'Tenet' Has Big Theatrical Opening Outside the US
by EG
American moviegoers haven't yet had much of a chance to show they're ready to return to theaters. But the rest of the world got the chance to go to theaters to see the biggest release since the pandemic began last weekend, and they seem to be willing to venture into a theater to see Christopher Nolan's Tenet. The movie will debut in some places in the US this week. Read on for details.
In a major win for the moviegoing experience in the COVID-19 era, Christopher Nolan's Tenet grossed a better-than-expected $53 million-plus as it debuted internationally in 41 markets, including Canada.
Among the grosses reported by Warner Bros., the U.K. led with $7.1 million in the U.K., not that far behind Nolan's Inception and Interstellar. France turned in $5.7 million, followed by Germany with $4.2 million. Warner Bros. didn't provide other territory grosses, but said that 32 markets in Europe, Middle East and African region accounted for $37 million of the weekend's grosses despite reduced capacity.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, the $200 million espionage epic is the first Hollywood tentpole to brave the big screen since cinemas reopened after a prolonged shutdown due to the devastating pandemic. It begins playing previews in the U.S. on Aug. 31 before officially opening where it can on Sept. 3 (the country's two largest moviegoing markets, Los Angeles and New York City remain off-limits).
Nolan is a champion of the theatrical experience, and in tandem with studio Warner Bros., has remained determined to keep Tenet on the calendar, versus pushing the film to a later date or sending it to premium VOD or streaming.
"We are off to a fantastic start internationally and couldn’t be more pleased,” said Toby Emmerich, Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman. “Christopher Nolan has once again delivered an event worthy motion picture that demands to be seen on the big screen, and we are thrilled that audiences across the globe are getting the opportunity to see Tenet."
Get the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
Are you ready to go back to the movie theater? Let us know in the comments below.