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Italy Closes Theaters Due to Coronavirus, Box Office Suffers

Photo by Bethany Beck on Unsplash

Italy Closes Theaters Due to Coronavirus, Box Office Suffers

By Allyson Vannatta, Staff Writer

Italy joined China over the weekend and shut all theater doors due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus, causing ticket sales and the box office to plummet.

The Italian government decreed that all theaters, museums, shows and cultural sites, be shut down, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The decree comes on the heels of a quarantine measure in Northern Italy, the region hardest hit by the virus.

Along with the above mentioned, restaurants, bars, sporting events, discos, and bingo halls are all shut down. If a restaurant or bar is able to stay open, people are told to stay at least 3 feet away from one another in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Italy is second to China with the spread of the virus, with more than 7,300 confirmed cases, and 366 deaths.

The total box office revenue reported from Italy from this last weekend (March 5-8) was a mere $503,000. This a 79 percent drop for week-on-week box office and a 95 percent drop from the same weekend last year, said the Hollywood Reporter.

Italian biopic HIDDEN AWAY topped the weekend box office with $104,000 while American movies THE GRUDGE and BAD BOYS FOR LIFE made $59,000 and $45,000 respectively.

Related: Would the Coronavirus Stop You from Seeing a Movie?

The second-hardest hit nation in Europe, France, also released new restrictions on Sunday. Gatherings of more than 1,000 people are banned until April 15.

The international series festival, Series Mania, in Lille has not been canceled yet and is still set to take place March 20-29.

Many people have voiced concern about the popular Cannes Film Festival, expected to kick off May 12.

However, according to the Hollywood Reporter, “On Friday, Cannes sought to assuage concerns, insisting the festival would proceed as planned and will unveil its lineup April 16 as scheduled.”

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.