Following the rather desolate box-office last weekend, the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend could surprise in a few ways as it’s not clear what the Top 10 is going to look like.
For starters, studios are using the lack of new releases to promote multiple re-releases currently in cinemas. The upcoming extended cut of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” will open and is getting a big push from Sony with a release in over 3,850 theaters.
The film could perceivably take the top spot again as the only new release, church satire “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul,” is debuting day-and-date on Peacock and isn’t expected to open high. Last week’s top earner, “The Invitation,” is expected to drop to $2-3 million.
Spidey isn’t the only big re-release this weekend. Steven Spielberg’s 1975 shark thriller “Jaws” is coming back to cinemas across more than 1,200 screens for the holiday.
In addition, theater owners have also been busy booking re-release screenings of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” following it taking $1 million from 255 screens last weekend. Spielberg’s “E.T.” re-release, which hit just 95 cinemas last weekend, is also expected to go wider.
“Top Gun: Maverick” continues to power along with the movie’s PVOD availability not impacting its box-office earnings. In fact, Paramount will expand the film to 3,105 theaters by Friday.
Then there’s the other big wrinkle – National Cinema Day. This Saturday, September 3rd, will see movie tickets in the majority of North American theaters (including all AMC and Regal theaters) drop to just $3 – one third of the nation’s average $9 ticket price.
The major discount day is being done in an effort to populate multiplexes during the dog days of summer, and the lure of seeing a film like “Jaws” or “Rogue One” again on the big screen for just $3 each could prove a big draw.
Source: Variety
