OPENINGS: The Presidents Day weekend wide releases were Sundance titles seeking to take advantage of the expanded “2020” Oscar calendar, which includes films released through February 2021. Both would likely have been platformed releases in a non-pandemic marketplace, and remained niche in their appeal. JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (Warners, also on HBO Max) had by far the better reviews with 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it started with a $2M 3-day weekend at 1888 theatres ($2.4M projected through Monday), the lowest result of the Warner/HBO Max releases thus far. It’s worth noting that under that structure, the film will not be available on HBO Max when the Oscar nominations are announced on March 15, so if it scores there, its theatrical life may extend.
The critical reaction to LAND (Focus/Universal) was more subdued with 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it correspondingly sold less tickets with $940K through Sunday and a $1.1M 4-day weekend. Its release strategy is the reverse of Messiah‘s, as it will likely hit VOD at the beginning of March, in time for the Oscar nominations.
Meanwhile, the theatrical market has bounced all the way back in China (despite continued seating restrictions), where DETECTIVE CHINATOWN 3 (WandaVision, yes that’s really the studio name) opened to a spectacular, record-breaking $397M in 3 days.
HOLDOVERS: THE CROODS: A NEW AGE (DreamWorks Animation/Universal) may turn out to be the pandemic’s US box office champion. It continues to be the only family-friendly franchise release around, and in its 12th week it actually gained 21% to $2.M ($2.7M with Monday). Croods should cross $50M next week, and may well have the stamina to pass Tenet‘s $57.9M in the US. However, it won’t come close internationally, where Croods is at $102.5M, and Tenet is at a towering $305.2M.
THE LITTLE THINGS (Warners, also on HBO Max) dropped 11% in its 3rd weekend to $1.9M ($2.4M with Monday), and should reach $15-20M in the US. It also has $6.4M overseas.
WW84 (Warners) has ended its HBO Max window, and it jumped 44% to $1.3M in its 4th weekend (the studio did not release a 4-day number), with a chance of reaching $50M in the US. It has $115.2M overseas.
THE MARKSMAN (Open Road) climbed 15% to $1.1M in its 5th weekend ($1.3M with Monday), on its way to $15M in the US. It’s earned $3.2M overseas.
MONSTER HUNTER (Screen Gems/Sony) was up 11% to $650K ($750K with Monday) in its 9th weekend, headed for $15M in the US, and with $10.4M overseas.
NEXT WEEKEND: There are no wide releases scheduled for next week.
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