Summer box office excitement with ‘Avatar,’ Spider-Man, and Star Wars
“Rogue One,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar” will be rereleased in domestic theaters in the coming weeks by Disney and Sony Pictures.
There are rereleases occurring as the box office ticket sales are down 30% compared to 2019 and there is a 30% reduction in the number of movies playing in theaters.
Additionally, Disney and Sony are promoting upcoming projects through their appearances in cinemas, which are part of a wider marketing strategy.
Summer Box Office Excitement With ‘avatar,’ Spider-man, And Star Wars
It is only a matter of time before Spider-Man, the Na’vi, and a ragtag group of galactic rebels make their way back to theaters at the end of the summer.
It is expected that Disney will release the Star Wars prequel “Rogue One” and “Avatar” in domestic theaters in the coming weeks, whereas Sony will release a beefed-up version of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in mid-February.
As a matter of fact, rereleases are nothing new to the industry, especially when it comes to major anniversary milestones for popular and iconic films.
However, according to data from Comscore, 90% of these showings are booked through Fathom Events and not by the studios themselves.
As a joint venture between AMC, Regal, and Cinemark, Fathom brings back legacy titles to cinemas for limited engagements on a regular basis.
Disney and Sony’s rereleases come at a time when box office ticket sales are down 30% compared to 2019, and there have been 30% fewer movies released in theaters versus last year.
In the coming weeks, there are a few prominent films that will be released over the next few weeks.
There will be Universal and Blumhouse’s “Halloween Ends” on Oct. 14 and Warner Bros.’ “Black Adam” on Oct. 21.
Disney and Sony not only have space on their calendar to place these films in cinemas, but their appearances are also part of a wider strategy, especially for Disney, to promote upcoming theatrical and streaming debuts of these films.
“Rogue One,” a Star Wars solo film that first arrived in theaters in 2016, is set to be released once again in theaters on Aug. 26, one month before its spin-off series “Andor” debuts on Disney+.
It will be accompanied by an exclusive look at the upcoming series, and the film will only be available in IMAX theaters.
The film “Spider-Man: No Way Home – The More Fun Stuff,” a collaboration between Sony Pictures and Disney’s Marvel Studios, is scheduled for release on Sept. 2 just in time to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Spider-Man comics and the 20th anniversary of Spider-Man films.
In the updated version, there are several scenes that have been added and extended.
After 13 years, “Avatar” returns to domestic theaters on Sept. 23, three months before its sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” debuts, and three months after its first run on the big screen.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst with ComScore, a re-release of a specific title can serve ostensibly as a two-hour infomercial to remind audiences of the upcoming latest installment of a particular film franchise, or TV series, that is to be released shortly,” he said.
It is also important to keep in mind that special releases can be beneficial to theaters by providing them with much-needed filmed content during a slower release period.
The film “Avatar”, in particular, is considered one of the most significant upcoming releases, according to Shawn Robbins, the chief media analyst at BoxOffice.com. As a result, we may be able to get an early indication of how the anticipation for ‘The Way of Water stands.’
Robbins pointed out that another important aspect of the project is the focus on IMAX. During the past year, movie theater operators have reported that guests have been opting for premium formats far more than they did before the pandemic hit the country. IMAX, Dolby, 3D, and other immersive seating experiences and panoramic screens are examples of this, as are IMAX, Dolby, and other experiences.
“These formats continue to play an important role in the exhibition industry’s present and future, and once a movie leaves a theater, there is really no chance to ever experience it again in that format,” Robbins stated.
In addition, operators have observed that customers spend much more on food and drinks once they are in a theater, as well as on the tickets themselves.
According to Dergarabedian, it is a win-win situation for both studios and movie theaters.