00:08Theater owners are blasting Disney for making Marvel's Black Widow available simultaneously in the home and on the big screen,
00:15saying the decision has undercut the tentpole's box office performance.
00:19A press release from the National Association of Theater Owners noted that Black Widow suffered a stunning collapse in its second weekend in theatrical revenues,
00:26and added that despite assertions that an improvised release strategy was a success,
00:30it demonstrates that an exclusive theatrical release means more revenue for all stakeholders in every cycle of the movie's life.
00:37Marvel and Disney's Black Widow fell to number two in its second outing with $26.3 million for the July 16th through 18th weekend.
00:45The superhero pick suffered a steep 67% decline, one of the biggest drops ever for a Marvel title.
00:51When announcing opening weekend box office results, Disney added Disney Plus Premier Access revenue to Black Widow's total number,
00:58which pushed the film's total global opening past the $218 million mark, thanks to $60 million generated from households.
01:06However, this weekend Disney declined to release updated Premier Access numbers, further muddling the issue for exhibitors.
01:12The National Association of Theater Owners noted the most important answer is that simultaneous release is a pandemic-era artifact that should be left to history with the pandemic itself.
01:22Through Sunday, Black Widow's global box office total was $264 million and more than $324 million, including revenue from Disney Plus Premier Access.
01:31Black Widow lost the July 16th through 18th weekend to Warner Bros. LeBron James starring Space Jam A New Legacy, which came in ahead of expectations with $31.7 million.
01:41For more on the story, head to THR.com and for the latest box office news and updates, keep watching The Hollywood Reporter News.
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