Movie Theater Analysts See Strong Box Office Rebound In 2022, Uptick In 2023 As Consumer Poll Shows Covid-19 Concerns Dissipating

SATURDAY AM UPDATE: Though the numbers aren’t as big as their opening weekends, an interesting tale continues at the weekend box office during the pandemic with New Line’s Mortal Kombat and Funimation/Aniplex’s Demon Slayer bound for a photo-finish of $6.1M each in their second weekends. Really, it’s too close to call No. 1 right now.

Giant-screen exhibitor Imax posted higher first-quarter revenues as it was lifted by a recovery in the Asian box office. The company, led by CEO Richard Gelfond, reduced its loss attributable to shareholders to $14.8 million, compared with a loss of $49.4 million last year when Imax was hit hard by movie theater closures during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Imax’s first-quarter results showed signs of the movie industry’s rebound from the depths of Covid-19 a year ago, and the numbers met Wall Street analysts’ expectations.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaThe coronavirus pandemic continued to be a drag on IMAX’s earnings during the first quarter, but there were signs that a box office revival in Asia could foreshadow a moviegoing return in the U.S. and other markets.

Yahoo Finance. Comcast reported adjusted EPS of 76 cents on $27.2 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 31.In other good news, Comcast reported that its young streaming service Peacock has now hit 42 million sign-ups in its first quarter as home to “The Office” and WWE Network programming.“We are off to a great start in 2021.

Fox has given a series order to hourlong pilot The Big Leap, starring Scott Foley, Teri Polo and Piper Perabo, from Liz Heldens, Jason Winer, Sue Naegle, 20th Television and Fox Entertainment.

Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham's reunion crime flick Wrath of Man is headed to China. The MGM-produced movie will open in the world's largest theatrical market on May 10, three days after its North American opening.

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The Will Rogers Pioneers Assistance Fund has launched “Big Screens Big Hearts,” a fundraising campaign to benefit movie theater workers, more than 100,000 of whom have been affected by theater closures during the pandemic. More than half of the closures were family or community owned and operated theaters, and many may never reopen.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefNew release title “Recalled” injected a little excitement into the South Korean box office over the weekend, deposing last week’s winner “Seobok.” But the nationwide aggregate remained moribund.The indie film is a mystery thriller that features a woman suffering from disturbing visions of accidents, post traumatic stress and her fight to find the truth despite the partially-remembered images.

Reflecting the pent-up demand to see new movies on the big screen, the weekend box office saw a spirited — and unexpected battle — between Mortal Kombat and Japanese anime pic Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train. Warner Bros.' Mortal Kombat topped the North American chart with $22.5 million from 3,073 locations, while Aniplex and Fumination's Demon Slayer followed with an estimated $19.5 million from 1,605 sites.

Refresh for latest…: Warner Bros/Legendary’s Godzilla Vs Kong has reached a new global benchmark, crossing $400M with a cume through Sunday of $406.6M worldwide. Of that, $320M comes from the international box office in 41 markets. The monster mash, already the biggest Hollywood movie of the pandemic era, continues to track above its Monsterverse predecessors. It is the highest-grossing of the films in China, Russia, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mexico.

NEW YORK -- The weekend at movie theaters featured something not seen for a while: a genuine box-office battle.Warner Bros.' “Mortal Kombat” reboot and the Japanese anime film “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train” both vied for the top spot at the North American box office, with “Mortal Kombat” narrowly edging “Demon Slayer." The R-rated “Mortal Kombat” earned an estimated $22.5 million, according to studio estimates, while Funimation's “Demon Slayer” grossed $19.5 million.The two releases fueled the best

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterFor the first time since the pandemic struck, not one, but two movies brought in notable ticket sales at the domestic box office. It’s the clearest indication yet that people appear ready to return to the movies after nearly a year of staying home to stream.“Mortal Kombat,” a martial arts-inspired adaptation of the popular video game, led U.S.

But Funimation’s “Demon Slayer — The Movie: Mugen Train” hit an important milestone as well with its $20 million U.S. opening.

SATURDAY AM UPDATE: Refresh for more analysis Wow, it’s a great weekend at the box office, even by pre-pandemic standards. Two movies, both R-rated and aimed fanboys, aren’t squashing one another, but equally set to gross over $19M apiece this weekend.

The Small Business Administration will reopen applications on Saturday for distressed movie theaters, legit playhouses and other live event venues to apply for Covid-19 relief grants.

The closure of Pacific Theatres and ArcLight may have sounded alarm bells over the dire state of exhibition due to the coronavirus pandemic, but theater owners are especially frustrated, anxious and unnerved that a signature government lifeline so far has struggled to get up and running.

The beloved Los Angeles-based movie theater chains ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres are now permanently closed and will no longer reopen amid the pandemic.

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