As January drags on with no event films to lure moviegoers from their pandemic bat caves, exhibitors are eagerly awaiting WB/DC’s THE BATMAN.
February will have potential pandemic performers like Paramount/MTV’s JACKASS FOREVER & Sony/PlayStation’s UNCHARTED, but exhibitors know it’s TB that can go through the roof. It’s the first real event film since Sony/Marvel’s SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME and has the franchise awareness that can recharge the boxoffice Hollywood ignored in January — except for Paramount/Spyglass’s powerhouse SCREAM.
Directed by Matt Reeves (WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES), TB stars Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman & Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman (both pictured). It can deliver an injection of boxoffice energy to bring theatres back to life. While it’s great TB’s not opening day & date 3/4 on HBO Max, it’s needlessly bad news that it runs 175 minutes — the longest BATMAN ever!
Add 30 minutes or more for pre-shows + coming attractions and audiences will be there for at least 3 1/2 hours. Being overlong will cost exhibitors a showing daily. However well TB does, it would have done better at 2 hours 20 minutes.