The State of Movies

 

Since the beginning of August, moviegoers have been waiting to see films return. Beginning in the middle of March, theaters across the country shut down due to the pandemic. That led to many of the most anticipated films of the year being delayed, and yet several of them were re-scheduled to this Fall. We started to get our first new releases in August, with our first blockbuster Labor Day Weekend.

"Unhinged," "New Mutants," and "Tenet" have all opened in theaters and so far, the results aren't promising. Now, as we head toward October, we're again seeing major film releases delayed, further casting doubt on the state of theaters and movies in 2020.

Last week "Wonder Woman: 1984" and "Candyman" were delayed. "Wonder Woman: 1984" was to open on October 2, but now it's pushed to Christmas Day. But will it open then? No telling. Even the more modest disaster film "Greenland" has delayed. And now there are rumblings that Disney will delay its two November releases, "Black Widow" and the Pixar film "Soul," and the final installment of Daniel Craig as James Bond, "Die Another Day," is also looking at pushing off. That could well mean that the state of the theater won't improve much, if at all, the rest of 2020.

While it's frustrating, it's not hard to wonder why looking at the Box Office. "Tenet," from Christopher Nolan is a much-anticipated film that cost plenty to make and market. Last weekend, its second in release, it made $6.7 million, for a domestic total of $29.7 million. For a film like that prior to the pandemic, $30 million would have been an average weekend day.

"New Mutants," the last of the X-Men film made by FOX before it was sold to Disney, was released on August 28. It didn't get great reviews, but it doesn't have much competition. Last week it was the second highest grossing film at the Box Office, pulling in $2.1 million. In three weeks in release, it's made just $15.3 million.

And what about "Unhinged," starring Russell Crowe. Granted, it didn't look like a great film, and it isn't. And yet, it has a bankable star and was the only real new film released when it debuted in early August. It was the third highest grossing film of the weekend at $1.5 million. It's made just $13.8 million in five weeks in releases.

Theaters in much of California and New York still aren't open. Theaters in other parts of the country have greatly reduced seating capacity and show times, and then there's the question of demand. As someone who has returned to the theater a half dozen times since it re-opened, I can tell you even the seats that are available aren't being fully used. And that may well be the case into next year.

So for these big blockbusters, the studios aren't willing to take the risk. Some have released films straight to on demand, and that may continue. Others are waiting until there are more big screen options. "Tenet" was viewed as a big swing and big gamble that would portend the rest of the cinematic year in 2020. That's proving to be true, just unfortunately not the way some of us had hoped.

And we're getting to the point where it's fair to wonder just how many theaters will be left when, or if, things get back to normal.