The end of July will close out the best four-month stretch for exhibitors since the pandemic began. It has been a crucial period for the industry, both in terms of revenue and establishing and reinforcing movie franchises that will bear fruit for years to come.
Alas, all good things must come to an end and the film slate ahead looks weak by comparison. After the August 5th release of BULLET TRAIN starring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock, the pickings will be slim through September. The movies which have some potential appeal to niche audiences, include Jo Koy’s EASTER SUNDAY, the A24 horror film BODIES, BODIES, BODIES, and the anime feature DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPERHERO. While each holds a chance to appeal to a wider audience, the more likely scenario is that these films will stay in their lane and generate a modest box office. September looks even worse, with the largest title being re-releases of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME and the original AVATAR from 2009.
On the bright side, Q4 is filling up with mainstream fare beginning with Universal’s HALLOWEEN ENDS followed by tentpoles BLACK PANTHER 2, AVATAR 2, and BLACK ADAM. The next two months are a missed opportunity for studios after results for the first half of 2022 have shown without a doubt that moviegoers are eager to turn out at their local theatres to see new movies that are worth their time.