The 45th film week of the year which ended on 11/11 came in at a very respectable 88% of the same week from 2019. Marvel’s ETERNALS was up to the challenge of competing with four titles that opened in the same week in 2019. This elevated the first six weeks of Q4 2021 to 75% of the same period from 2019 and the trailing four-week run rate comparison is now 77%. The year-to-date comparison for 2021 – 2019 through 45 weeks ticked up another percentage point to 35%.
As noted above, the industry has reached a peak in a roller coaster ride with a steep drop ahead. For the next month or more, exhibitors will have to grip tightly, while the glow fades away from a sizzling October.