New Tom And Jerry Movie Opens With Impressive $13.7 Million Box Office Gross

The new animated Tom and Jerry movie made $13.7 million in its opening weekend in the US. This is one of the biggest domestic opening grosses since the COVD-19 pandemic shut down theaters across the country almost a year ago.

Tom and Jerry's opening total is second only to Wonder Woman 1984, which made $16.7 million in its opening weekend in December. The movie opened on 2,475 theaters in the US, and data firm Comscore reports that 42% of theaters have reopened.

Internationally, Tom and Jerry has made $25 million to date, bringing the worldwide total to $38.8 million. While this total is far below what the movie might've made in the pre-pandemic era, it does bode well for the future of theatrical exhibitions as cinemas continue to reopen around the world over the coming months.

Tom and Jerry's box office was even more impressive when you consider that the movie also debuted on HBO Max on the same day as it hit theaters. Speaking to Variety, Box Office Pro chief analyst Shawn Robbins explained that the results weren't just down to parents wanting to get out of the house. "There's undoubtedly an element of cabin fever among parents and kids at play with these successful family movies during the pandemic, but I also think we're looking at the beginnings of a larger trend," he said.

"As virus cases decline, vaccines roll out, and more mainstream films start releasing, families are growing more comfortable with the idea of going back to the movies while practicing safe health measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing."

Last week, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced that theaters in New York City will be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity from March 5. Theaters in this key market have been closed for nearly a year, and it remains a big reason that Hollywood has chosen to delay many of its movies. In addition, theaters in the UK will reopen in May as part of a wider relaxation of restrictions, providing a number of conditions regarding hospitalization rates are met.