During our LRMorning show, we talked about the plethora of films that are ahead of us in the next few years. With the horrific worldwide pandemic, studios had been forced to move their films back or premiere them on streaming services. While there are seemingly good times ahead, theaters are currently facing a problem.
WIth different states opening theaters at different times. As well as different theater chains also opening at different times, there is currently a shortage of films. You can’t open a theater with just one or two films. So what is the solution?
Via The Wall Street Journal, it looks like some of the nation’s theaters are turning to a very unlikely source, Netflix. With a mix of films being pushed back and other films going straight to streaming, there is expected to be a shortage of programming for at least three years. This is why you may have noticed that several theater chains premiered Netflix’s zombie-heist film by Zack Snyder, Army of the Dead on Friday. This is one week before it had been scheduled to be released on their streaming service.
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Theaters are now compromising with Netflix and other streaming services so that they will have access to play their films on the big screen before their home release. Pre-pandemic, Netflix, and other streamers were seen as a mortal threat and not a business partner. They would refuse to budge on the exclusive 90-day theatrical window. This was something that Netflix insisted on drastically reducing.
Theater executives and Hollywood agents are commenting about the deal. Saying that we should expect more of them going forward. This deal could really benefit Netflix as it could really help them secure deals with specific directors. Ones that they maybe had avoided in the past because they want a guaranteed theatrical release.
What do you think of this unique partnership? Let us know in the comments below!
Netflix’s Army of the Dead is now playing in select theaters and will launch on their streaming service on May 21st.
