The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been one of the most successful film franchises of all time, but perhaps it might change course. Black Widow finally got its long-awaited theatrical release, after over year of delay. While it has been rather successful, it is the biggest second weekend box office drop of any MCU film to date.
The Scarlett Johansson led flick garnered $80.3 million in its opening weekend, and then a subsequent $25.8 million its second weekend. According to Box Office Mojo, that is a 67.8% drop off for the latest MCU movie.
It is important to note that Black Widow, unlike other films in the Marvel franchise, had a duel release in theaters and on Disney+. This definitely plays a role in the drop off of the movie. However, this could very well be the trend for films nowadays.
F9 had a similar drop in its second weekend, while In the Heights had a low box office return all together. This speaks to the state of the theatrical movie going experience in 2021.
Following the pandemic, it is clear that many people are more comfortable staying in their homes as opposed to going to theaters, whether that be due to fears of the pandemic or simply better television screens. There are also a plethora of other reasons this could be the case. One thing is for certain: streaming is the future of media consumption.
Whether that be Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, Netflix, Hulu, or another streaming platform, most studios have been putting their resources through content that is consumable from one’s own home, laptop, or phone.
As Marvel goes into its second decade, it is vital they take risks because they can at this point. While Black Widow might have had a drop off, the company still decided to give viewers around the world the option to watch in theaters or pay an extra fee to see it on Disney+.
Black Widow is currently on Disney+ and in theaters around the world.
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