LOS ANGELES, April 26 — For 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 US box office charts, taking in a robust US$22.5 million (RM92.5 million) from 3,073 North American venues. The Warner Bros. movie is already available to watch at home, on the streaming service HBO Max, for a month — a strategy the studio is deploying for its entire 2021 slate.
Though the R-rated Mortal Kombat easily cinched first place, it had more competition than it may have expected heading into the weekend. In a not-so-distant second, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train earned a solid US$15.9 million from 1,598 locations. That number is slightly below estimations that suggested the movie could reach US$19.5 million over the weekend, but it’s an impressive haul nonetheless. The anime action adventure, from Funimation and Aniplex, has been a massive commercial hit in international markets such as Japan, where it currently ranks as the highest-grossing movie ever with US$365 million. In total, “Demon Slayer” has surpassed the US$400 million mark.
Box office analysts have been encouraged by the one-two punch of Mortal Kombat and Demon Slayer, especially since only 50 per cent of cinemas in the country have reopened. Multiplexes that have been able to welcome back patrons have been capping attendance in line with government guidelines. In Los Angeles, for example, that means 50 per cent capacity or 200 people. In New York, theaters will be able to operate at 33 per cent capacity starting on Monday.
“This weekend is another very good step,” said David A. Gross, who runs the movie consultancy FranchiseRe. “Moviegoing should start to normalize in early June.”
Overseas, Mortal Kombat collected US$6.3 million from 37 foreign territories, brings its international tally to US$27.6 million. The film, produced by New Line Cinemas for a modest US$55 million, has generated US$50 million globally to date.
Among other wide releases, Godzilla vs. Kong landed in third place with US$4.2 million from 2,856 venues. After four weeks in theaters, the Warner Bros. and Legendary monster mashup has amassed US$86.5 million. The film, which is available on HBO Max through the end of April, has surpassed US$400 million at the global box office. With those ticket sales, it has surpassed Christopher Nolan’s confusing sci-fi spectacle Tenet (US$363 million) as the highest-grossing Hollywood blockbuster since the pandemic hit.
“It’s evident that Godzilla vs. Kong is reigniting moviegoing everywhere and that audiences are more than ready to return to theaters, where and when it’s safe, for a big screen experience like this one,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution. — Reuters
