Wretched is the First Pandemic Box Office Hit
May 20, 2020
We are still adjusting to the new normal when it comes to the weekend box office, and determining what the difference is between a hit and a miss under the circumstances. We can say with a lot of confidence that The Wretched is a hit, as the film has earned just over $300,000 in three weeks, including $91,975 in 21 drive-in theaters this past weekend. This would be a good run for a horror film in limited release under normal circumstances. How to Build a Girl saw its weekend box office and its theater average rise with $32,052 in 9 theaters during its second weekend in theaters for a two-week total of $51,854. This is a disappointment for a limited release, but a strong showing given the Covid-19 outbreak. Additionally, the healthy growth during its second weekend of release could be a sign that films will have longer legs as a result of the pandemic. That’s something to keep in mind in the future.
While it is difficult to determine what is a hit and what is a miss for a film playing in drive-in theaters, we have even less historical data to use as a comparison when it comes to virtual theaters. That said, I think it is safe to say Alice bombed, as it only managed $5,000 in 58 virtual theaters. Its theater average of $86 is minuscule, even under these circumstances.
Filed under: Weekend Wrap-up, How to Build a Girl, The Wretched, Alice