumph, especially considering that only 35 percent of cinemas in the U.S. are currently open. Variety reports that a majority of ticket sales in the U.S. have come from private watch parties, where customers can rent out screening rooms at cinema chains for approximately $100 per session. Prior to the pandemic, projections estimated that the sequel, with a production cost of around $200 million, would reach close to $1 billion in box office earnings. However, current estimations project that it will make about $180 million, as reported by the outlet last weekend.
Exciting news has been announced for fans of Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins! They will be joining forces once again for a third film in the franchise, indicating that the iconic Amazonian warrior, Wonder Woman, is a crucial part of the plans to expand the DC cinematic universe.
But that’s not all! Another film that has been making waves is Universal and Dreamworks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age. In its sixth week of release, it raked in $2.2 million, contributing to its substantial domestic earnings of $34.5 million and a global total of nearly $115 million.
What’s interesting is that this movie is part of a special arrangement between the studio and major exhibitors like AMC and Cinemark. Under this agreement, films can be released both in theaters and through premium video on-demand services just two weeks after their theatrical debut. In exchange, struggling theater chains receive a portion of the digital revenue, providing some much-needed support in these challenging times.
Notably, Universal recently brought us the western film News of the World, which brings together the talented duo of Tom Hanks and director Paul Greengrass, known for their collaboration in Captain Philips.
Times have certainly seen a shift: Although not a catastrophic figure considering the immense impact of the coronavirus on the movie industry, it does signify a significant 67% decline domestically, a far cry from the profits of blockbuster films in the pre-pandemic era.
With its latest earnings of $1.7 million, the film has now accumulated a total of $5.4 million within the domestic market. The international rights to the movie were acquired by Netflix during the winter season. Tom Hanks plays the lead role as a Civil War veteran who embarks on a mission to return a young girl, who was taken by natives, to her remaining family.
In its third weekend since its release, Lionsgate’s psychological thriller Fatale, featuring Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy, managed to bring in $700,000. This brings the film’s overall earnings to $3.1 million.
Promising Young Woman, distributed by Focus and a part of Universal’s agreement with theaters, brought in $660,000 during its second weekend, joining the ranks of News of the World and The Croods sequel in this arrangement.
Moving forward: Going past ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ ‘The Croods: A New Age,’ produced by Universal and Dreamworks Animation, generated a remarkable $2.2 million during its sixth week playing in theaters.
The film Promising Young Woman has captivated audiences with its thought-provoking exploration of sexual violence and vengeance, and it has been generating significant buzz. The outstanding performance by Carey Mulligan has been receiving considerable attention and may lead to awards recognition.
Meanwhile, Disney and Pixar’s Soul was released on Disney Plus during the holiday season. Although it was primarily available for streaming, it was also screened in theaters in various international markets including China, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. This heartwarming animated tale follows a middle school music teacher who experiences a separation of his soul from his body. In its second weekend, Soul achieved an impressive box office success, earning $16.5 million and bringing its total earnings to $32.5 million.