The timing of any rebound is uncertain, as debut dates could change. Hollywood executives have repeatedly shuffled their schedules as they try to judge when the pandemic will fade. Initial excitement over vaccines has been tempered by slow distribution. And audiences will have more choices to stream at home.
James Bond thriller “No Time to Die,” from MGM and Comcast Corp’s Universal Pictures, is scheduled for April. “Black Widow,” from Walt Disney Co’s Marvel Studios, and Universal’s new “Fast & Furious” installment are set for May. The theater business was buoyed by the turnout for “Wonder Woman 1984” over the Christmas holiday. While far short of a normal action movie debut, ticket sales for the movie from AT&T Inc’s Warner Bros. came in higher than expected, even though U.S. audiences could stream the film at home on HBO Max.
The performance of “Wonder Woman 1984” demonstrated an appetite for the big screen, B. Riley analyst Eric Wold said in a research note.“This helps support the thesis that when consumers are allowed back to theaters with attractive content, they will once again become moviegoers,” said Wold, who follows major chains including AMC Entertainment and Cinemark.