MGM low-balling 'No Time To Die' US box-office projections

06-Oct-2021 • No Time To Die

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Last week, Sony estimated their new release 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' would make about $50m at the US box-office. To everyone's surprise (except Sony's internal tracking), it smashed that target and brought home almost double - $90m - and also set a new pandemic era record.

This week, it's MGM's turn to low-ball the box-office projection for the latest release 'No Time To Die'. According to trade reports, MGM is being very conservative and estimating the 25th James Bond film will only make $50m over the weekend. The film actually opens in IMAX previews tonight (Wednesday) and 'preview' screenings on Thursday evening. Neither of these will count towards the 3-day box-office weekend metric.

Meanwhile, online ticket retailer Fandango contradicts MGM's numbers and has said that 'No Time To Die' is breaking Bond ticket sales records with them and is flying past 'F9' and 'Venom' in early bookings. Fandango says that showings are sold out on opening night and multiplexes are adding additional screenings. This is not something that happens for a $50m opening.

Universal, who is distributing the film for MGM in most countries outside of the USA, expects the film to add $90m this weekend from 'international' markets, including opening weekends in France and Russia.

In other good news for MGM, NRG reports that the percentage of moviegoers 45 and older who are comfortable in attending cinemas is now at 66% - 16% up from August. This is the key demographic for Bond cinema audiences.