Raya and the Last Dragon Fires Up Box Office
Relatively speaking, Raya and the Last Dragon worked its magic on the box office this weekend.
As of Saturday AM, the newly “re-opened” movie theaters showed signs of life.
While the B.O. is still in repair, Disney’s second weekend of Raya and the Last Dragon, which is also available on Disney+ for an extra $30 to subscribers, is leading this weekend with $1.5M yesterday and an estimated $5.7M, -33% at 2,163 locations (+118) for a 10-day gross of $16M. Friday was off 42%.
While we were very nervous about this new day and date theatrical Disney+ model, those with knowledge of Disney’s distribution maneuvers believe that it was merely an experiment, not apt to shake-up the entire future of theatrical releasing, and that day and date streaming releases aren’t part of their long term plans for the Burbank, CA lot to make bank on their slate.
D’Alessandro also added:
Word is that Disney heard the message loud and clear from those exhibitors like Cinemark, Harkins, and others who refused to play Raya, and clearly the movie is suffering from those chains’ absence in its box office equation. The biggest ouch here for Raya? Not having Canada’s Cineplex.
Today, Raya and the Last Dragon has a 94% “FRESH” rating from reviewers and an 85% audience score from RottenTomatoes.com.
The critics’ consensus states:
Another gorgeously animated, skillfully voiced entry in the Disney canon, Raya and the Last Dragon, continues the studio’s increased representation while reaffirming that its classic formula is just as reliable as ever.
Meanwhile, the audience says:
There are no surprises in the story, but if you’re looking for beautiful animation and a positive message that’s fun for the whole family, Raya and the Last Dragon delivers.