Weekend Box Office Faces 21-Year Low in Sales Due to Coronavirus

The box office is taking a massive hit due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

According to early estimates on Sunday (March 15), all films over the weekend brought in an estimated $54.4 million, according to Deadline.

The number is lower than the September 15-17 weekend in 2000, which brought in $54.52 million, resulting in what looks to be a 21-year low. (The next lowest weekend, according to Box Office Mojo, was in 1999 in the January 15-17 timeframe, bringing in $54 million.)

Over a hundred theaters across the country are said to have closed in order to strengthen self-quarantine efforts and prevent the further spread of coronavirus.

“All estimates are down, as analysts can’t keep track of this depressing wave. Disney’s Onward posted the biggest second weekend drop in Pixar history through no fault of the pic’s own with $10.5M, down 73% for a $60.3M 10-day,” Deadline reports.

“Overall, one studio analyst says in updated weekend estimates that the new movies underperformed as much as 20% to 35% then they were projected to come in with the top films being off north of 25% than they would have under normal circumstances.”

Find out how coronavirus has affected festivals, tours and more events in recent weeks.