The box office is seeing a substantial decline in ticket sales due to the global concerns of COVID-19. Less people leaving their homes, combined with theater chains limiting their individual theater capacity, resulted in ticket sales reaching their lowest levels in 20 years. This weekend in North America alone, ticket sales accounted for just $55 million at the box office.
Increasing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus epidemic has resulted in most overseas theaters closing their doors. Over in North America, the majority of theaters have remained opened for business. The two largest cinema chains, AMC Theaters and Regal Cinemas, have been filling their seats to 50% capacity in order to provide adequate spacing for moviegoers. Both chains have pledged to clean their theaters in between showings.
“Onward” finished in first place at the box office this weekend, but dropped a massive 73% since last weekend’s opening of $40 million. “Onward” brought in $10.5 million, which increased its domestic total to $61 million. Overseas, the film brought in $6.8 million, which increased its overseas box office total to $41 million. “Onward’s” worldwide box office total is currently sitting at $102 million.
“The Call Of The Wild” finished in eighth place and brought in $2 million for Disney. So far, “The Call Of The Wild” has made $62 million domestically and $45 million internationally, bringing its worldwide box office total to $107 million.
Several highly anticipated movies, “A Quiet Place Part 2”, “Mulan” and “No Time To Die”, were supposed to open in the coming weeks, but had their release dates put on hold. “Black Widow” is still scheduled to open on May 1st, but that can change in the coming days or weeks.
