AMID the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Universal Pictures has announced that a number of its films currently in theaters, as well as one yet to release, will arrive on video-on-demand services starting this Friday, March 20, 2020. The films include The Hunt, The Invisible Man, and Emma. Trolls World Tour will receive a simultaneous theater/VOD release on April 10, 2020 (for those theaters remaining open). As of March 17, 2020, Universal has not commented on the release plans of the rest of its slate.
Usually, studios provide theaters with roughly 90 days of exclusivity before releasing films through other means. With Universal Pictures now defying that norm, this could potentially lead to long term issues for theaters. Will moviegoers want to give up the convenience of their own home? After all, home theater set-ups have improved substantially and it seems harder and harder to find a venue with patrons not on their phones or talking to one another.
After a few months of social distancing, new habits will form. Once loyal theatergoers may begin to shun going out for the latest films and embrace a simpler and more personal experience. Home set-ups may never truly match the screen and sound quality of a decent theater, but how good is good enough? Is the pure spectacle of it all still a strong draw? Or are Universal’s actions another nail in the traditional theater system’s coffin?
