Monday, November 11, 2024

Box Office Blues: “Avatar 2” and “Black Panther Wakanda Forever” Suck Up All the Air, Whitney Houston Beats Brad Pitt

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It was two nights before Christmas and not many people went to the movies.

Of course, really, the weather is terrible. A lot of people are snowed in, or too cold to go outside.

But still…

Last night, the only two movies that drew audiences were the equivalent of carnival rides: “Avatar 2” and “Black Panther 2.” They made millions and millions.

In the case of “Wakanda Forever,” however, the end is actually coming. The take last night was just $1 million. If the whole weekend is $3 million, then the party is coming to an end at $450 million. Sounds like a lot, but that’s $250 million short of the first episode.

Meantime, the two new releases of the week did pull a few fans. “Whitney Houston” beat Brad Pitt and an all star cast in “Babylon,” but they each cleared hurdles. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” hit $2 million including $750,000 from Thursday. “Babylon” did less well with $1.4 million including previews.

What’s going on? Lack of product from the studios, and marketing that’s turned away from getting people into theaters. Also, streaming is doing to movies what it already did to CD sales. It’s eating it from within. The digital revolution is just that. It’s sent everyone home.

Humbug.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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