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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 24 July 2020
Movie theaters implore studios: Release the blockbusters

By JAKE COYLE "It seems prudent to think
AP Film Writer that indoors is where the
NEW YORK (AP) — A long lion share of transmission
time ago in a pre-COV- takes place," says Shaman.
ID universe far, far away, "You could think: well, it's a
blockbusters opened movie theater. If you space
around the globe simul- people out, it's a big room,
taneously or nearly so. In tall ceilings. If they get the
1975, "Jaws" set the blue- ventilation cranked up, it's
print. Concentrate market- actually not the most con-
ing. Open wide. Pack them centrated environment. It's
in. not liked a packed bar with
Since then, Hollywood has a low ceiling. It's probably
turned opening weekends not as dangerous as that
into an all-out assault. Stag- scenario. But is it more dan-
gered rollouts still happen, gerous than sitting home
of course, but the biggest and watching Netflix? Yes,
films are dropped like car- of course it is."
pet bombs. Anything less But imperfect may be all
risks losing the attention of cinemas and studios have
moviegoers. Global debuts for now. Fithian believes
north of $300 million be- 75% of U.S. theaters could
came commonplace. Last be open within days if they
year, "Avengers: Endgame" had new movies. (Those
made well north of $1 bil- Posters for upcoming movies are displayed in an empty corridor at the currently closed AMC currently open are mainly
lion in a couple days. Burbank Town Center 8 movie theaters complex on April 29, 2020, in Burbank, Calif. playing older films.) The-
Hollywood has now gone Associated Press aters are closed in Cali-
more than four months fornia and have yet to re-
without a major theatrical their movies," says John Fi- date release." Sang-ho's "Train to Busan" open in New York despite
release. While some films thian, president and chief The coronavirus crisis has action sequel "Peninsula" the state's relative success
have found new streaming executive of National As- ushered in new chapter debuted with $13.2 mil- in combating the virus. That
homes, the biggest upcom- sociation of Theater Own- in the often symbiotic, oc- lion. Theaters in China, removes the two top cities
ing ones — "Tenet," "Mulan," ers. "Distributors who want casionally quarrelsome the world's second largest in ticket sales, Los Angeles
"A Quiet Place Part II" — re- to play movies theatrically, relationship between dis- movie market, this week and New York.
main idled like jumbo jets they can't wait until 100% of tributors and exhibitors. reopened with theaters lim- "The longer this goes, there
on the tarmac. The leading markets are allowed open Splitting ticket sale revenue ited to 30% capacity. will be bankruptcy filings
chains are still shuttered. because that's not going to approximately in half, their North America, usually the and reorganizations and
Recent coronavirus spikes happen until there's a vac- fortunes have often been main event of a block- there will be people who
have forced release dates cine widely available in the closely linked. buster release, may have go out of business," says
to shuffle and chains to world." The largest studios — the to learn to follow the rest of Fithian who's currently lob-
postpone reopening to Au- "The old distribution models Walt Disney Co., Warner the world. bying for greater Congres-
gust. of big blockbusters," adds Bros., Universal — now all Despite the virus surge in sional support for theaters.
Now, movie houses say Fithian, "need to be re- have streaming services of much of the U.S., exhibitors "But if there are no new
that despite far from ideal thought." their own now, along with believe they can operate movies until that's a vac-
circumstances, it's time for That may mean returning television operations. So relatively safely by adher- cine, that's a dire situation
new movies. Four months to a more old-fashioned they have options. The on- ing to health officials, de- for a lot of companies."
of near zero revenue has release pattern, opening demand release of "Trolls" creasing theater capacity AMC recently raised $300
brought the $50 billion an- films overseas first and, in caused a rift between Uni- and cleaning in between million in debt relief to
nual business to its knees. the U.S., opening at differ- versal and AMC. But the showings. After initially flip- help itself remain solvent.
While the beleaguered ent times in different areas. two halves of theatrical flopping, AMC will require Throughout the industry,
restaurant industry still has When Warner Bros. ear- moviegoing have worked patrons to wear masks. some 150,000 workers re-
takeout and airlines contin- lier this week announced largely in concert through AMC, the world's largest main furloughed.
ue to operate with masked it was delaying the release the pandemic thus far. circuit, on Thursday de- Jonathan Kuntz, a film his-
flyers, the vast majority of of Christopher Nolan's "Te- It's in their own self-interest. layed its reopening from torian and professor at the
U.S. movie theaters haven't net" because of the rise in Studios have been loath the end of July to mid-to- University of California, Los
punched a single ticket cases, Warner Bros. Pictures to sacrifice billions in box late August. After "Tenet" Angeles, says "Tenet" "was
since March. Some have Group chairman Toby Em- office for their priciest and earlier this week postponed made for a world that no
turned to selling popcorn merich said the studio is most popular releases. On indefinitely, Disney's "Mu- longer exists."
curbside. "not treating 'Tenet' like a Thursday, John Stankey, lan" followed suit Thursday. But as much as the familiar
"The problem is, we need traditional global day-and- chief executive of War- Disney also pushed back kind of worldwide launch is
ner Bros. parent company numerous releases, includ- now impossible, the down-
AT&T said direct release to ing films in the "Avatar" and side of improvising might
HBO Max could be option "Star Wars" franchises, back not be as bad as it seems
for some Warner Bros. mov- by a year. — provided piracy isn't
ies but not the $200 million Some moviegoers, natural- widespread. There will be
"Tenet." ly, don't anticipate going, scant competition. "Tenet"
With distancing protocols regardless of what comes can take up most screens.
and other measures, cin- out. Jeffrey Shaman, an Its opening can be spread
emas have reopened in epidemiologist at Colum- out through the week. Ad-
parts of Europe, the Mid- bia University, isn't planning vertising will be cheaper.
dle East and South Korea, to go to the movies this Audiences will have little to
where last weekend Yeon year. distract them.q