Warner Bros.’ new CG-heavy monster mash-up, Godzilla vs. Kong, has managed to rake in an admirable sum of money in theaters despite being released in the middle of a pandemic. According to Variety’s coverage, the movie made $9.6 million on opening day, which is pretty impressive since the film only debuted in 2,409 venues that were running at reduced capacity. Godzilla vs. Kong’s early performance seems to suggest that plenty of moviegoers are still interested in a big-screen theatrical experience, as the film is also available to stream via HBO Max.
So people still go to see movies in theaters even when available at no extra cost on a streaming platform at home (@hbomax)
— Rich Greenfield, LightShed (@RichLightShed) April 1, 2021
🤔🤔🤔 looks like Hollywood can learn from @wbpictures @jasonkilar https://t.co/t7zf3TwbDX
Godzilla vs. Kong was initially expected to gross north of $20 million over the extended weekend, but at this pace, it currently looks to smash that benchmark. The film — which cost $165 million to produce — secured an “A” CinemaScore from audiences, a reception that could bode well for its big-screen run.
The movie premiered simultaneously on HBO Max, though it’s unclear how many subscribers have opted to watch it. The streaming service, owned by WarnerMedia, hasn’t yet launched internationally.
Source: Variety