'Tenet' Crosses $300 Million at Global Box Office as Regal Cinemas Weighs Closures

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‘Tenet’ Crosses $300 Million at Global Box Office as Regal Cinemas Weighs Closures

by Jeremy Fuster | October 4, 2020 @ 9:50 AM

Theaters that reopened in August face tough decisions as box office collapses

Warner Bros.’ “Tenet” has passed $300 million at the global box office and $45 million domestically, grossing $2.7 million at U.S. theaters this weekend as Cineworld announces that it will close its U.K. locations and could close most of its Regal Cinemas locations in the U.S.

Overall, the global box office total for the Christopher Nolan thriller now stands at $307 million, with $14.2 million grossed globally. Japan was the top overseas market, providing $2.5 million, while France and Germany combined for $2.1 million. In Great Britain — which is now seeing theaters close nationwide thanks to a combination of surging COVID-19 infections and news that MGM was moving the release of the James Bond film “No Time to Die” to 2021 — “Tenet” added $804,000 to bring its cume in Nolan’s home country to just under $21 million.

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Also Read: Regal Owner Cineworld Considers Closing All Theaters in US and UK

The screen count for “Tenet” in the U.S. dropped slightly to 2,722 screens, but it remains to be seen how much the “No Time to Die” move will affect Warner’s hopes for theater reopenings in major cities. For theaters that reopened back in late August, hard decisions are coming as Disney/Pixar’s “Soul” remains the last major studio film slated for release in the next two months and is now expected to move as well following news of the possible Regal shutdown.

With popular content dwindling and Congress at an impasse over renewing federal aid, thousands of theaters, including many of Cineworld’s Regal Cinemas locations, are expected to drastically reduce their operating hours to reduce operating costs and possibly close again altogether. In a preview of what is ahead for those theaters, a re-release of the Halloween film “Hocus Pocus” nearly knocked “Tenet” off the top of the charts with $2 million grossed. Repertory screenings and small films from indie labels will be the only titles available to theaters for the foreseeable future.

Also Read: Cineworld CEO Calls Universal, AMC On-Demand Streaming Model 'A Wrong Move'

For theaters in cities like Los Angeles and New York that never got the chance to reopen, decisions will have to be made on whether it will be worth it to open their doors again on a full or reduced basis with “Tenet” as the only major offering, though signs of consistent turnout for “Tenet” in closure-adjacent markets like Orange County may be a point in Warner’s favor.

Elsewhere, a cluster of independent films are trying their luck in theaters starving for films to screen. Bleecker Street’s Sundance acquisition “Save Yourselves!” opened this weekend to $141,600 from 388 theaters for a per-theater average of $365. Focus’ “Kajillionaire” took in $100,000 in its second weekend from 547 theaters, while NEON’s “Possessor Uncut” grossed $227,500 from 320 theaters.

The Scene From TheWrap at Sundance (Photos)

Clare Burgess, Sharon Waxman, and Leonid Solovyev of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Leonid Solovyev and Clare Burgess of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
"Sergio" producer Daniel Dreifous, producer Joe Pichirallo, Dean of USC School of Cinematic Arts Elizabeth Daley at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Director Julie Taymor, composer Elliot Goldenthal, actor DW Moffett, and "The Glorias" producer Lynn Hendee at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow, "Disclosure" director Sam Feder and actor Harvey Guillén at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Panelists at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman with GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow, director Patricia Vidal Delgado, actor Harvey Guillén, actor Frankie Rodriguez and producer Taryn Arriola at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
Producer Paula Silver, Sharon Waxman and actor DW Moffett at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Jeremy Blacklow speaks at a panel at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
Rodriguez and Ariola at a panel at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
Panelists at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
Actor Harvey Guillén at TheWrap's panel at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
Panelists with Latinx House co-founder Monica Ramirez at the Latinx House at Sundance 2020.
Revolve Impact / Aly Honore & Claudia Torres
Toni Collette, Kelly Rowland and Yaani King Mondschein at TheWrap Studio at Sundance presented by Heineken
Glenn Close and Alec Baldwin at TheWrap Studio at Sundance presented by Heineken
"Spree" actor Joe Keery at TheWrap Studio at Sundance presented by Heineken
"Horse Girl" star Alison Brie signs a giant bottle for a charity auction at TheWrap Studio at Sundance presented by Heineken
Tara Miele and Sienna Mellier of "Wander Darkly" at TheWrap Studio at Sundance presented by Heineken
Guests at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Sharon Waxman, director Chris Miller, and Studios 101's Heather Phillips at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Attorney Steven Beer and guest at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Sharon Waxman at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Leonid Solovyev, Clare Burgess, Sharon Waxman, and Dean Daley at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Clare Burgess speaks at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Director Chris Miller and Studio 101's Heather Phillips attend a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
TheWrap's Sharon Waxman greets director Maïmoune Doucuré at a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
“The Dissident” director Bryan Fogel and friend attend a cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
"Sergio" producer Daniel Dreifous, "Disclosure" producer Amy Scholder, "Disclosure" director Sam Feder, and GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Clare Burgess, Sharon Waxman, and Leonid Solovyev of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation at TheWrap's cocktail reception at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
"Cuties" director Maïmoune Doucuré speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
"The Glorias" producer Lynn Hendee and actor DW Moffett at TheWrap's influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Producer Joe Pichirallo at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
"Disclosure" producer Amy Scholder and GLAAD's Anthony Ramos at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
DW Moffett at the annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Director Sam Feder speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
GLAAD's Anthony Ramos speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
"Sergio" producer Daniel Dreifous speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Leonid Solovyev speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Studios 101's James Allen speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Composer Elliot Goldenthal speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Dean Daley at TheWrap's influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Bryan Fogel speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Filmmaker Aviva Kempner speaks at TheWrap's annual influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Guests at TheWrap's influencer dinner at 710 Bodega in concurrence with Sundance 2020.
Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca