[Editor’s note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly encourage individuals to check with the recommendations of public health officials andCDC safety guidelinesbefore seeing a movie in a theater.]
The good fortunes of Warner Bros. and director/writerChristopher Nolanincreaseth atTenetopens in U.S. theaters to some very surprising box office results. In another time, we might be considering theseTenetopening weekend receipts with a little less shock and perhaps more worry (It’s the lowest opening for a Nolan movie since 2006’sThe Prestige.). But, alas, we live in a time where the world is dealing with a global pandemic and the debate over whether it’s truly safe to go to a movie theater rages on, so, surprise!
In light of this, we have no choice but to pick our jaws up off the floor as Warner Bros. reports on Sunday afternoonTenethas earned $20.2 million domestically (that’s the U.S. and Canada, FYI) through Labor Day weekend.Tenet’s earnings were gathered from a total of 2,810 locations. As movie theaters continue to earnestly reopen and keep their fingers crossed moviegoers actually return to their brick-and-mortars, it seemsTenethas the goods needed to boost business. The U.S./Canada were also among the top five highest-grossing global markets when it comes toTenet. The official breakdown on the top five is as follows: China ($30M); U.S./Canada ($20.2M); the United Kingdom ($13.1M); France ($10.7M); Germany ($8.7M).
Tenet’s $20.2 million domestic earnings are also helping push Nolan’s timey-wimey espionage thriller toward a $150 million global total in its second theatrical weekend. Including previews,Tenetracked up another $78.3 million internationally this weekend across 46 markets (that’s 52,913 screens). This bringsTenet’s international total up to $126 million, representing a smash through the $100 million milestone in Week 2.Tenet’s global total now sits at approximately $146 million, which means it’s all but certain that, by this time next weekend, I’m going to be shouting about howTeneteasily slid past $150 million at the box office over the next few days. It’s also likely that, if itmanages to keep up this pace,Tenetcould cross over the $500 million marker — which it absolutely needs to do to avoid losing money.
Elsewhere, the weekend box office marches on to mixed results.The New Mutantsgrossed $2.9 million domestically over the three-day holiday weekend and is expected to score a four-day weekend total of $3.5 million, bringing its domestic total up to $12.3 million through Monday. Internationally,The New Mutantsearned $4.2 million internationally which, when coupled with the domestic totals, brings the 20th Century Studios movie up to $20.1 million through Sunday. Disney’sMulanopened in nine smaller international markets leading to a $5.9 million international total. Additionally,Russell Crowe’s road rage thrillerUnhingedgrossed $1.7 million domestic over the weekend, with money pulled in from 2,402 locations and bringing its domestic total to $11.3 million. Finally,The Personal History of David Copperfieldchugs along with $361,000 earned domestically from 1,550 locations. This means theDev Patel-starring dramedy has finally crossed the $1 million mark in its domestic total.
Please readCollider’s official statementon covering theatrically-released movies during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Get even more updates onThe New Mutantshere.
Allie Gemmill is the Weekend Contributing Editor for Collider. You can follow them on Twitter@_matineeidle.
