The New Mutants has not only finally dropped after countless delays and behind the scenes issues, it is also the first major studio-backed film to get a theatrical release since theaters closed around the country. While it has not quite hit the ticket sales Disney expected, the movie currently boasts an impressive $7 million dollar opening weekend, making it the biggest debut so far in a post-Covid landscape.
For the longest time it seemed as though The New Mutants might not hit theaters at all, with Disney choosing to take projects like Mulan over to Disney+ instead of holding out for a cinematic release. Once news broke that a VOD release wasn’t possible, however, it was only a matter of time until the film made its way to the big screen to some degree. It seems that all the effort wasn’t in vain, with The New Mutants topping an admittedly still recovering box office.
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$7 million may not seem like a whole lot, especially in comparison to the smash success of other Marvel projects, but The New Mutants did have quite a few things working against it. Between the studio issues, constant delays, and Coronavirus pandemic, it’s fair to say that $7 million isn’t too bad. Of course, it’s almost impossible to say what this means for the film industry as a whole, as the pandemic continues on with its unprecedented slowdown of practically every industry. Regardless, Disney’s President of Global Distribution was optimistic, stating “We’re encouraged by the results. We didn’t expect everyone to come back to the movies at once, but there’s clearly an appetite. It’s not a linear process. We have to stay fluid and work with the framework of this new reality.”
Even if it’s not much compared to past numbers, it came in well ahead of the competition, with Unhinged earning $2.6 million, and Bill and Ted Face the Music making $1.06. Overall it’s a pretty small haul, but it does indicate that the theater industry is beginning to recover. Whether or not that recovery speeds up, slows down, or reverses is still in the hands of the pandemic, however, and it remains everyone’s responsibility to stay as safe and healthy as possible.
The New Mutants is now available in open theaters across the country.
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Source: Slash Film
