Last year, Paramount Pictures upset theater owners when they rushed “G.I> Joe: The Rise of Cobra” to DVD and Blu-Ray a mere three months after its theatrical release.
Typically, DVDs are released 16 weeks or more after they’re released theatrically, giving theaters a chance to show the movies for a four-month window.
But it appears now that a big-name player wants to change the rules. Disney has said it wants to shorten the window between theatrical and home theater release of two tentpole releases per year. And first up for quick release will be the upcoming “Alice in Wonderland.”
Variety reports that Disney’s move could mean other distributors pushing for a similar deal for other tentpole and high-profile projects. It could also meet with the ire of theater owners. According to reports. theater owners in the U.K. are up in arms about the release window and are threatening to not show the film in that country should Disney continue with the shorter window.
“Disney has acted in an absolutely mercenary fashion,” said one U.K. exhib. “There is no compromise, no discussion being offered. It’s very frustrating. Our business model is under attack even though we’ve enjoyed three straight years of huge box office. Why fix something that isn’t broken?”
Disney counters with the argument that the annual World Cup soccer will cut into revenues for theatrical release and a desire to get “Alice” out before the competition begins this summer.
So far, American circuits in the U.S. haven’t said publicly how they feel about the Mouse House’s plans, although there are rumblings that one big exhib might not be happy. To incentivize theater owners to agree to shorter windows, Disney could be offering them better terms for “Alice.”
“We feel that it is really important for us to maintain a very healthy business on the homevideo side, which we think is actually in the best interest of theater owners,” Disney’s Robert Iger says. “Mindful of what is going on the homevideo side, we feel that it is time on a case-by-case basis to really take a look at how we are windowing homevideo product into the marketplace.”
Iger has been one of Hollywood’s most ardent advocates for shortening windows, saying it won’t hurt moviegoing, contrary to the concerns of exhibitors.
It’s the same argument put forth by all the studios. However, theater owners still have leverage by being able to pass on a movie, such as some circuits did when Sony said it would release “Cloudy With a Cloudy of Meatballs” early on DVD.
I’m sorry but that picture of Alice reminds of Hungarian – Italian porn star turned politician la Cicciolina. Just do a Google image search if you don’t know who I’m taking about.
“Disney has acted in an absolutely mercenary fashion,”
Um…You clearly haven’t paid any attention to the last 15 years…
Disney has given up on being original, and wants to worm their way into children’s minds and parents pocket books by giving us such forgettable classics as:
Cinderella 2
Cinderella 3
The Return of Jafar
Aladdin & The King Of Thieves
Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World
The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride
They’ve also ended any possible thought that a story can simply end “Happily Ever After”.
I hate the Mouse.
Who cares? Tell me the last time you have seen a movie in theaters for even 2 months let alone 4? There are always exceptions yes, but generally speaking this will not change my mind about what movies I see in the theater. If it is done on a case by case basis do it. The sooner it comes out on DVD the sooner they will get my money. Due to the fact that most of what comes out is mostly crap that I will not see even if free I really do not think this is an issue.
As someone who hasn’t stepped foot in a theater for 2 1/2 years I really don’t care. The sooner it hits DVD the sooner I can rent it and watch it on my 120″ screen at home.
I can skip the outrageous prices for food and drink. I can skip the idiots who talk/text on their cell phones during the movie. I won’t miss the kids kicking the back of my seat or the folks who are constantly getting up during the movie for whatever reason.
My husband and I don’t like going to the movies because it always ends up being an overall unpleasant experience. The majority of the movies we’ve seen over the past 10 years have been on our home theater system.
While I feel the theaters do deserve to get their money’s worth, I enjoy seeing the movies released on DVD/Blu-Ray sooner because it means it can become part of my own library and I can then watch it in the comfort of my own home!
I think this is clearly the wave of the future. As a society we prefer to stay home surrounded by all of our techie toys. Studios knows this, and with the exception of gigantic blockbuster films (Avatar for the 3D and Star Trek for all of the die-hard Trekkers just to name a few), most people would rather re-watch movies in their own personal library on their home system than run the risk of going to see a movie in a theater which includes escalating ticket prices, outrageous concession stand prices (and generally pretty shoddy service), as well as the nightmare of trying to find parking (or a babysitter) not to mention trying to get the whole family out if it’s a family film that everyone is going to see.
Purely from a convenience standpoint, having the movie in my own home is FAR more desireable than going out to see it in a theater!!!