JAPANESE MOVIE BUSINESS HIT HARD BY DISASTER

In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami,i disasters in Japan, the box office in that country collapsed 41 percent from the previous weekend, mostly due to theater closures in the hard-hit northern area, Daily Variety reported today (Monday). Distributors nevertheless opened three new titles, including Disney’s Tangled (but that film did about half the business that Disney had expected, according to the trade publication). Meanwhile, some studios have decided to delay indefinitely some films that depict disasters, including Warner Bros.’ Hereafter and Battle: Los Angeles, which had been retitled World Invasion in Japan. Meanwhile, today’s Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the disasters shut down or crippled several plants that produce the magnetic tape used in feature film and TV production.