By moving TOP GUN: MAVERICK to next Memorial Day, Paramount just did Disney & Sony a big favor.
Within minutes of Skydance’s Tom Cruise sequel giving up its 11/19 date, Sony grabbed it for BRON’s sequel GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE, which was going to open 11/11. The original plan would have had TGM (pictured) arrive in GA’s 2nd weekend, competing for ticket sales & gobbling up a great many valuable IMAX and other large-format screens.
With GA on 11/19, its second weekend (11/24) is now the 5 day Thanksgiving frame when moviegoing typically expands. GA will benefit from not having to fight a mega-tentpole like TGM — although it will be in a crowded event titles marketplace with Disney’s animated comedy adventure ENCANTO, Sony/Constantin’s horror sequel RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACOON CITY & MGM/UAR/BRON’s crime thriller HOUSE OF GUCCI RESIDENT EVIL I.
Disney will benefit from TGM exiting & GA going to 11/19 because its 11/5 opening of Marvel’s action-adventure “ETERNALS” will no longer have GA arriving in its 2nd weekend. At this point, its only new wide competition will be Focus Features’ Oscar contender drama BELFAST, written & directed by Kenneth Branagh.