LOS ANGELES: Marvel’s “Black Widow,” the highly anticipated solo outing for veteran Avenger Natasha Romanoff, opened in first place this weekend with $80 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales.
The result is the largest North American box office opening since the pandemic began more than a year ago.
The strong debut is a sign of a recovery in the cinema business, although ticket sales remain well below pre-pandemic levels as theaters have stepped up efforts to lure back movie patrons.
The film, which premiered simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ premier access, took in more than $215 million globally with more than $60 million of that revenue coming from Disney+ alone. “Black Widow” pulled in $78 million in 46 international markets.
The simultaneous streaming release — available for $30 — represents one of the biggest tests yet of consumers’ willingness to visit a theater for a movie they could watch at home.
Theaters have traditionally feared that so-called day-and-date releases would weaken box office sales, but the health crisis has forced Disney and other studios to experiment with new hybrid distribution strategies.
