While film studios and exhibitors are hoping to coax moviegoers back into theaters by finally releasing movies like Christopher Nolan's TENET, the fact remains that the majority of audiences still aren't ready to return to cinemas. If you want proof, simply look at the domestic box office returns for TENET, which have the tentpole spectacle making just $6.7M during its second stateside weekend. If you want to point a finger, maybe swing that digit in the direction of New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, who at this time have yet to give theaters the green light to reopen.
Due to this grim reality, we're now hearing that Disney is thinking about weaving a different theatrical release date for Marvel's BLACK WIDOW. The superhero actioner was most recently expected to open in theaters on Nov. 6, but there's a good chance that could change. One date that's being floated as a potential replacement is Feb. 12, the day that Marvel's THE ETERNALS was supposed to open. Yeah, we're that far behind the curve. Damn you, COVID-19. You ruin everything!
There's also chatter about whether or not Pixar's next soul-crushing feature SOUL will go to Disney+. Word has it that there's no definitive answer for that just yet, so fans and theater owners will simply have to wait, I suppose. One problem with releasing SOUL on Disney+ is that data for the streamer's earnings is hard to come by. Take the DIsney+ release of MULAN for example. While the film grossed $37.6M overseas, and $23.2M from a No. 1 spot in China, we still don't know how the movie performed on Disney+. Without this information, it's difficult to say for sure whether releasing high-profile films on the platform has paid out for the House of Mouse.
Where are you at with returning to theaters as they stand today? Would you be willing to brave a community-viewing experience for BLACK WIDOW or SOUL? Let us know in the comments section down below.