Godzilla vs. Kong record Covid-era US opening ‘gives heart’ to UK cinema operators

Hopes for a rapid recovery in the beleaguered cinema industry have been lifted after Godzilla vs. Kong set a Covid-era box office record in the US.

The delayed release took in £23.14 million ($32 million) in the US over its crucial three-day opening weekend, despite being available on HBO Max and with screen capacity limits in place. It far exceeded studio Warner Bros. expectations and trumped the previous pandemic release record set by Wonder Woman 1984 in December, which made around £12 million within three days of release.

UK screens are set to reopen on May 17, and UK Cinema Association chief executive Phil Clapp told the Standard the film's "exceptional" box office performance will "give great heart to UK cinema operators as they look forward to opening".

He said: "The numbers prove that even with social distancing and capacity limits in place, cinemas can deliver a hugely enjoyable big screen experience.

"We know from our own polling that - after being required to watch films at home for most of the last year - the public appetite to return to the cinema has never been higher."

Cineworld, the UK’s biggest film outlet, opened some of its US screens at around 60% capacity on Good Friday to coincide with the Godzilla release. Shares were up around 5% in early trading on Tuesday, while shares in US rivals AMC Entertainment and Cinemark were up 13% and 7% respectively.