Dune brings WarnerMedia best Box Office Opening to-date

 Dune has surged ahead of Godzilla vs Kong to give WarnerMedia it's best domestic opening of the pandemic era. This is despite it being available on streaming through HBO Max, too. We turned to an entertainment attorney with Blake & Wang P.A, Brandon Blake, for more details.

 

Dune brings WarnerMedia best Box Office Opening to-date
                                                               Brandon Blake

It isn’t hyperbole to say that Dune has been one of the most anticipated 2021 releases. Nor that the hybrid release schedule WarnerMedia created for it did not sit well with the director, who has been a loud supporter of big-screen releases. 

 

While WarnerMedia has backtracked in its approach to cinematic releases a lot this year, Dune still saw a simultaneous release across platforms. It was estimated to pull in between $30M-35M and has triumphed at around $41M. Projections are that that could have reached about 20% higher had it not also been available on streaming. This adds nicely to its $130M gross internationally. In China, where it also opened this weekend, we see $21.6M in takings. Global cumulative gross sits in the region of $221M currently.

 

The sheer scope and visual craft of Villeneuve's Dune lend itself well to epic screen size, possibly why IMAX has accounted for $9M of total sales. It also suggests that no matter how tempting and easy streaming is, audiences will seek out a theatrical experience, at least for a film that so suits it. It seems the ‘easy way out is not the only consideration for viewers. We see this echoed by Halloween Kills, which also saw a solid launch despite immediate streaming on Peacock. A 60% second-weekend decline is projected for the picture, but that’s unlikely to sour what can definitely be seen as a Box Office victory. 

 

WarnerMedia isn’t the only company to see a surprising return to theaters despite the ease and convenience of streaming, nor will they be the last. As always, we will keep you informed of further developments.

 

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