Swift movie smashes AMC ticket records; 'Equalizer 3' opens
John Medina
It's another somewhat quiet post-summer movie weekend as far as openings go, while industry eyes are focused on a pop superstar's concert project set to inject some life into October.
Taylor Swift's announcement that a filmed version of her Eras live tour would hit theaters in mid-October goosed exhibitor stocks early on Thursday.
Now AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC), the world's biggest theater chain, says The Eras Tour film shattered its record for single-day advance ticket sales: some $26M in revenue, topping AMC's former record of selling $16.9M in a single day for Spider-Man: No Way Home.
As expected, that's prompting AMC to add more showtimes around the Oct. 13 opening. AMC stock (AMC) closed up another 4.4% Friday.
Meanwhile, the Alamo Drafthouse chain said Barbie (NASDAQ:WBD) had become the highest-grossing title in its history, surpassing Avengers: Endgame. Overall, Alamo Drafthouse ticket sales are up 29% from 2022 to date.
And Barbie has its chance this weekend to keep trucking toward the title of highest-grossing global film of 2023. It almost forcefully reclaimed the top spot in U.S. theaters last weekend, landing in a dead heat with Gran Turismo (NYSE:SONY), but it had previously become the top domestic film of the year, and now it's a mere $14.5M behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie's (CMCSA) $1.36B as the top global gross.
This weekend, a newcomer arrives via Denzel Washington and Equalizer 3 (SONY), an R-rated action sequel that drew $3.8M in Thursday previews. That points it toward near $30M for the three-day weekend and a few more for Labor Day, likely good enough to take the top spot.
Cinema tickers: AMC Entertainment (AMC); Cineworld (OTCPK:CNNWQ); Cinemark (CNK); (IMAX); Marcus (MCS); Reading International (RDI); Cineplex (CGX:CA); National CineMedia (NCMI).

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