Winter Storm Affects Box Office as 15 States Declare Emergencies
The forceful winter storm sweeping across the nation has led to states of emergencies being declared in 15 states. This extreme weather has caused cinema closures, which in turn has affected the weekend revenue for many movies.
One of the movies that felt the impact is a dystopian-future thriller, which managed to rake in roughly $12.6 million over the weekend. This is despite the fact that a large number of cinemas were shut down, including all theaters in Oklahoma and several in the Midwest.
Winter Storm Vs. Box Office
The states that declared an emergency include Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, and Kansas. Furthermore, the governor of Texas announced a disaster declaration for 134 counties. Washington D.C. also declared a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, some other movies also felt the sting of the storm. Another film, now in its sixth weekend at the box office, managed to make $8 million at 3,150 theaters, bringing its total earnings to nearly $380 million. Another animated sequel made $6 million at 2,930 cinemas, crossing the $400 million mark domestically.
Another film, a sequel to a zombie movie, saw a significant drop of 70% in its earnings due to the storm, making $3.8 million at 3,506 sites. Its ten-day earnings are estimated to be around $20.9 million.
Storm Impact on Other Films
A drama film in its sixth weekend is estimated to have earned $4.7 million at 3,007 theaters, resulting in a total earning of $115.9 million. Despite the production cost of this movie being higher than initially reported, it is still considered a success.
Outside the top five grossers, a horror movie sequel screened at 1,850 locations brought in $1.6 million on Friday and is expected to earn $3.2 million over three days.
In contrast, a drama film in its wide release at 1,996 theaters is expected to earn around $600,000 on Friday and $1.8 million over the weekend, taking its total domestic earning to $17.4 million.
Dystopian Thriller Battles Winter Storm
This dystopian future thriller, which stars a popular actor, had a production budget of $60 million and managed to earn $1.5 million in previews on Thursday. However, the winter storm has threatened the movie's three-day outlook. Despite these challenges, the movie is expected to earn between $12 million and $15 million domestically, securing the top spot at the box office.
The film's story revolves around a detective accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge that he once supported before it decides his fate.
Despite the storm, the film has had an impressive release in various international markets. It debuted in Belgium and Indonesia on Wednesday, followed by screenings in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and the Middle East on Thursday. The film will also be released in the UK, Spain, Japan, and China, covering a total of 80 territories.
Other Films in the Fray
Also releasing this weekend is a horror movie sequel, which is expected to earn in the low to mid single digits at 1,830 theaters. The film follows a man who receives a mysterious letter from his lost love, leading him to a town now consumed by darkness. This film is the third installment in a popular horror film series.
Finally, an Oscar-nominated film is expanding from 718 theaters to 1,983. This period drama has so far earned $15.6 million domestically and well over $13 million internationally. The film is expected to perform exceptionally well at the global box office.
