If the audiences can’t get to the theater, you bring the theater to them.
In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and Americans staying home, Universal Pictures revealed this week that its movies currently in cinemas will become available on iTunes and other on-demand services starting as early as Friday.
“Universal Pictures has a broad and diverse range of movies with 2020 being no exception,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell in a statement. “Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenging distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable.”
The studio revealed that current releases like The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Emma, will be available to rent for 48 hours for $19.99. DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls World Tour will be available on-demand the same day it is released in theaters, April 10. Trolls isn’t slated for global release until April 20, but it will be available through on-demand streaming services in those markets immediately as well.
This all comes in the wake of movie theaters seeing their lowest box office grosses in more than 20 years as cities buckle down under the epidemic. Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area mandated this week that residents must stay home except when venturing out to buy essentials for the next three weeks. Apple Store across the country remain closed indefinitely, with many other retailers following suit.
Universal will update its strategy as time goes on, and has yet to announce whether any movies beyond Trolls World Tour will see early release via digital services in the near future.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via Cult of Mac