(Adds details on movie, critical reception)
LOS ANGELES, Dec 17 (Reuters) - "Spider-man: No Way Home"
took in $50 million at U.S. and Canadian movie box offices on
Thursday, the third-highest total for preview showings ahead of
its opening weekend, distributor Sony Corp said on
Friday.
The big-budget action movie co-produced by Walt Disney Co
stars Tom Holland as the web-slinging superhero and
Zendaya as his girlfriend, MJ. It is playing exclusively in
theaters.
Thursday's ticket sales set a record for the COVID-19
pandemic and provided welcome news for theater chains, including
AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Cineworld's
Regal chain. Movie houses have been struggling to lure back
audiences during the global health crisis.
"No Way Home" received a glowing reception from movie
critics https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rave-reviews-may-help-spider-man-deliver-holiday-gift-theaters-2021-12-14.
As of Friday, 95% of 220 reviews were scored as positive on the
Rotten Tomatoes website.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
