Actor Gal Gadot`s recent DC Universe release `Wonder Woman 1984`, which premiered on HBO Max on December 25, 2020, made a huge streaming debut by racking up the most viewing time yet for a feature film on its opening weekend. 
 
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the insanely popular superhero film has become the biggest feature film in Nielsen`s rankings and has also emerged as one of the biggest streaming titles of any kind since the launch of Nielsen`s streaming measurement.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-wonder-woman-1984-stays-atop-domestic-box-office-355861" hreflang="en">'Wonder Woman 1984' stays atop domestic box office</a> 
 
"Wonder World! Congratulations to @GalGadot, @PattyJenksand the cast of #WW84 for nabbing the No. 1 streamed title during the holidays according to a special update of Nielsen`s streaming ranker," Nielsen tweeted. HBO Max users spent 2.25 billion minutes watching `Wonder Woman 1984` in the week of December 21 to 27.

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Wonder World! 
 
Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/GalGadot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GalGadot</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/PattyJenks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PattyJenks</a> and the cast of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WW84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WW84</a> for nabbing the No. 1 streamed title during the holidays according to a special update of Nielsen's streaming ranker: <a href="https://t.co/dAejbFMNBb">https://t.co/dAejbFMNBb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hbomax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hbomax</a> <a href="https://t.co/wyU90F0f03">pic.twitter.com/wyU90F0f03</a>
— Nielsen (@nielsen) <a href="https://twitter.com/nielsen/status/1355208010239520768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This is equivalent to about 14.9 million complete plays of the film, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The mark is also 580 million minutes more than the previously reported No.1 film for the week on Nielsen`s record. Pixar`s `Soul` on Disney+ was earlier on the No. 1 with 1.67 billion minutes of play. 
 
HBO Max had earlier said that nearly half of its retail subscribers had watched the film on the day of its release. Directed by Patty Jenkins, the film also starred Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, Kristen Wiig, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen. 
 
The 2017 `Wonder Woman`, also helmed by Jenkins, was a massive critical and commercial hit, generating more than USD 800 million at the global box office. The follow-up picked up with Gadot`s Amazonian warrior during the Cold War as she battles two formidable foes -- Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) -- while reuniting with her past love, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine).

Actor Gal Gadot`s recent DC Universe release `Wonder Woman 1984`, which premiered on HBO Max on December 25, 2020, made a huge streaming debut by racking up the most viewing time yet for a feature film on its opening weekend.

Actor Gal Gadot`s recent DC Universe release `Wonder Woman 1984`, which premiered on HBO Max on December 25, 2020, made a huge streaming debut by racking up the most viewing time yet for a feature film on its opening weekend. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the insanely popular superhero film has become the biggest feature film in Nielsen`s rankings and has also emerged as one of the biggest streaming titles of any kind since the launch of Nielsen`s streaming measurement. 'Wonder Woman 1984' stays atop domestic box office "Wonder World! Congratulations to @GalGadot, @PattyJenksand the cast of #WW84 for nabbing the No. 1 streamed title during the holidays according to a special update of Nielsen`s streaming ranker," Nielsen tweeted. HBO Max users spent 2.25 billion minutes watching `Wonder Woman 1984` in the week of December 21 to 27. Wonder World! Congratulations to @GalGadot, @PattyJenks and the cast of #WW84 for nabbing the No. 1 streamed title during the holidays according to a special update of Nielsen's streaming ranker: https://t.co/dAejbFMNBb @hbomax pic.twitter.com/wyU90F0f03 — Nielsen (@nielsen) January 29, 2021 × This is equivalent to about 14.9 million complete plays of the film, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The mark is also 580 million minutes more than the previously reported No.1 film for the week on Nielsen`s record. Pixar`s `Soul` on Disney+ was earlier on the No. 1 with 1.67 billion minutes of play. HBO Max had earlier said that nearly half of its retail subscribers had watched the film on the day of its release. Directed by Patty Jenkins, the film also starred Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, Kristen Wiig, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen. The 2017 `Wonder Woman`, also helmed by Jenkins, was a massive critical and commercial hit, generating more than USD 800 million at the global box office. The follow-up picked up with Gadot`s Amazonian warrior during the Cold War as she battles two formidable foes -- Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) -- while reuniting with her past love, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine).

'Wonder Woman 1984' makes huge streaming debut on HBO Max

“Wonder Woman 1984” led domestic box office charts for the third straight weekend without much in the way of competition. The superhero sequel nabbed $3 million between Friday and Sunday, bringing its total in the U.S. and Canada to $32.6 million. Overseas, the film grabbed $4.7 million for an international tally of $98.8 million.

With $131 million in global box office receipts, the “Wonder Woman” sequel has outperformed most fellow pandemic-era releases. Yet that doesn’t make up for the film’s mighty $200 million production budget, which is to say the latest outing for Gal Gadot’s DC hero will almost certainly lose money for the studio. Nonetheless, Warner Bros. has already greenlit a third installment with Gadot and director Patty Jeninks on board. The comic book adaptation was released simultaneously on HBO Max in an effort to buoy streaming service subscribers. It’s unclear how many HBO Max users watched the movie, though the company touted record viewership. Next weekend, “Wonder Woman 1984” will be taken off HBO Max and it will only be available to watch in theaters until it reaches its traditional home entertainment window. It’s expected to return to the streaming platform a few months later.

A surprising bright spot for the Amazonian warrior has been Canada, where only 5% of theaters are open and HBO Max is not available. Warners released the film concurrently in any available cinemas and on premium video-on-demand, a rare strategy that wouldn’t have been tolerated by film exhibitors in pre-pandemic times. Even more unprecedented, the studio actually divulged tangible digital sales, something that no Hollywood studio has be willing to share. Canada’s pVOD model resulted in additional $7.2 million in revenues from online platforms like iTunes and Amazon.

Outside of North America, Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” -- which skipped U.S. theaters to debut on Disney Plus -- continues to pick up steam at the international box office. The existential family film amassed $8.9 million from 11 foreign countries, boosting its overseas total to $47.3 million. Chinese movie theaters have accounted for a bulk of that haul, with $36 million in ticket sales coming from the Middle Kingdom alone. It’s now the fourth-highest grossing Pixar movie ever in China and looks to overtake “Finding Dory” ($38.4 million) for third place following “Coco” and “Incredibles 2.”

Without any new nationwide releases, a variety of holdovers rounded out domestic box office charts. In second place, Universal and DreamWorks’ “The Croods: A New Age” pulled in $1.8 million in its seventh week of release for a domestic tally of $36.8 million. Internationally, “The Croods” sequel crossed $90 million after adding $5.1 million from 17 overseas countries. Its global haul hovers at $127 million. The film is currently available on premium video-on-demand platforms as part of a deal forged between Universal and major exhibitors such as AMC and Cinemark. Under the pact, the studio can put new titles on digital rental services after 17 days of their theatrical debuts. In return, AMC and Cinemark get a cut of the profits and any open cinemas have fresh content to show on the big screen.

Another Universal title “News of the World” managed third place with $1.2 million. The Tom Hanks-led Western drama, directed by Paul Greengrass, premiered on Christmas Day and has collected $7 million to date. Netflix has international rights to “News of the World.”

Sony’s thriller “Monster Hunter” took in $1.1 million, enough to land the No. 4 spot. After a month in theaters, the video game adaptation with Milla Jovovich has generated $7.8 million. “Fatale,” a psychological thriller with Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy, rounded out the top five with $670,000 in its fourth weekend of release. That brings its total to $4 million.

Focus Features’ revenge thriller “Promising Young Woman” secured $560,000 over the weekend, finding itself in sixth place and putting its total at $2.7 million. Like “The Croods” sequel and “News of the World,” the film falls under its parent company Universal’s early VOD agreement. Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman” lands on home entertainment for a premium price starting on Jan. 15.

“Wonder Woman 1984” led domestic box office charts for the third straight weekend without much in the way of competition. The superhero sequel nabbed $3 million between Friday and Sunday, bringing its total in the U.

“Wonder Woman 1984” led domestic box office charts for the third straight weekend without much in the way of competition. The superhero sequel nabbed $3 million between Friday and Sunday, bringing its total in the U.S. and Canada to $32.6 million. Overseas, the film grabbed $4.7 million for an international tally of $98.8 million. With $131 million in global box office receipts, the “Wonder Woman” sequel has outperformed most fellow pandemic-era releases. Yet that doesn’t make up for the film’s mighty $200 million production budget, which is to say the latest outing for Gal Gadot’s DC hero will almost certainly lose money for the studio. Nonetheless, Warner Bros. has already greenlit a third installment with Gadot and director Patty Jeninks on board. The comic book adaptation was released simultaneously on HBO Max in an effort to buoy streaming service subscribers. It’s unclear how many HBO Max users watched the movie, though the company touted record viewership. Next weekend, “Wonder Woman 1984” will be taken off HBO Max and it will only be available to watch in theaters until it reaches its traditional home entertainment window. It’s expected to return to the streaming platform a few months later. A surprising bright spot for the Amazonian warrior has been Canada, where only 5% of theaters are open and HBO Max is not available. Warners released the film concurrently in any available cinemas and on premium video-on-demand, a rare strategy that wouldn’t have been tolerated by film exhibitors in pre-pandemic times. Even more unprecedented, the studio actually divulged tangible digital sales, something that no Hollywood studio has be willing to share. Canada’s pVOD model resulted in additional $7.2 million in revenues from online platforms like iTunes and Amazon. Outside of North America, Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” -- which skipped U.S. theaters to debut on Disney Plus -- continues to pick up steam at the international box office. The existential family film amassed $8.9 million from 11 foreign countries, boosting its overseas total to $47.3 million. Chinese movie theaters have accounted for a bulk of that haul, with $36 million in ticket sales coming from the Middle Kingdom alone. It’s now the fourth-highest grossing Pixar movie ever in China and looks to overtake “Finding Dory” ($38.4 million) for third place following “Coco” and “Incredibles 2.” Without any new nationwide releases, a variety of holdovers rounded out domestic box office charts. In second place, Universal and DreamWorks’ “The Croods: A New Age” pulled in $1.8 million in its seventh week of release for a domestic tally of $36.8 million. Internationally, “The Croods” sequel crossed $90 million after adding $5.1 million from 17 overseas countries. Its global haul hovers at $127 million. The film is currently available on premium video-on-demand platforms as part of a deal forged between Universal and major exhibitors such as AMC and Cinemark. Under the pact, the studio can put new titles on digital rental services after 17 days of their theatrical debuts. In return, AMC and Cinemark get a cut of the profits and any open cinemas have fresh content to show on the big screen. Another Universal title “News of the World” managed third place with $1.2 million. The Tom Hanks-led Western drama, directed by Paul Greengrass, premiered on Christmas Day and has collected $7 million to date. Netflix has international rights to “News of the World.” Sony’s thriller “Monster Hunter” took in $1.1 million, enough to land the No. 4 spot. After a month in theaters, the video game adaptation with Milla Jovovich has generated $7.8 million. “Fatale,” a psychological thriller with Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy, rounded out the top five with $670,000 in its fourth weekend of release. That brings its total to $4 million. Focus Features’ revenge thriller “Promising Young Woman” secured $560,000 over the weekend, finding itself in sixth place and putting its total at $2.7 million. Like “The Croods” sequel and “News of the World,” the film falls under its parent company Universal’s early VOD agreement. Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman” lands on home entertainment for a premium price starting on Jan. 15.

'Wonder Woman 1984' stays atop domestic box office

'Wonder Woman 1984' used its lasso of truth to rope in $5.5 million over the New Year`s holiday. The sequel also ensnared another $10.1 million from overseas markets, bringing its global total to $118.5 million. That`s not a disastrous figure given how much coronavirus has upended the movie business, but it does represent a steep 67% drop domestically and is a far cry from the grosses of pre-pandemic blockbusters. Stateside, 'Wonder Woman 1984' has earned $28.5 million. 
 
The superhero sequel, which is currently getting some social media backlash for not rising to the level of its beloved predecessor, is being simultaneously released on HBO Max in a bid to bolster the WarnerMedia streaming service and as a concession to a global health crisis that`s left the theatrical distribution landscape severely diminished. The company has issued some vague numbers touting 'Wonder Woman 1984`s' popularity on HBO Max, but little in the way of hard data. It did announce that Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins will reunite for a third film in the franchise, a sign that it believes the Amazonian warrior is a vital part of its plans for growing its DC cinematic universe. 
 
Beyond 'Wonder Woman 1984,' Universal and Dreamworks Animation`s 'The Croods: A New Age' pulled in $2.2 million in its sixth week of release. That pushes the animated sequel`s domestic haul to $34.5 million and its global total to just under $115 million. The film is being released due to a pact between the studio and major exhibitors such as AMC and Cinemark by which the movies can get released premium video-on-demand with two weeks of their theatrical debuts. In return, struggling theatre chains get a cut of digital revenues. Universal also released 'News of the World,' a western that reunites Tom Hanks with his 'Captain Philips' director Paul Greengrass. The film grossed $1.7 million, pushing its domestic total to $5.4 million. Netflix bought the international rights to the movie this winter. Hanks stars as a Civil War vet who must return a young girl who was captured by natives to her remaining family. 
Lionsgate`s 'Fatale,' a psychological thriller with Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy, grossed $700,000 in its third weekend of release. That brings its total to $3.1 million. 
 
Focus` 'Promising Young Woman,' which like 'News of the World' and 'The Croods' sequel is part of its parent studio Universal`s deal with exhibitors, picked up $660,000 in its second weekend. Its domestic total now stands at $1.9 million. 'Promising Young Woman' has scored a great deal of buzz for its provocative look at sexual violence and revenge and has earned awards chatter for star Carey Mulligan`s performance. 
 
Disney and Pixar`s 'Soul' has been streaming on Disney Plus over the holidays, but it has been made available in theatres in overseas markets such as China, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. The animated story of a middle school music teacher whose soul gets separated from his body grossed $16.5 million in its second weekend of release. That pushes its total to $32.5 million. 
&nbsp;

'Wonder Woman 1984' used its lasso of truth to rope in $5.5 million over the New Year`s holiday. The sequel also ensnared another $10.1 million from overseas markets, bringing its global total to $118.

'Wonder Woman 1984' used its lasso of truth to rope in $5.5 million over the New Year`s holiday. The sequel also ensnared another $10.1 million from overseas markets, bringing its global total to $118.5 million. That`s not a disastrous figure given how much coronavirus has upended the movie business, but it does represent a steep 67% drop domestically and is a far cry from the grosses of pre-pandemic blockbusters. Stateside, 'Wonder Woman 1984' has earned $28.5 million. The superhero sequel, which is currently getting some social media backlash for not rising to the level of its beloved predecessor, is being simultaneously released on HBO Max in a bid to bolster the WarnerMedia streaming service and as a concession to a global health crisis that`s left the theatrical distribution landscape severely diminished. The company has issued some vague numbers touting 'Wonder Woman 1984`s' popularity on HBO Max, but little in the way of hard data. It did announce that Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins will reunite for a third film in the franchise, a sign that it believes the Amazonian warrior is a vital part of its plans for growing its DC cinematic universe. Beyond 'Wonder Woman 1984,' Universal and Dreamworks Animation`s 'The Croods: A New Age' pulled in $2.2 million in its sixth week of release. That pushes the animated sequel`s domestic haul to $34.5 million and its global total to just under $115 million. The film is being released due to a pact between the studio and major exhibitors such as AMC and Cinemark by which the movies can get released premium video-on-demand with two weeks of their theatrical debuts. In return, struggling theatre chains get a cut of digital revenues. Universal also released 'News of the World,' a western that reunites Tom Hanks with his 'Captain Philips' director Paul Greengrass. The film grossed $1.7 million, pushing its domestic total to $5.4 million. Netflix bought the international rights to the movie this winter. Hanks stars as a Civil War vet who must return a young girl who was captured by natives to her remaining family. Lionsgate`s 'Fatale,' a psychological thriller with Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy, grossed $700,000 in its third weekend of release. That brings its total to $3.1 million. Focus` 'Promising Young Woman,' which like 'News of the World' and 'The Croods' sequel is part of its parent studio Universal`s deal with exhibitors, picked up $660,000 in its second weekend. Its domestic total now stands at $1.9 million. 'Promising Young Woman' has scored a great deal of buzz for its provocative look at sexual violence and revenge and has earned awards chatter for star Carey Mulligan`s performance. Disney and Pixar`s 'Soul' has been streaming on Disney Plus over the holidays, but it has been made available in theatres in overseas markets such as China, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. The animated story of a middle school music teacher whose soul gets separated from his body grossed $16.5 million in its second weekend of release. That pushes its total to $32.5 million.

'Wonder Woman 1984' grabs $5.5 million in the US, global total tops $118 million

“Wonder Woman 1984” pulled in $36.1 million at worldwide theaters over the Christmas holiday weekend and boosted streaming viewership on HBO Max, Warner Bros. said on Sunday as it confirmed plans for a third film in the superhero franchise.

An estimated $16.7 million of the box office total came from U.S. and Canadian theaters, the AT&amp;T Inc-owned studio said on Sunday. That ranked as the highest domestic opening since the COVID pandemic shuttered theaters in March, though the numbers were a fraction of usual receipts for a big-budget action flick. The 2017 “Wonder Woman” film opened with $103.2 million domestically.

With two-thirds of North American theaters closed, Warner Bros. opted for an unusual arrangement, making “WW84” available at the same time to U.S. customers of AT&amp;T’s HBO Max streaming service.

Millions watched the film on HBO Max, the company said in a statement, but it did not specify how long they tuned in. Total viewing hours on the platform tripled on Friday compared with a typical day in the previous month, the statement said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-wonder-woman-star-gal-gadot-wants-closure-for-the-series-352671" hreflang="en">'Wonder Woman' star Gal Gadot wants 'closure' for the series</a>

The movie “exceeded our expectations across all of our key viewing and subscriber metrics in its first 24 hours on the service,” said Andy Forsell, executive vice president and general manager of WarnerMedia Direct-to-Consumer.

Warner Bros. said it would accelerate development of a third “Wonder Woman” movie also written and directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot as the lasso-wielding warrior. The studio did not announce a release date.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at research firm Comscore, said “WW84” performed well in theaters given “an extremely challenging marketplace.”

“Considering the availability of this blockbuster film at home, the numbers for the theatrical debut of ‘WW 1984’ should actually be encouraging to theatrical exhibition,” he said.

“WW84” faced competition from critically praised Pixar animated movie “Soul,” which Walt Disney Co delivered to the Disney+ streaming service and some theaters overseas. The story of a music teacher seeking his life’s purpose took in $7.6 million in theaters, Disney said. It did not disclose how many people watched “Soul” via streaming.

Warner Bros. has announced the same hybrid release strategy for its 17 theatrical movies in 2021, sparking a backlash from some top Hollywood directors and cinema operators, who hope for a rebound after COVID-19 vaccinations increase.

Through Sunday, 2020 domestic box office receipts totaled $2.3 billion, down 80 percent from a year earlier, according to Comscore.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-gal-gadot-defends-playing-cleopatra-over-whitewashing-accusations-says-anybody-can-make-this-movie-352244" hreflang="en">Gal Gadot defends playing Cleopatra over whitewashing accusations, says anybody can make this movie</a>

“Wonder Woman 1984” pulled in $36.1 million at worldwide theaters over the Christmas holiday weekend and boosted streaming viewership on HBO Max, Warner Bros. said on Sunday as it confirmed plans for a third film in the superhero franchise.

“Wonder Woman 1984” pulled in $36.1 million at worldwide theaters over the Christmas holiday weekend and boosted streaming viewership on HBO Max, Warner Bros. said on Sunday as it confirmed plans for a third film in the superhero franchise. An estimated $16.7 million of the box office total came from U.S. and Canadian theaters, the AT&T Inc-owned studio said on Sunday. That ranked as the highest domestic opening since the COVID pandemic shuttered theaters in March, though the numbers were a fraction of usual receipts for a big-budget action flick. The 2017 “Wonder Woman” film opened with $103.2 million domestically. With two-thirds of North American theaters closed, Warner Bros. opted for an unusual arrangement, making “WW84” available at the same time to U.S. customers of AT&T’s HBO Max streaming service. Millions watched the film on HBO Max, the company said in a statement, but it did not specify how long they tuned in. Total viewing hours on the platform tripled on Friday compared with a typical day in the previous month, the statement said. 'Wonder Woman' star Gal Gadot wants 'closure' for the series The movie “exceeded our expectations across all of our key viewing and subscriber metrics in its first 24 hours on the service,” said Andy Forsell, executive vice president and general manager of WarnerMedia Direct-to-Consumer. Warner Bros. said it would accelerate development of a third “Wonder Woman” movie also written and directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot as the lasso-wielding warrior. The studio did not announce a release date. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at research firm Comscore, said “WW84” performed well in theaters given “an extremely challenging marketplace.” “Considering the availability of this blockbuster film at home, the numbers for the theatrical debut of ‘WW 1984’ should actually be encouraging to theatrical exhibition,” he said. “WW84” faced competition from critically praised Pixar animated movie “Soul,” which Walt Disney Co delivered to the Disney+ streaming service and some theaters overseas. The story of a music teacher seeking his life’s purpose took in $7.6 million in theaters, Disney said. It did not disclose how many people watched “Soul” via streaming. Warner Bros. has announced the same hybrid release strategy for its 17 theatrical movies in 2021, sparking a backlash from some top Hollywood directors and cinema operators, who hope for a rebound after COVID-19 vaccinations increase. Through Sunday, 2020 domestic box office receipts totaled $2.3 billion, down 80 percent from a year earlier, according to Comscore. Gal Gadot defends playing Cleopatra over whitewashing accusations, says anybody can make this movie

'Wonder Woman' box office hits a pandemic high in cinema, streaming showdown

Diana Prince may be able to best Cheetah, but she`s no match for a global pandemic. 
 
'Wonder Woman 1984' opened to a less than heroic $18.8 million in China over the weekend and a disappointing $38.5 million overseas. That`s far less than the $38 million that the first 'Wonder Woman' grossed in its opening weekend in China and likely means that the follow-up will earn far less than the $90.5 million that its predecessor pulled in from the country over the course of its run. 
 
China is one of the few theatrical markets where moviegoing had shown signs of life during a public health catastrophe, but revenues around the country were still down 30%. 
 
'Wonder Woman 1984' wasn`t the only blockbuster hopeful that sputtered. 'The Rescue,' a Chinese action movie, made just under $36 million in its initial weekend. That`s far below projections and could mean the film will lose money. 
 
'Wonder Woman 1984' was intended to be one of the holiday season`s biggest releases, but with coronavirus cases rising, Warner Bros. has opted to debut the film in the US on HBO Max when it opens in cinemas on December 25. 
 
It`s getting a more robust rollout overseas. The film opened this weekend in 32 foreign markets. 'Wonder Woman 1984' pulled in $3.6 million in Taiwan, $2 million in Thailand, $1.7 million in Brazil, and $1.6 million in Mexico and Japan. 
 
'Wonder Woman 1984' brings back Gal Gadot as the Amazonian warrior princess with Patty Jenkins returning as director. The film follows Wonder Woman in the Reagan era as she does battle with Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) and Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), a businessman and Trump doppelganger. 
 
The hope is that 'Wonder Woman 1984'&nbsp;will create some buzz around HBO Max when it debuts on the streaming service. Both HBO Max and Warner Bros are owned by AT&amp;T, which is trying to break into the lucrative streaming market and hold off a challenge from Netflix. Warner Bros. recently announced that in light of the pandemic it would be release its entire 2021 film slate, which includes tentpole favorites like 'Dune'&nbsp;and 'The Matrix 4,'&nbsp;on HBO Max at the same time they open in theaters. 
 
With 66% of movie theaters in the United States closed, new films are struggling to sell tickets. 
 
In North America, Sony`s "Monster Hunter" debuted in first place with $2.2 million. The video game adaptation starring Milla Jovovich and Ron Perlman cost $60 million to produce and looks to lose money in its theatrical run. 
 
Universal`s animated adventure "The Croods: A New Age" followed closely behind with $2 million in ticket sales during its fourth weekend of release. The movie has made $27 million in the U.S. and $84.5 million to date. In this marketplace, that practically makes it a blockbuster.

Another new release, Lionsgate`s thriller "Fatale" with Hilary Swank launched with a dismal $925,000 from 1,107 locations. 
 
It`s unlikely that any U.S. cinemas will reopen in the coming weeks as coronavirus cases continue to surge, but the few that remain in business are looking to 'Wonder Woman 1984'&nbsp;and fellow newcomers 'Promising Young Woman'&nbsp;and 'News of the World'&nbsp;as salvation. But the Justice League member`s biggest competition may come from the small screen, where the Pixar film 'Soul'&nbsp;is debuting the same day on Disney Plus.

Diana Prince may be able to best Cheetah, but she`s no match for a global pandemic. 'Wonder Woman 1984' opened to a less than heroic $18.8 million in China over the weekend and a disappointing $38.

Diana Prince may be able to best Cheetah, but she`s no match for a global pandemic. 'Wonder Woman 1984' opened to a less than heroic $18.8 million in China over the weekend and a disappointing $38.5 million overseas. That`s far less than the $38 million that the first 'Wonder Woman' grossed in its opening weekend in China and likely means that the follow-up will earn far less than the $90.5 million that its predecessor pulled in from the country over the course of its run. China is one of the few theatrical markets where moviegoing had shown signs of life during a public health catastrophe, but revenues around the country were still down 30%. 'Wonder Woman 1984' wasn`t the only blockbuster hopeful that sputtered. 'The Rescue,' a Chinese action movie, made just under $36 million in its initial weekend. That`s far below projections and could mean the film will lose money. 'Wonder Woman 1984' was intended to be one of the holiday season`s biggest releases, but with coronavirus cases rising, Warner Bros. has opted to debut the film in the US on HBO Max when it opens in cinemas on December 25. It`s getting a more robust rollout overseas. The film opened this weekend in 32 foreign markets. 'Wonder Woman 1984' pulled in $3.6 million in Taiwan, $2 million in Thailand, $1.7 million in Brazil, and $1.6 million in Mexico and Japan. 'Wonder Woman 1984' brings back Gal Gadot as the Amazonian warrior princess with Patty Jenkins returning as director. The film follows Wonder Woman in the Reagan era as she does battle with Cheetah (Kristen Wiig) and Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), a businessman and Trump doppelganger. The hope is that 'Wonder Woman 1984' will create some buzz around HBO Max when it debuts on the streaming service. Both HBO Max and Warner Bros are owned by AT&T, which is trying to break into the lucrative streaming market and hold off a challenge from Netflix. Warner Bros. recently announced that in light of the pandemic it would be release its entire 2021 film slate, which includes tentpole favorites like 'Dune' and 'The Matrix 4,' on HBO Max at the same time they open in theaters. With 66% of movie theaters in the United States closed, new films are struggling to sell tickets. In North America, Sony`s "Monster Hunter" debuted in first place with $2.2 million. The video game adaptation starring Milla Jovovich and Ron Perlman cost $60 million to produce and looks to lose money in its theatrical run. Universal`s animated adventure "The Croods: A New Age" followed closely behind with $2 million in ticket sales during its fourth weekend of release. The movie has made $27 million in the U.S. and $84.5 million to date. In this marketplace, that practically makes it a blockbuster. Another new release, Lionsgate`s thriller "Fatale" with Hilary Swank launched with a dismal $925,000 from 1,107 locations. It`s unlikely that any U.S. cinemas will reopen in the coming weeks as coronavirus cases continue to surge, but the few that remain in business are looking to 'Wonder Woman 1984' and fellow newcomers 'Promising Young Woman' and 'News of the World' as salvation. But the Justice League member`s biggest competition may come from the small screen, where the Pixar film 'Soul' is debuting the same day on Disney Plus.

'Wonder Woman 1984' sputters in China, grosses $38.5 million overseas