Box-Office Challenge for ‘Mission: Impossible 7’: $75-80 Million Opening Results Raise Concerns
I don’t know the exact reason for the underperformance of summer blockbusters at the multiplex, but I was surprised to see “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” among them.
While it may be too early to make a final judgement, the initial numbers suggest that “Mission: Impossible 7” will fall short of the projected $90 million opening. Here is a breakdown of the latest figures:
- Tuesday: $8.6 million
- Wednesday: $8.5 million
- Thursday: $8.2 million
Contrary to our expectations based on the success of the recent “Super Mario Bros Movie” this spring, it seems that post-pandemic audiences are not rushing back to theaters as anticipated.
Even with positive reviews and strong marketing featuring Tom Cruise, “Mission: Impossible 7” failed to gain significant traction. Adding to the challenges, a significant number of screens will be occupied by Barbenheimer next weekend.
The harsh reality is that the industry has undergone irreversible changes. The situation is exacerbated by high-profile actors demanding increased compensation, which has led to strikes. However, it’s worth noting that this issue is more complex than it appears at first glance.
Comparing the present to two decades ago, when ticket prices were lower, movies like “Transformers” and “Harry Potter” easily surpassed $150-200 million over a 5-day weekend. In 2023, far fewer people are attending movie theaters.
Interestingly, the unexpected success story of the summer is the conservative-backed film “Sound of Freedom,” which continues to perform exceptionally well. With a reported budget of around $13 million, it has already grossed $52 million. It is projected to earn an additional $20+ million this weekend.
