‘The Batman' $128M+ Opening Reps Warner Bros' Biggest During Pandemic Era, Best Debut For Matt Reeves
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Loading... - Sara Wright
- 07 Mar 2022
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In another clear sign that moviegoing is alive and well despite ceasing during the pandemic, Warner Bros.’ The Batman is delivering the second-best opening since 2019. That’s after Spider-Man: No Way Home with $128.5M after a $43.2M Saturday, which was -24% against the pic’s opening Friday+previews. Around the globe, Batman made $248.5M. There’s a very good chance by tomorrow AM that Batman could rise beyond $130M.
With an overseas take of $120M, Batman is the biggest international Industry opening this year to date, and the biggest WB opening weekend since Joker, and the studio’s best pandemic era foreign debut, sans China.
Batman is easily the best opening for Warner Bros. during the pandemic, the best opening for filmmaker Matt Reeves ahead of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ($73M domestic, $104.3M WW), and, as of right now, the best domestic opening for 2022. Batman‘s opening further underscores the value in a big theatrical opening, and that there is no upside in going theatrical day-and-date, which is a recipe for eroding revenues, and certainly doesn’t do any favors for propping any hardworking filmmaker or talent’s career. Where is the glory in hiding streaming figures?!
As Discovery Communications is set to merge with WarnerMedia as early as next month, the success here of Batman should serve as a reminder to CEO David Zaslav as to how theatrical continues to work vibrantly for the studio, and how executives like Chairman Motion Picture Group Boss Toby Emmerich and DC President Walter Hamada are instrumental for the momentum of the studio’s success as the pandemic eases and moviegoing re-surges.
There’s been word around town that Zaslav is bound to make staff cuts at the new merger; even talk of some new overall conglom head. However, Zaslav should be cognizant that when it ain’t broke, you don’t fix it. Let’s keep the Warner Bros.’ theatrical machine going, as it sets the table for other spinoffs, such as Reeves’ upcoming Penguin series, to make waves on streaming service HBO Max. Read More…
