As cities across the United States start encouraging residents to stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at least one major movie studio is making big changes to how it releases films.
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. But they won’t come cheap.
“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.”
Universal streams new movies to homes
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 doesn’t roll out globally until April 20, but it will be available through on-demand streaming services in those markets immediately as well.
“We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible,” said Shell.
Movie theaters experienced their lowest box office grosses in more than 20 years last weekend as cities buckled down for the coronavirus 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 release strategy as the COVID-19 outbreak progresses for better or worse. The company hasn’t yet said if any other movies beyond Trolls will get the same treatment.
