Let’s get one thing out of the way: “Avatar: The Way of Water,” a sequel to the highest-grossing movie in history, is poised to be another box office smash for director James Cameron and Disney, which now owns the rights to Pandora and its inhabitants. The follow-up, which opens in theaters on Dec. 16, looks to collect a mighty 150 million to 175 million in its first weekend of release.
For beleaguered movie theaters, the decades-in-the-making film can’t come soon enough. “It’s a very important movie,” says Brock Bagby, executive VP of B&b Theatres, a family-owned circuit based in Missouri. “We’re hopeful it works.”
But the Na’vi, as powerful and resilient as they may be, can’t prop up the movie theater business alone. Will any movies other than “Avatar 2” manage to succeed at the box office over the crucial holiday season?
After a dire Thanksgiving...
For beleaguered movie theaters, the decades-in-the-making film can’t come soon enough. “It’s a very important movie,” says Brock Bagby, executive VP of B&b Theatres, a family-owned circuit based in Missouri. “We’re hopeful it works.”
But the Na’vi, as powerful and resilient as they may be, can’t prop up the movie theater business alone. Will any movies other than “Avatar 2” manage to succeed at the box office over the crucial holiday season?
After a dire Thanksgiving...
- 12/6/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Battered by the pandemic and the collapse of exhibition windows, the movie theater industry now has one more thing to worry about: a hike in the minimum wage.
The industry relies heavily on part-time workers who make at or near the local minimum rate. Cinema operators say that an increase to $15 an hour nationwide — which Democrats in Congress are pushing for — would make it much harder to turn a profit.
“That would kill us,” said Byron Berkley, owner of Foothills Entertainment in Kilgore, Tex., where workers make $8 an hour. “We couldn’t justify raising our admission prices and concession prices to compensate for that kind of increase and still expect people to patronize the business. It would be disastrous.”
Congressional Democrats want to raise the federal minimum from $7.25 an hour to $15 by 2025. Their plan would also phase out the minimum wage for tipped workers — currently $2.13 an hour — which would impact...
The industry relies heavily on part-time workers who make at or near the local minimum rate. Cinema operators say that an increase to $15 an hour nationwide — which Democrats in Congress are pushing for — would make it much harder to turn a profit.
“That would kill us,” said Byron Berkley, owner of Foothills Entertainment in Kilgore, Tex., where workers make $8 an hour. “We couldn’t justify raising our admission prices and concession prices to compensate for that kind of increase and still expect people to patronize the business. It would be disastrous.”
Congressional Democrats want to raise the federal minimum from $7.25 an hour to $15 by 2025. Their plan would also phase out the minimum wage for tipped workers — currently $2.13 an hour — which would impact...
- 2/11/2021
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
For those who know Texas resident Andy Forbes and his fiancé Wendee, it comes as little surprise that their first act as newlyweds will be watching a “Star Wars” movie.
She’ll be donning Princess Leia’s signature buns; he’ll be wearing a Stormtrooper costume. The duo, both in their early 30s, is one of two couples getting married Thursday in the lobby of the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas on the opening night of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
“Everyone remembers where they were when ‘Star Wars’ came out. We’re going to say we got married,” Forbes says. “It’s so cool. I mean, it’s the opposite of cool. But it’s awesome.”
The shotgun wedding of sorts came together after Alamo Drafthouse put out a call on Twitter, seeking to find “Star Wars” enthusiasts willing to get married before watching the final chapter in the Skywalker story.
She’ll be donning Princess Leia’s signature buns; he’ll be wearing a Stormtrooper costume. The duo, both in their early 30s, is one of two couples getting married Thursday in the lobby of the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas on the opening night of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
“Everyone remembers where they were when ‘Star Wars’ came out. We’re going to say we got married,” Forbes says. “It’s so cool. I mean, it’s the opposite of cool. But it’s awesome.”
The shotgun wedding of sorts came together after Alamo Drafthouse put out a call on Twitter, seeking to find “Star Wars” enthusiasts willing to get married before watching the final chapter in the Skywalker story.
- 12/16/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.