By @HolocronJosh for @FilmCodex
Godzilla vs. Kong’ is heading to a pandemic record debut this holiday weekend. The film, which released in theaters and in HBO Max, earned $48.5 Million from Wednesday to Sunday. On Saturday alone, the latest chapter in the monster-verse franchise took in $11.6 million from 3,064 locations.
On these record domestic numbers, Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution Boss Jeff Goldstein stated:
“Monstrous results all across the United States. Audiences are excited to see movies in theaters on the big screen with big sound.”
Goldstein is right: audiences seem to be returning to movie theaters more and more each week, and even though Godzilla vs. Kong can be watched at home, there’s a definite appetite to experience it on the biggest screen possible.
These numbers are impressive for various reasons. For one, COVID-19 cases are rising in many states, an obstacle that could have proven to be too much for this film to have any sort of substantial numbers, yet one that ‘GvK’ overcame. And although LA and New York state theaters have reopened, they are at a limited capacity like most in the country, which could have hindered their box office results. Yet, Godzilla vs. Kong persevered, taking in a massive total that is sure to give studios hope for the future.
Abroad, the film had incredibly impressive numbers as well. From 38 international markets, Godzilla vs. Kong earned $123.1 million. In China alone, the film made $69.2 million. It also did well in Mexico, Australia, and Russia, earning $6.5 million, $6.3 million, and $5.9 million respectively. Again, the film was facing capacity restrictions overseas as well, yet it still managed to take in quite a bit of money.
Elsewhere, Bob Odenkirk’s ‘Nobody’ earned $2.78 million domestically to take its overall tally to $11.5 million. Sony’s horror film ‘The Unholy’, produced by Sam Raimi and starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, took in $2.755 million from 1,850 theaters. ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ made $800,000, and ‘Tom and Jerry’ rounded out the domestic top 5 with $500,000.
Stay tuned to Film Codex for next week’s box office numbers, as well as exclusive interviews, reviews, and more.
Images Courtesy of Warner Bros. and Legendary