‘Impractical Jokers’ Surges To $6M In Expansion; ‘Wendy’, ‘Burden’ Struggle With Debuts – Specialty Box Office

By Dino-Ray Ramos

LOS ANGELES — Movie studios Walt Disney and Universal Pictures said on Thursday they were suspending the release of box office data because of the closure of movie theaters in multiple countries in a bid to contain the coronavirus.

The European box office took a major hit over the weekend, with cinemas in several major territories —including France, Spain and Italy—shut down entirely in response to the coronavirus epidemic and the ones still open playing to half-empty rooms. Revenue in the U.K.

Theatrical box office in South Korean capital, Seoul dipped to a 16-year low, as ticket sales have moved in inverse proportion to the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus rises. Exhibitors have turned to re-releases to try to entice audiences.

Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark, studios pulled major tentpoles from their release calendar, and virtually all Hollywood movies and TV shows halted production as coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across North America.

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) — Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark, studios pulled major tentpoles from their release calendar, and virtually all Hollywood movies and TV shows halted production as coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across North America.

The international box office has taken a major hit because movie theaters in China, Italy, South Korea and other areas heavily impacted by coronavirus have been entirely or partially closed for weeks.

By Dino-Ray Ramos

Much of public life in the United States essentially ground to a halt this week. In the entertainment world, theme parks shut down, Broadway went dark, studios pulled major tentpoles from their release calendar, and virtually all Hollywood movies and TV shows halted production as coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across North America.

As the coronavirus pandemic brings moviegoing to a halt in multiple countries, it’s slowing down attendance at North American multiplexes. 

By Dino-Ray Ramos

By Tom Grater

LOS ANGELES — Disney and Pixar’s Onward debuted this weekend to US$40 million, enough to lead box office charts but still a somewhat disappointing start given the studio’s near-flawless track record when it comes to animated fare. Internationally, the film brought in $28 million for a global tally of $68 million.

Disney and Pixar’s animated fantasy adventure “Onward” led international box office charts, but the rapid spread of coronavirus has impacted moviegoing overseas.

By Dino-Ray Ramos

China’s box office might have lost as much as RMB 1.5 billion ($214 million) in the first two months of this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, but a nationwide resumption of movie theaters and production is unlikely to happen any time soon.

When “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” opened earlier this month, it quickly fell to earth like a wounded dove. The hyped superhero flick earned just $33 million in the U.S. during its opening weekend, making it the worst opening for a DC film since 2010’s “Jonah Hex.”

A cheap ploy to wring some theatrical dollars out of a franchise that has already enjoyed vastly more success than any sane person would've predicted, Chris Henchy's Impractical Jokers: The Movie contrives a New York-to-Miami road trip on which the TV series' four buddies do exactly what they do on the small screen: Coach each other through hidden-camera stunts that leave innocent bystanders flummoxed and the Jokers in stitches.