Talking about boycott: how many cinemas will the market actually carry in a post-COVID-19 world? Is it possible the market as a whole will be significantly smaller? For a significantly longer time than just months?
With the deal on table now cinemas would get their share of the later stages of the marketing. I should think that’s a valuable asset which strengthens their position. Would a boycott really be a realistic alternative? It sure would hurt both sides, theatres and studios. But the studios could then decide to just push theatres entirely over the edge. It’s the studios who provide the content after all.
The sensible way, to me, would be to try and find an agreement as long as cinemas are still in a position to make concessions. In a few weeks that may no longer be the case.
As a model it may not be what anybody in the industry really wants - shared profits from VOD eat into the entire calculation - but it’s probably the best possible option for all sides under the circumstances. I still wouldn’t chance a cinema trip, but for those who absolutely have to there’s the option. And it helps theatres surviving. So win-win. Or at least less loss-less loss.
While Universal confirmed the deal won’t apply to tentpoles such as “No Time to Die,” where the studio is only handling international distribution (MGM will roll out the film in North America) it’s unknown exactly how many films will fall into the agreement.
Well, I guess time to start preparing to 2021 for good, at least in the US.
AMC held no cards and tried to bluff Universal. Universal got what they wanted. Now, with AMC in their pocket, Universal once again holds all the cards. Cineworld has nothing.
Imagine if I got to see the film in Australia this year - with American and UK fans in limbo until 2021/22. How cruel would that be? But then again, other countries always get Bond films before us, so…
I already know that I won’t either. The Coronavirus will have gotten me long before this thing gets released in whatever form they decide to release it in.
Remember that Cineworld isn’t quite bluffing the way AMC had yet. AMC is the only one that blanket banned Universal’s films - arguably overreacting in the wake of the Trolls release. And that overreaction is what allowed Universal to work this out.
While the US is still having the ‘mask debate’ (that sounds great when the kids edit a load of newscasters saying it in quick succession), it will be one, less of prepping, and more of deferring - to at least 2021.
