Mark Sigal’s Post

Leveraging our comprehensive mobility data, we looked at foot traffic during Deadpool & Wolverine's opening weekend to determine which markets had the highest increase in foot traffic to movie theaters for the blockbuster's premiere... Click below to read the story! #consumerinsights #consumerintelligence #foottraffic #movietheaters

My latest story looks at a property sector that's niche but has a lot of nostalgia: movie theaters. Cinemas have been through the wringer in recent years between the pandemic, labor strikes and rise of streaming services. But many are still holding on, in part because their uniquely designed real estate makes them difficult to replace. Those big, windowless rooms with stadium seating are great for watching Dune: Part Two, but not so easy for the landlord to turn into a Panera Bread or Ulta Beauty. So, in many cases, the landlord agrees to cut the rent and the movie theater survives. Do you still go to the movies? What's the first and last movies you saw in theaters? (Mine: 101 Dalmatians in 1991 and Barbie last summer.) The Wall Street Journal https://lnkd.in/e6-QkXAm

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 3/3/24: Exhibitors got a new lease on life this weekend as DUNE: PART TWO opened to an over-performing $81.5M.   Moviegoers showed they'll hit theatres if there's something playing they want to see. They definitely wanted to spend time with Timothée Chalamet & Zendaya on Arrakis -- and in the biggest & best theatres. Premium large format (PLF) screens accounted for 48% (about $39.1M) of D2's domestic ticket sales while IMAX theatres brought in 23% (about $18.7M). As Christopher Nolan did with OPPENHEIMER, D2 director Denis Villeneuve filmed part of his 70mm movie with IMAX cameras.   The WB/Legendary hit opened #1 to $81.5M at 4,071 theatres ($20,020), , per Comscore. Hollywood handicappers were buzzing last week about a launch of up to $80M, but by mid-weekend they had scaled back to around $75M. WB started out with projections of $65M and was up to $72-75M mid-weekend.   Internationally, Comscore said D2 did $97M for a worldwide cume of $178.5M in 72 territories -- not yet including China or Japan. Earlier global guestimates were for $160M. D2 reportedly cost $190M to produce (or more, some claim) with most of that having come from Legendary.   Going into this weekend, D2 was tracking well with only one demo -- men over 25 (13 points over norm). Its next best score was with under-25 women (just three points over norm). Men under 25 didn't care (equal to norm) and neither did women over 25 (one point over norm).   What should help keep D2 orbiting nicely at the boxoffice for weeks to come are Rotten Tomatoes' critics applauding it at 94% and audiences loving it at 95%. Favorable reviews and great word of mouth typically mean  boxoffice legs. D2 runs 2 hours 46 minutes, but will get all the screens it needs to make up for performances lost because of its length. Moreover, people are turning up at 3 a.m. to see it at their theatres of choice and in the seat locations they prefer!   Thanks to D2, Comscore puts this weekend's overall marketplace at $113.02M, up 83.7% from the prior no-new-studio-openings weekend and down 5% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $1.00B, down 13% from $1.15B in 2023.    Next weekend should keep exhibitors in good spirits with D2 likely to hold well and two wide openings targeted to different audiences -- Universal/DreamWorks Animation's PG animated family film KUNG FU PANDA 4 & Lionsgate/Blumhouse Entertainment's PG-13 horror thriller IMAGINARY.   Going into this weekend, PANDA 4 was tracking through the roof with under-25 men (27 points over norm) and next best with women under 25 (eight points above). No Rotten Tomatoes scores are available yet.   IMAGINARY, going into this weekend, was tracking best with under-25 women (four points over norm) and next best with women over 25 (two points above). No Rotten Tomatoes scores are available yet.   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #duneparttwo

𝑻𝒉𝒆 #𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒆 #𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 #𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕: 𝑨 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://lnkd.in/duYcuiMP As the lights dim and the screen comes to life, the movie theater experience remains a cherished tradition for many. Despite challenges posed by streaming services and global events, the movie theater market is staging an impressive comeback! 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: From luxury seating to IMAX and 4D experiences, theaters are redefining what it means to watch a movie. Enhanced experiences are drawing audiences back to the big screen. 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔: Cutting-edge projection and sound technologies are enhancing the cinematic experience, providing a draw that home setups simply can't match. 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: Local theaters are becoming community hubs, hosting events and fostering a sense of belonging and nostalgia. #MovieTheaters #CinematicExperience #EntertainmentIndustry #MarketTrends #Innovation

This article asks an interesting question and maybe it is a glass-half-full situation. Yes, exhibitors leaning on landlords to lower rents is part of the explanation - as WSJ recently pointed out, it is hard to re-purpose cinemas into anything else. But my suspicion is that lowering seating numbers with the introduction of recliners, doubling down on premium and introducing wider location-based entertainment options (climbing walls!) also has something to do with this. No doubt this and more being discussed at CinemaCon https://lnkd.in/e2yCEMpX

MARTIN GROVE'S HOLLYWOOD REPORT FOR 6/30/24: The photo-finish race Hollywood handicappers expected never happened. INSIDE was in, QUIET was a noisy #2 and it was all quiet on the western front.   INSIDE OUT 2 placed first for a third straight weekend with $57.4M while the horror prequel A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE sizzled with a second place kickoff to $53M, smashing pundits' $40M predictions. All this is further evidence that moviegoing's not dead and prequels aren't necessarily  damaged goods.   As for the fizzled $11M launch for Kevin Costner's Old West saga HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER 1, at least it boosted concession stand sales and helped exhibitors keep the lights on.   Not surprisingly, the weekend marketplace stayed healthy with $152.7M, per Comscore, down 1.3% from the prior weekend, but up 17% vs. this time last year. Comscore's year to date tally has 2024 at $3.61B, down 19% from $4.46B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was down 21% vs. 2023.   Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/Pixar's IO2, which reportedly cost $200M to produce, held great with $57.4M (-43%) at 4,440 theatres ($12,928). It's grossed $469.3M domestic and $1.01B worldwide, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian.   Paramount/Platinum Dunes' PG-13 DAY ONE was a lively #2 with $53M in second place at 3,708 theatres ($14,293). Its global cume is $98.5M. ONE, which reportedly cost $70M to produce, is tracking best with men over 25 (15 points over norm) and next best with women under 25 (13 points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are cheering at 84%, but audiences are a quieter 73%.   WB/New Line Cinema's R rated HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER 1 opened a distant #3 to $11M at 3,334 theatres ($3,299). It begins director, co-writer & star Kevin Costner's two part epic look at the Old West during and after the American Civil War. CHAPTER 2 hits theatres 8/16.   Costner reportedly put up a big slice of the two HORIZON episodes' $100M production cost -- about $50M + marketing money, per the Hollywood buzz-ards -- and also sold off foreign rights to get it made. RT critics hate it at 40% and audiences are a blah 70%.   As for July 4th Weekend: Universal/Illumination Entertainment's PG rated animated sequel DESPICABLE ME 4 (opening 7/3 at about 4,000 theatres) is expected to generate colorful boxoffice fireworks with around $140M for five days -- or more, which is usually the case these days! The RT critics are haters at 63%, but that won't keep families away. It's tracking best with men under 25 (13 points over norm) and next best with women under 25 (12 points over norm).   Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions' R rated Indian action crime drama KILL is opening wide 7/4. Pundits are guessing $4-6M for four days. RT critics love it at 95%, but that's based on just 20 reviews. It's tracking below norm for all demos.   (See more at www.ZAMM.com)   #movies #boxoffice #martingrove #aquietplace    

Lights, camera, action! Dive into the magic of cinema with VOX's video wall. Perfect for both theaters and home setups, our captivating displays create vibrant visuals and an atmosphere that transform every movie night. 🍿 Ready to bring that cinematic experience to your theater or home? Reach out to VOX Video Walls today. #voxaudiovisual #voxvideowalls #hometheater #theaterav #controlsystems #commercialaudio #audiosystems #controlrooms #avintegration #smarttech #avinstallation #techintegration

We’re currently in a box office slump, with George Miller’s $168m action epic Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and The Garfield Movie marking the worst-performing Memorial Day weekend in ~30 years — aside from 2020, when theaters were closed. That begs the question: But could high-tech gimmicks bring audiences back? We're talking: 💺Seats that vibrate, sway, twist, or otherwise move with the film ☔️Atmosphere effects (e.g., snow, rainstorms, fog, wind, lightning, temperature changes, etc.) 👃Scents In today's edition of The Hustle, we're taking a closer look at this strategy, and what else these "4DX theaters" have in store for the future of film.

🎟️🎥 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema x Sony Pictures Entertainment 👉 #Sony’s Acquisition of #AlamoDrafthouse: The Imperative for Experiential Movie-Going The acquisition of Alamo Drafthouse by Sony marks a significant shift in the movie theater industry. To appreciate this move, we need to look at Alamo Drafthouse’s unique history and approach. Founded in 1997 by Tim and Karrie League in Austin, Texas, Alamo Drafthouse quickly gained a reputation for its unique combination of dining and cinema. Known for its strict no-talking policy and themed events, the theater chain became a haven for film enthusiasts seeking an immersive movie-going experience. Alamo Drafthouse’s emphasis on luxury seating, gourmet food, and high-quality audiovisuals set it apart, creating an experience that streaming services can’t replicate. This focus on experience has become increasingly crucial as theaters compete to attract audiences in a digital age. Sony’s acquisition of Alamo Drafthouse highlights the industry’s shift towards enhancing the cinema experience. By integrating Alamo’s innovative approach with Sony’s resources, we can expect more exclusive screenings and themed events, drawing more consumers back to theaters. In this new era, the key to success lies in making movie-going an unforgettable event, a strategy that Alamo Drafthouse has mastered. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Sony

Doom and gloom has turned into hope that the movie theater industry can survive the aftermath of the pandemic and labor strikes. — The stronger-than-expected finish to the summer movie season has led to cautious optimism, especially given how the summer started. — "Inside Out 2" became the highest-grossing animated movie ever, giving Pixar Animation Studios its first hit in years. "Deadpool & Wolverine" became the highest-grossing R-rated film ever and reenergized Marvel Studios. At the same time, most of the major theater chains are on better financial footing: — Cinemark, the third-biggest theater chain in the U.S., has seen its stock more than double this year. — Regal, whose parent Cineworld Cinemas Ltd emerged out of bankruptcy, raised $250 million to upgrade more than 30 of its locations. — Even AMC Theatres, which has flirted with bankruptcy, was able to restructure more than $2 billion of its debt. "Next summer will be a very clear window into where the industry is at compared to where we left off in 2019," Jeff Bock tell me: Read more at Axios Pro https://lnkd.in/enGCrpcP