With the coronavirus COVID-19 declared a global pandemic, Hollywood has begun to delay upcoming major releases. Unfortunately, it’s too late to move the three new films opening this week as well as the holdovers. How big will the bloodbath be as moviegoers avoid theaters, especially in California and New York? Its Pixar pedigree is unlikely to prevent Onward [ONWRD] from falling more than 50% this weekend to about $18 million.
Lionsgate targets Christians with the musical biopic I Still Believe [ISBLV]. With its appeal mainly in the heartland, I Still Believe may be able to gather $10 million from 3250 theaters.
The Hunt [THHNT] gets snake bitten twice. Universal pulled its original September release due to a mass shooting and President Trump’s tweet. Now the R-rated thriller lands in the mist of an outbreak. Braving in 3028 theaters, The Hunt may tally $8.5 million.
Vin Diesel toplines Bloodshot [BLDSH] based on a Valiant Comics superhero. The PG-13 rated film has such poor buzz that Sony is no longer producing additional films from its universe. Bloodshot may score $8 million from 2861 theaters.
With the outbreak in its sophomore session, The Way Back [HASBN] looks to drop 55% to $4 million.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): ONWRD, ISBLV, THHNT, BLDSH, HASBN