Overview of the business for the week of August 17th

 Our Popcorn Previews video feature highlights Unhinged, the thriller starring Russell Crowe that will open in US theatres on Friday 8/21.  This marks the beginning of the much-anticipated flow of new releases from Hollywood studios and distributors.



Our Industry News Summary begins with an article on the restart of filming for Universal's upcoming blockbuster, Jurassic World: Dominion. We offer a perspective on the career of the Sumner Redstone and his impact on the film and entertainment industry. We survey the plans announced last week by major US theatre circuits for re-opening, including a number of clever marketing promotions to entice movie-goers back to their theatres. We also report on NATO's efforts to enlist exhibitor support in implementing standards for health and hygiene at theatres in order to reassure the public and health authorities.  



This week, at last, we re-introduce weekend box office reporting from our partners at Comscore. While these numbers are incomplete, covering only certain titles and studios, it is encouraging to see Comscore's reporting on actual ticket sales.



Gower Street measures the pace of theatre re-opening across the US, with over 1,200 North American theatres now having re-opened, representing approximately 22% of physical theatre locations and 15% of the historical box office. Many more theatres have scheduled their re-opening over the next two weeks, including  most locations operated by the major circuits.

In the The Hollywood Report, Martin Grove handicaps the box office prospects for wide openers over the next three weeks, beginning with Unhinged on Friday 8/21.



We conclude with our regular film data tables. The Weekly Film Calendar provides detail on film releases through October, followed by a table showing wide-release films scheduled for the next 6 months, the latest studio release changes, film ratings announcements from the MPAA and important new trailers released last week.