Universal/DreamWorks' animated family comedy The Croods: 2 broke through at the box office this weekend with $9.7M in ticket sales playing at 2,211 locations across North America. In light of the fact that only 38% of North American theatres are open, this represents an encouraging sign of a return to movie-going.  In fact, it's the second largest opening in North America since the COVID-19 pandemic began to cast its spell in March. Warner Bros.' Tenet was the largest opener over the period, earning $20.2M in its debut on Labor Day weekend.

Click here to watch our Popcorn Previews BOX OFFICE BUZZ video, looking at the opening of The Croods 2...as the prehistoric world's first family faces its biggest threat ever - another family! 

Screendollars announces a new solution for exhibitors, the ROW8 Premium Video On Demand service that allows exhibitors to offer their customers a theatre-branded, at-home movie viewing experience to watch major Hollywood films before they are available on subscription streaming services. 

Our summary of Industry News highlights Europe's schedule for re-opening cinemas beginning in mid-December, as the recent lockdowns to reduce COVID-19 transmission are having their positive effect.  Further on that subject, we inlcude an article from the LA Times that discusses the actual risks involved in movie-going during this period.

Gower Street looks into the impact that changes to the theatrical release window may have on the box office.  In the Hollywood Report, Martin Grove reflects on the successful opening this weekend of The Croods 2, concluding that a key missing ingredient to a sucessful recovery of the box office has been the lack of must-see-movies.

We conclude with our regular film data tables. The Weekly Film Calendar provides details on film releases for the upcoming 10 weeks, through mid-January 2021. We also include last week's studio release changes, MPAA film ratings and important new trailers.