America Still Isn't Ready for Movies—WB's Theatrical & Disney's Digital Release Show Decline, Will Delay Several Films Later in 2021

The world stopped and gave way for the Novel Coronavirus's devastating ang threatening effects that forced strict lockdowns and several industries to halt its operations, primarily the film and entertainment industry that currently sees a massive loss. Warner Bros. and Disney claim that the country is still not ready for wide-releases amidst the pandemic after the decline in recently released 'Tenet' and 'Mulan.'

COVID-19 stopped several 'normal' events such as going to the malls, dining in restaurants, going to amusement parks, meeting up for coffee or a drink, along with watching a film in a movie theater. The pandemic's airborne and close proximity capabilities of infections left people staying away and distancing one's self from another.

Movie theaters are one of the pandemic's most hit industries as seating arrangements are close to one another, may it be strangers or companions. The film and entertainment industry seems to have also stopped to give way to the pandemic, losing a lot more than they expected and perceived.

Even productions and planned shoot for 2020 have been postponed due to COVID. The industry, along with the public, has no control over this. Several films set for 2020 either went into digital releases or postponed its drop on theaters later in the year or even set for 2021.

Warner Bros.' 'Tenet': Ambitious Theater Release

One of America's most popular multinational motion picture and entertainment company, Warner Bros., went head-on with 2020's science-fiction and action-thriller release, 'Tenet,' and made it available to select theaters in the country whose state allows.

According to Yahoo Finance, Warner Bros.' Tenet was received relatively, however, just grossing $20 million for its opening day. Globally, Tenet received a massive gross more than its $200 million budget from the production company. However, these figures are still disappointing for Warner Bros., especially in its debut in America.

The film sold only $9 million in tickets for its first three days in the United States, with big cities including New York and Los Angeles not contributing to the total. NYC and LA are two of the critical theatrical markets and communities that pull the gross way above other states and cities.

Disney's 'Mulan': How did it fare in Digital?

Mass media and entertainment conglomerate, Disney, on the other hand, went with the safest option and release that assures wide-audience reception through the digital release of its 2020 live-adaptation of the hit Disney Princess, 'Mulan.'

Despite its release on the streaming platform, Disney+, 2020's 'Mulan' also received a poor performance in the box office. Primarily, Mulan's downfall centered on its storyline and inaccuracies with the animated adaptation in 1998. Several controversies also surrounded the film centered mostly on China and the indigenous communities it allegedly exploited during the filming process.

Disney+'s digital release of Mulan asked for an additional $30 fee for its availability and streaming, much like buying a movie ticket, but lets users keep the movie for re-watch and share with the whole family. Disney said Mulan fared fairly on the digital streaming platform, but news indicates that the film performed poorly, along with its supposed boycott.

Film Reschedules for 2021

Currently, several films in Disney's and Warner Bros.' line-up faces rescheduling later in 2021 to avoid losses and accommodate several more audiences to watch the film.

• Black Widow - Nov. 6, 2020, to May 7, 2021
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - May 7, 2021, to July 9, 2021
• The Eternals - Feb. 12, 2021, to Nov. 21, 2021
• Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' - Dec. 18, 2020, to Dec. 10, 2021
• Death on the Nile - Oct. 23 to Dec. 18, 2021
• Wonder Woman 1984 - Oct. 2 to Dec. 25, 2020

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Written by Isaiah Alonzo