Box Office Fades To Black As Coronavirus Shuts Down 4K North American Theaters Into May: Where The Studios Stand & What’s Next?

BTS is putting the brakes on its upcoming tour of North America, which was to have kicked off in April.

In today’s film news roundup, box office reporting is going away temporarily, Hollywood Teamsters have job opportunities, comedy “The Incoherents” finds a home and Fathom Events postpones more than a dozen releases.

By Anthony D'Alessandro

LOS ANGELES — Movie studios Walt Disney and Universal Pictures said on Thursday they were suspending the release of box office data because of the closure of movie theaters in multiple countries in a bid to contain the coronavirus.

By Anthony D'Alessandro

Even under the best circumstances, Hollywood studios and exhibitors were concerned about how the 2020 box office would stack up in a year with decidedly less sure-fire hits. But now that movie theaters across the country have begun dimming their marquee lights for an indefinite period of time to help contain the spread of coronavirus, the industry is left with a confusing picture of when — and at what scale — Americans will return to multiplexes again.

Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark, studios pulled major tentpoles from their release calendar, and virtually all Hollywood movies and TV shows halted production as coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across North America.

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) — Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark, studios pulled major tentpoles from their release calendar, and virtually all Hollywood movies and TV shows halted production as coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across North America.

Moviegoing in the United States slowed dramatically over the weekend amid the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in box office revenue falling to a 20-year low, according to initial Sunday (March 15) estimates. An official tally won't be finalized until Monday, but revenue is expected to come in around $56 million

Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark, studios pulled major tentpoles from their release calendar, and virtually all Hollywood movies and TV shows halted production as coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across North America.

It comes after claims that the virus will cost the film industry $20 billion

Overall North American box office revenues are projected to fall 40% from last weekend as the coronavirus pandemic hits hard and health officials urge social distancing.

The shutdowns because of coronavirus continue, with Netflix, FX and Apple+ TV following many others.

As the coronavirus pandemic brings moviegoing to a halt in multiple countries, it’s slowing down attendance at North American multiplexes. 

Vin Diesel’s superhero movie “Bloodshot” launched respectably for Sony Pictures, with $1.2 million at 2,631 North American locations during Thursday night previews.

It seems that audiences in North America are not staying away from movie theaters amid virus concerns, according to the weekend’s box office numbers. "Onward," from Disney and Pixar, topped the charts as expected.

LOS ANGELES — Disney and Pixar’s Onward debuted this weekend to US$40 million, enough to lead box office charts but still a somewhat disappointing start given the studio’s near-flawless track record when it comes to animated fare. Internationally, the film brought in $28 million for a global tally of $68 million.

It seems that audiences in North America are not staying away from movie theaters amid virus concerns, according to the weekend’s box office numbers. "Onward," from Disney and Pixar, topped the charts as expected.