‘F9’ to Propel Box Office to Biggest Weekend Since Pandemic Hit

"F9,” the latest instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise, is expected to turbocharge the domestic box office this weekend, drawing audiences back into theatres at a pace not seen since early 2020.

The feature from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Pictures may generate $67 million in ticket sales, walloping the current largest film debut during pandemic times, according to Boxoffice Pro. The result would amount to a roughly average opening weekend for a movie in the Fast & Furious series, but will likely still thrill theatre owners and studios, which have been starved of new big-budget films for 15 months. The movie industry is hoping the popcorn flick kicks off a broader return to the cinema. By luring audiences in with dazzling car chases, they’re hoping to show that theatres are safe and desirable places to be. If the weekend goes well, it could boost prospects for other potential blockbusters due to premiere in the coming weeks, such as Walt Disney Co.’s "Black Widow.”