ENCANTO & HOUSE OF GUCCI both over-performed over Thanksgiving, which is great news but raises questions about why so many films open better than expected.
What we’re seeing is the media’s predisposition to underestimate likely results because it still thinks people don’t want to “risk” moviegoing. The families Hollywood handicappers say are afraid to take their kids to movies spent $40.3M (not in the high $30Ms) to see ENCANTO over 5 days, making it the best pandemic launch for an animated film.
Adults, who are always said to be “slow” to return to theatres, clearly wanted to see GUCCI (pictured) and, especially, Lady Gaga. They opened it to $21.8M (not somewhere around $20M), which ranks as the pandemic’s best debut for an adult title.
Under-estimating by media pundits suggests films have less appeal than they do. What continues to amaze us is that the media has no fears about the same people flying with sardine-style seating in single-aisle planes while breathing recirculated air for hours. No one was projecting anything but packed planes for Thanksgiving. Why should the same travelers be afraid to see a movie while away or after they fly home?