On Christmas Day, Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman 1984” was unveiled simultaneously in 2,151 theaters nationwide and on HBO Max. The experiment seems to have worked because, despite audiences having the opportunity to stay indoors and watch WW84 in the comfort of their own homes, millions decided to go to the movie theater instead.
Despite being available on streaming, “Wonder Woman 1984” managed the best box-office debut of the pandemic, opening with $16.7 million for Christmas weekend, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Warner Bros also revealed that nearly half of HBO Max subscribers watched the film on its first day on the streaming platform.
WW84 also grossed an additional $19.4 million overseas, where it began playing a week earlier. The global intake to date is that of $85 million. These international numbers may, at the end of the day, pale in comparison to Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” which, despite bombing in the States, was a resounding success in the rest of the world, accumulating an impressive $362,209,000 since its late August release.
Normally, a blockbuster sequel opening to only 16% of the original’s first weekend would be a disastrous outcome in a normal year, alas, what we have gone through these last 9 months is nothing close to normal. The paradigm has changed, the dynamics have risen to the point where studios are trying to build relations with streaming services and vice versa.
According to Comscore, 35% of all North American theaters are currently open.