Hollywood movie studios suspend release of box office data after coronavirus slump

By Jazz Tangcay

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have returned home to Los Angeles after completing their coronavirus quarantine in Australia.

The Weeknd stuck to his original release date for his new project "After Hours," and it's paying off.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have returned home to Los Angeles after completing their coronavirus quarantine in Australia.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced new eligibility rules for the 2021 Golden Globes to reflect the ongoing effect the coronavirus outbreak has had on the film and TV industries. Over the past few months, many productions have been forced to shut down while several studios and networks have postponed the release of upcoming films and TV series. 

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

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.

By Anthony D'Alessandro

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.

Universal Music Group’s home offices in Santa Monica, Calif., were evacuated Friday after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. All staffers were directed to leave the buildings “in an orderly manner,” although the discovery was made toward the end of the day and a source tells Variety that most of the staff had either left or were already working from home.

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