After months of no theatrical releases due to the ongoing pandemic, a few big movies have finally arrived in theatres over this weekend. These films include names like Christopher Nolan’s thriller, ‘Tenet‘ and the X-Men spinoff, The New Mutants.
The most anticipated movie of the year, ‘Tenet’, opened with an estimated $53 million overseas in 41 countries, including Europe, South Korea and Canada. While many of Hollywood’s largest productions have postponed their release and others have preferred streaming platforms, Warner Bros. took the risk of releasing Tenet abroad first, and then in the U.S.
Given the limitations occurring due to the ongoing pandemic, it was difficult to forecast the performance of the $200 million Tenet, which stars big names like John David Washington, Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki. However, it is being said that the result has exceeded the expectations of most. Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Pictures Group has been quoted as saying, “Given the unprecedented circumstances of this global release we know we’re running a marathon, not a sprint, and look forward to long playability for this film globally for many weeks to come”.
In nine markets, including Ukraine and the Netherlands, Tenet did better than previous movies directed by Nolan. It was the largest opening yet in Saudi Arabia, which ended its ban on cinemas just two years ago. In the United Kingdom, Tenet accounted for 74% of ticket sales, Warner Bros. said.
“The strong international debut of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet is an emphatic statement that audiences around the world are ready to return to theatres where local guidelines allow,” said Rich Gelfond, chief executive of IMAX. The overseas opening for Tenet gives some hope that theatrical releases can be reinstated even during the pandemic. As part of safety protocols, movie theatres are mandating mask-wearing, cleaning cinemas in between showings and operating at 50% capacity to distance moviegoers usually crowded shoulder to shoulder.
Tenet will open this week in the U.S. and China. The U.S. has witnessed a considerably high number of Coronavirus cases for the last few months. About 60% of theatres are currently open.
