Cinema chains across the globe are taking drastic safety measures to keep the spread of coronavirus by closing up, in many countries until early April.

As seen by this weeks box office figures this weekends box office taking were down by up to 70% in some countries and the general public remain at home in self quarantine.

Now, by the request of many global governments, cinemas are closing their doors all together in order to keep the public safe and limit the spread of the virus.

If COVID-19 is controlled then we may see a reopening in the early days of April, but this will have a large impact on local and global box office.

Europe and America have a thriving cinema going population, and China which is starting to show signs of controlling the spread has one of the largest in the world.

More importantly many small independent cinemas might struggle to survive in the suggested 3 weeks of shutdown, and even with the large chains it might have a detrimental effect.

Time will tell but this could have lasting effect on movies at cinema while the home streaming benefit.

With the slow box office of Blade Runner 2049 the UK chart sees a new number 1 in the shape of The Lego Ninjago Movie, but it was a battle for the top.

Its the third movie based on the lego franchise and each one has made its debut at the top, but The Lego Ninjago Movie has done so with the lowest opening.

With £3.6 million there is the feeling that the general public are starting to get used to seeing the Lego franchise on the big screen and are maybe waiting for home video before watching.

Regardless this is still a number one film and with a sequel to the original Lego Movie coming soon you can imagine that being a box office hit as well.

Blade Runner 2049 falls from the top to number 2 this week, but with a £3 million weekend it fought hard to stay on top.

The full week gross was £6.1 million so it easily was the top film of the week, the total gross currently sits at £12.1 million.

Also new this week is The Snowman at number 3 with a weekend gross of £1.3 million and Botoks is new at 5 with nearly £0.8 million.

The Ritual is new at number 7 with and the highly acclaimed movie Loving Vincent is new at number 9, Sally Potter just creeps into the top 10 at 10 as The Party makes its debut.

Despicable Me 3 has now been on the box office for 16 weeks and has a total gross of £47 million.

Historical charts

A year ago - The Girl on the Train stays at the top of the box office for a second weekend while Inferno starring Tom hanks and directed by Ron Howard is the top new film at 2.

Five years ago - Liam Neeson and Taken 2 hold onto the top spot for a second weekend while the top new film was Hotel Transylvania at number 2.

Ten years ago - Pixars Ratatouille was the top new film of the weekend at number 1 while The Heartbreak Kid fell from the top to number 3 after just 1 weekend.

Fifteen years ago - The last of the Hannibal Lecter films starring Anthony Hopkins made its debut at the top of the UK box office while Disney's Lilo and Stitch fell to number 2 after a week on top.

Twenty years ago - Disney's Hercules made its debut at the top of the box office knocking The Full Monty down to number 2 after 6 weeks at the top.

Twenty five years ago - The original animated version of Disney's Beauty and The Beast made its debut at the top while Patriot Games fell to number 3 after a couple of weeks at the top.

With the disappointing box office debut of Blade Runner 2049 last weekend maybe its not much of a surprise that its been knocked off the top this week, the film thats done that is Happy Death Day on its debut.

The teen horror film makes its debut with a fairly lacklustre $26.5 million but there is not a lot more on the market so the box office might go through another quiet time.

Blade Runner 2049 slips down to number 2 this week with a weekend gross of $15 million, more than a 50% drop from last weekend.

Despite the fantastic reviews the general public have simply not taken to the film and with a $60 million total gross after 2 weekend the film could struggle to get to $100 million.

Also new this week and entering at number 3 is The Foreigner with Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan which makes its debut with $12 million.

IT which this week is at number 4 is the longest running film with 6 weeks on the chart and the highest total grossing film with $314 million.

This weekend Pixar returned to the ocean it first introduced us to in 2003 when Nemo got lost and his father found a new friend to find him.

This time that friend needs to be found and in the process Finding Dory opens to the tune of $136 million, the highest ever for an animated film.

It also managed the highest ever single day openeing with nearly $55 million and you have one hell of a hit film on your hands.

Critics have been favourable although the general thought is the film is not as good as its predecessor Finding Nemo.

Last weeks top film The Conjuring 2 falls quite hard this week to number 3 with a weekend take of $15.5 million and a total gross of $71 million.

Highest total grossing movie on the US box office is Captain America: Civil War with $401 million, and it is also the longest running movie with 7 weeks on the top 10.