AMC Theatres says it will no longer screen Universal movies at any of its locations in row over streaming
- The move comes after NBCUniversal suggested it will simultaneously release new movies in theatres and via video on demand
- Universal Pictures' Trolls World Tour was released on premium VOD last month
- The WSJ reported the family friendly sequel earned $95 million in digital rentals
- Currently, movies run in cinemas for three months before being made available in other formats
When Universal Pictures released Trolls World Tour via premium video on demand in March, due to the coronavirus, the film racked up almost $100 million in digital rentals over three weeks.
And after NBCUniversal boss Jeff Shell told the Wall Street Journal Tuesday that the studio intends to capitalize on the huge popularity of streaming with future releases, North America's leading movie theater chain was quick to respond.
AMC Theaters stated that 'effectively immediately AMC will no longer play any Universal movies in any of our theatres in the United States, Europe or the Middle East.'
The streaming release of Universal's Trolls World Tour last month racked up almost $100 million in digital rentals leading the studio to say it plans to make future films available simultaneously on VOD and in theatres
Following the report of universal's plans in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, AMC Theaters which operates 8,000 screens across North America announced it will no longer play Universal movies at any of its global locations
Theatre owners have jealously guarded their current model which requires studios to run their movies in cinemas for a predetermined period of time, usually three months, before releasing them for home consumption in other formats.
But the phenomenal success of Trolls World Tour has persuaded Universal, according to the WSJ article, to unilaterally walk away from the agreed model.
'As soon as theaters reopen, we expect to release movies on both formats,' NBC Universal's Shell told the newspaper, adding the film had 'exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the viability' of streaming.
AMC operates 8,000 screens across North America and in a letter to Universal, rejected the notion of releasing films in theatres and in homes simultaneously and announcing its ban on Universal movies as a result.
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that the Trolls sequel earned a massive $95 million from nearly five million domestic customers, citing 'a person familiar with the matter'
According to the WSJ report, 'its performance has convinced Universal executives that digital releases can be a winning strategy, and may diminish the role of theaters even after the pandemic passes'
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that the Trolls sequel earned a massive $95 million from nearly five million domestic customers, citing 'a person familiar with the matter.'
According to the report, 'its performance has convinced Universal executives that digital releases can be a winning strategy, and may diminish the role of theaters even after the pandemic passes.'
AMC was not the only organization to express dismay at the prospect.
In a statement, John Fithian, the head of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said: 'Universal does not have reason to use unusual circumstances in an unprecedented environment as a springboard to bypass true theatrical releases.'
The stay at home orders introduced as preventative measures against the spread of COVID-19 forced the postponement of a number of highly-anticipated movie releases including the latest Fast & Furious installment F9, the horror sequel A Quiet Place 2, Marvel's Black Widow and the James Bond film Die Another Day.
All have been pushed to later in the year or early next year and with production shut down on many projects, the movie release calendar remains a moveable feast.
Warner Bros. has previously confirmed it will release its Scooby-Doo movie Scoob! direct to streaming next month. Disney plans to do the same with Artemis Fowl, making it available on Disney+ and Paramount's Lovebirds is heading straight to Netflix as the pandemic continues
Warner Bros. has previously confirmed it will release its Scooby-Doo movie Scoob! direct to streaming next month.
Disney plans to do the same with Artemis Fowl, making it available on Disney+ and Paramount's Lovebirds is heading straight to Netflix.
On Monday, Pete Davidson and Judd Apatow announced their movie The King of Staten Island will debut via video on demand on June 12. It had been set to be released in theatres on June 19.
Also Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced it has done away with one of its longstanding eligibility requirements for the 2021 Oscars , due to COVID-19.
The Academy's board of governors approved a 'temporary hold' on the requirement that a film must play in at least one theater in Los Angeles or New York for seven consecutive days, according to Variety.
The films that will be eligible under the new rules must have had a theatrical release already in place, before the COVID-19 outbreak led to theaters closing en masse.
This means that films which were only being planned for release on streaming services like Netflix or other VOD formats, without a theatrical release, will not be eligible.
Films released on streaming platforms only due to the coronavirus pandemic will be eligible for Oscar consideration, The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts & Sciences announced Tuesday
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