Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures(LOS ANGELES) — With more than half of the nation’s movie theaters closed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the newly released Tom and Jerry performed surprisingly well in the box office this weekend.

The hybrid live action and animated children’s movie raked in $13.7 million in its opening weekend — officially earning the second-best opening weekend behind Wonder Woman 1984 since the onset of the global pandemic.  That movie took in a $16.7 million haul opening weekend.

Tenant and The Croods: A New Age earned roughly $9.5 million on their respective opening weekends — the only other two movies to come close to Tom and Jerry‘s opening number.

Tom and Jerry opened in 2,475 North American theaters — which is 42 percent of the nation’s theaters — in addition to being available now for streaming on HBO Max.

In addition, the children’s movie earned $25.1 million in the international box office, bringing its global haul to $38.8 million.

The movie, which stars Chloë Grace Moretz — could serve as a barometer for next week’s box office, as another major animated movie is expected to hit theaters March 5 — Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon.

Slipping into second place this week was The Croods: A New Age, earning an additional $1.2 million across 1,912 venues.  To date, the movie has raked in $52 million.

In third was The Little Things, starring Denzel Washington, Jared Leto and Rami Malek.  The thriller, now in its fifth week of release, made $925,000 in 1,853 locations.

Wonder Woman 1984 hovered in fourth with a grand total of  $710,000 in 1,538 theaters while Liam Neeson’s The Marksman rounded the top five with $700,000.

Wonder Woman has earned $43.6 million during its box office run while The Marksman has tallied $12.3 million.

By George Costantino
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