North American Cinemas 'Vaccine Rush'... Audiences Flocking to Theaters

'Fast & Furious' Opening Weekend Ticket Sales Reach 79 Billion Won

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] North American box office revenue has reached its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is interpreted as the U.S. film industry accelerating its return to normalcy, thanks to the expanded COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

According to the Associated Press on the 27th (local time), "Fast & Furious 9: The Ultimate (F9)" earned $70 million (approximately 79 billion KRW) in ticket sales during its opening weekend. This surpassed the previous highest record of $48.4 million set by "A Quiet Place Part II," marking the biggest box office success since the COVID-19 pandemic. F9 has reportedly grossed over $400 million worldwide to date.

Jim Orr, distribution head at Universal Pictures, the distributor of Fast & Furious 9: The Ultimate (F9), said, "We were thrilled to see so many audiences come out to watch 'F9,'" adding, "This weekend's release ignited the U.S. box office."

Movie theaters in the U.S., which had recorded sluggish sales since the COVID-19 pandemic, appear to be reviving thanks to the expanded vaccination efforts. The U.S. government's relaxation of mask-wearing guidelines inside theaters to increase vaccination rates is also believed to have influenced audience turnout. Three major North American theater chains, including AMC, Cinemark, and Regal Cinemas, announced guidelines allowing fully vaccinated individuals to forgo masks.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at box office tracking firm Comscore, stated, "The expansion of COVID-19 vaccinations appears to have drawn audiences back to theaters," adding, "This is a positive signal for films scheduled to be released in the coming weeks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.