A QUIET PLACE PART II Leads Box Office Recovery Over Memorial Day Weekend
By Movieguide® Staff
The box office could be on the mend after posting a successful Memorial Day weekend.
The four-day weekend marked a bright spot for North American theaters, which earned almost $100 million in ticket sales, the highest number since the pandemic began.
Although the total revenue is far less than the $232 million made in 2019 over the same weekend, theater owners are encouraged by the numbers.
“Any studio executive’s belief that a movie belongs on streaming, that model is shattered with the numbers [from this weekend],” Joseph Masher, chief operating officer of Bow Tie Cinemas, told CNBC. “The profitability of [movies] is exclusive to the theater. We’ve proved it this weekend.”
The weekend saw John Krasinki’s A QUIET PLACE PART II take the top spot at the box office with $57 million. Krasinki insisted on a theatrical release for Paramount’s pro-family thriller. Although only 72% of theaters in the U.S. were open during the weekend, A QUIET PLACE PART II still posted impressive numbers.
“The demand for theatrical experiences has returned even as some movie theaters in the country continue to operate under certain restrictions,” JPMorgan analyst Alexia Quadrani said.
Despite the risk of a theatrical release, Krasinki’s insisted on releasing his movie only in cinemas.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Despite multiple studios and movies scrapping their plans for theatrical releases and head to streamers, Writer/Director John Krasinski stood firm that his movie, A QUIET PLACE PART II, would wait until theaters reopened.
“I always wanted it to come out in the theater,” Krasinski said. “We designed it pretty much exactly for this theater – this is beautiful, by the way. To me, there is no other way to see this movie and that’s how our entire team looked at it. When last year happened, I have to say Paramount was incredibly supportive of pushing for it. I’m sure there were moments they got nervous and started realizing – like everybody – that timeline kept going and going. I’ll also say when this year arrived and they originally had it in September, I said I will do September but if it’s looking OK for May, I want to do it. There was something emotionally for me that we were the last movie friend to leave and so I wanted to be your first movie friend back.”
Another major factor in the box office weekend’s success was Disney’s CRUELLA, which was released in theaters and on streaming. CRUELLA earned $27 million.
While many studios opted for a hybrid release on streaming and cinemas, Masher said that the weekend is proof that people want the theatrical experience.
“Sitting in the room with strangers, even post-pandemic, is something you can’t get someplace else,” Masher said. ”‘The Conjuring’ is coming this week. It will do well. ‘In the Heights’ is in two weeks. It will be available on streaming services as well. The studios are realizing that theater exclusive is the way to go.”
“We are back and not going anywhere,” Masher said.
CNBC reported:
In fact, while Disney will release “Black Widow” and “Jungle Cruise” in theaters and on Disney+ for $30, its September release “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” will be a theatrical exclusive.
Other major blockbuster releases coming this summer and fall include “F9,” “Dune,” “Snake Eyes,” “Free Guy,” “Eternals,” “The Green Knight,” “The Suicide Squad,” “Venom: Let there be Carnage,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “No Time To Die.”
Here is a portion of Movieguide®’s review for A QUIET PLACE PART II:
A QUIET PLACE PART II is the edge-of-your-seat sequel to the popular 2018 science fiction thriller. The opening shows what happened when the alien monsters first appeared in the small New York town where Lee and Evelyn Abbott were raising three children. Cut to 47 days later. Lee has died saving his family and their youngest son also died, but Evelyn has given birth to a fourth child. The family runs into a family friend, who goes after the daughter when she follows a musical signal leading to an island sanctuary just off the coast.
A QUIET PLACE PART II is a visceral, gripping, ultimately uplifting thriller that never lets up. PART II isn’t a didactic movie. The movie conveys its themes and messages by the action instead of the dialogue. As such, the movie sends a pro-life message that promotes family, parenthood and risking your life to save others from deadly, desperate situations. A QUIET PLACE PART II does, however, contain some brief foul language, violence and many scary moments. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children and other sensitive viewers.