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| ▲ This photo shows American movie theater chain AMC. [AP=Yonhap News] |
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| ▲ This photo provided by Paramount Pictures/AP=Yonhap News shows a scene from the movie "A Quiet Place Part II." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
LOS ANGELES, June 2 (Yonhap) -- North American movie theaters' box office sales were close to $100 million during the four-day holiday on Memorial Day in the U.S.
CNBC, a U.S. economic media outlet, reported that movie theaters in the U.S. had nearly reached $100 million in ticket sales from May 28 to 31.
A total of $97.58 million ticket sales was achieved during the four-day Memorial Day holiday, according to Box Office Mojo, a box office revenue tracking site.
The box office rebound was led by Paramount's horror film "A Quite Place Part II," which was released in time for the Memorial Day holiday.
The film reached $57 million in ticket sales over four days, the biggest opening record for a movie released amid the pandemic.
Disney's live-action film "Cruella," which was released both in theaters and on Disney+ Premiere Access, recorded $27 million in ticket sales in theaters for four days.
"It shows that the demand for watching movies in theaters has returned, even though the theaters are operating under certain restrictions related to COVID-19," said Alexia Quadrani, analyst at JPMorgan.
Major Hollywood filmmakers delayed the release of blockbuster films during the pandemic and some films were released through streaming services.
However, the number of movies releasing in theaters is expected to increase as the U.S. is speeding up its return to normal life due to the increased vaccination rates.
In particular, the expectations of theater owners' are growing as a series of masterpieces such as "F9," "Dune," "Eternals," "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and the 007 series "No Time to Die" will be released starting this summer.
Joseph Masher, chief operating officer of Bow Tie Cinemas, said, "The company's belief that movies have moved on to streaming services has been shattered by the box office figures over the weekend."
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