With theaters in major markets like New York and Los Angeles still closed, the box office hit a historic new low this weekend.
The War With Grandpa, which was originally slated for release back in February 2018, topped the box office with just $3.6 million.
The debut was the lowest in 32 years, since Sigourney Weaver’s Gorrilas In the Mist debuted atop the box office with $3.45 million in September 1988 (via Forbes).
Box office: The War With Grandpa, which was originally slated for release back in February 2018, topped the box office with just $3.6 million
The film, starring Robert De Niro and Oakes Fegley, debuted in 2,250 theaters, for a paltry $1,603 per-screen average.
While the numbers are far, far below average in normal times where every theater would be open, in these times, where the many theaters that are open are at limited capacity, it could be seen as a decent opening.
Still, the low debut is indicative of how far the movie industry has fallen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Co-star: The film, starring Robert De Niro and Oakes Fegley, debuted in 2,250 theaters, for a paltry $1,603 per-screen average
The War With Grandpa was initially slated for release in February 2018 through The Weinstein Company, though the rights to the film were bought back from the producers after the sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
The film was picked up by 101 Studios, run by former Weinstein Company executive David Glasser.
The story, adapted from the Robert Kimmel Smith novel of the same name, follows a young boy (Oakes Fegley) who is forced out of his room with his grandfather (Robert De Niro) moves on.
Initial release: The War With Grandpa was initially slated for release in February 2018 through The Weinstein Company, though the rights to the film were bought back from the producers after the sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein
He devises a series of pranks to get him to move out so he can get his beloved room back at home.
The film also stars Uma Thurman and Rob Riggle as the boy’s parents, Cheech Marin, Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour.
For the first time in its six weeks in release, Tenet has been pushed down to the second spot at the box office with $2.1 million, a 22.2% drop from last weekend.
Cast: The film also stars Uma Thurman and Rob Riggle as the boy’s parents, Cheech Marin, Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour
That brings its domestic total to $48.3 million and its worldwide tally to $323.3 million.
The re-release of 1993’s Hocus Pocus continues to do well at the box office, arriving in third place with $1.1 million, bringing its domestic tally to $3.086 million in two weeks.
The top 10 is rounded out by The New Mutants ($685,000, $21.9 million domestic), Unhinged ($660,000, $19.3 million domestic), Infidel ($205,000, $3.8 million domestic), Possessor Uncut ($163,500, $529,855 domestic) newcomer Yellow Rose ($150,000), Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back ($145,000, $2.4 million domestic) and The Broken Hearts Gallery ($90,000, $3.9 million domestic).
Domestic: That brings its domestic total to $48.3 million and its worldwide tally to $323.3 million
Pranks: He devises a series of pranks to get him to move out so he can get his beloved room back at home