‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ Adds $5.6 Million at Box Office as Los Angeles Theaters Prepare to Reopen

Jordan Moreau Indoor concerts, theaters and other private gatherings may start up again in California beginning on April 15, the state’s Department of Public Heath announced on Friday.However, to attend the reopened events, people will need to prove they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested for the virus.

Los Angeles on Tuesday was among eight counties approved to move from the Red to the less restrictive Orange tier within California’s reopening framework. Counties are able to implement changes the day after they qualify, but L.A. health officials are opting to keep the previous restrictions in place until Monday, 4/5 out of an abundance of caution.

Los Angeles was among 13 counties approved for less restrictive tiers within California’s reopening framework on Tuesday. The regions have a combined population of more than 17 million residents. L.A. and Orange Counties were among the eight regions progressing to the Orange tier.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterThe pandemic isn’t over yet, but the picture of moviegoing in Los Angeles is looking brighter.The country’s most populous county is moving into California’s orange tier, the third step in the state’s reopening plan, on Tuesday.

Also Read: L.A. Mayor Garcetti Downplays Threat of Another COVID-19 Surge: 'It's Time to Get Our Economy Started' (Video)While the majority of California counties remain in the second tier of reopening, more of the state’s largest box office markets are entering the third tier.

Bob Odenkirk's new action revenge-thriller Nobody was a somebody at the weekend box office, opening to a pleasing $6.7 million domestically as more theaters in Los Angeles and the rest of West Coast reopen.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterWith coronavirus cases declining as the distribution of vaccinations increase, moviegoing in Los Angles appears ready to rebound.

The Los Angeles Times received a Paycheck Protection Program loan for $10 million as advertising plunged due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterDisney’s animated adventure “Raya and the Last Dragon” led the domestic box office in its third weekend, illustrating the appeal of family films as Hollywood attempts to mount a moviegoing revival.“Raya and the Last Dragon” collected $5.2 million from 2,261 theaters through Sunday, representing a scant 5% decline. Disney can thank the reopening of Los Angeles movie theaters for the stellar hold in ticket sales.

Raya and the Last Dragon is still huge!

Despite a weaker-than-expected opening, Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” is showing great endurance at the box office, adding another $5.2 million from 2,261 locations in its third weekend as theaters in Los Angeles reopen to continue the film industry’s gradual recovery.Through three weekends, the animated Disney film has taken in $23.4 million in North America and $71.2 million worldwide even as it has released as a premium on-demand title on Disney+.

SATURDAY AM Update: Even though 37% of the entire Los Angeles theatrical market is back online, it was enough to propel the DMA to the top weekend spot on Friday with $427,2K, repping a +1,100% jump from the same period a week ago. Los Angeles will feasibly be the No. 1 box office market this weekend, besting New York with well over $1M.

Los Angeles and Orange counties could be reopening even further in two weeks, with Disneyland and other theme parks in the region allowed to open at 25% capacity instead of 15%, movie theaters going from the current 25% to 50% capacity and restaurants doing likewise for indoor dining.

EXCLUSIVE: “That’s the first time I’ve seen the movie in a movie theater; I get chills,” beamed filmmaker Eddie Huang tonight watching his feature directorial Boogie at the AMC Century City 15.

Saturday AM Update: There’s lots of good news ahead at the box office, but we’re not quite there yet.

Los Angeles County will officially move into the state’s less-restrictive “Red” tier Monday, with the state achieving a milestone of 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in hard-hit communities and triggering an easing of requirements for counties to advance in Governor Gavin Newsom’s economic-reopening blueprint.

Los Angeles movie theaters have been cleared to reopen next week, although capacity will limited at 25 percent. The county's department of Public health said on Thursday that cinemas, along with certain other businesses, will be allowed to once again welcome customers in the coming days.