Warner Bros. Pictures announced on Wednesday that it has passed government approvals for a theatrical release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” in China at a date TBD.
Chinese cinemas reopened in regions at low risk for COVID-19 on July 20th, taking in $12.6 million in their opening weekend. Around 44% of the country’s cinemas are operating, but have been required to use only 30% of their regular capacity to allow for social distancing. In addition they have to reduce their total number of screenings to half their usual tally.
Guidelines for re-opening released by the National Film Bureau requested that cinemas not screen films that are over two hours long – which appeared to pose a potential problem for “Tenet” with its 151 minute runtime. However since then authorities have approved numerous films longer than two hours for nationwide theatrical release.
“Tenet” is now prepared to open in around 70 countries abroad starting on August 26th-27th including the U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea and Russia. It will hit select U.S. cities over Labor Day weekend from September 3rd.
China remains THE most important foreign market for Nolan’s films with “Interstellar” his top grosser there with $122 million from that market alone.
Source: Variety
