The Invisible Man , The Hunt , and More Will Hit Streaming Services Soon Because of Coronavirus
Universal announced today that, due to coronavirus concerns leading to mass social distancing, it will be releasing several currently in-theaters movies, including The Invisible Man and The Hunt, as Video On Demand, making them available to stream at home. It’s an unprecedented Hollywood move that could be a sign of what’s to come as the entertainment industry grapples with the spread of COVID-19.
The decision comes after several major tentpole movies, including No Time To Die and Disney’s live-action Mulan remake, have been postponed due to the spread of the virus. Additionally, local and state governments have begun to order that movie theaters close their doors to prevent the further spread of the virus. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut movie theaters will close as of Monday night, and Los Angeles shut down its theaters yesterday. Even before the official closures, last weekend’s box office hit a historic low, with a total of just $55.3 million.
It makes sense, then, that a major studio like Universal would be looking for a way to make some sort of money with these big, expensive movies that are currently in theaters that audiences either can’t or won’t go to due to coronavirus. Among the titles that are currently in theaters but will be available as VOD are Emma, The Invisible Man, and The Hunt, which notably already had its theatrical release delayed due to political controversy that erupted last summer. The films will cost $19.99 to rent for 48 hours on iTunes, Amazon, and other on-demand services as of Friday.
Perhaps most interesting though is Universal’s announcement that Trolls World Tour, the upcoming sequel to the 2016 Justin Timberlake-starring animated kids movie, will be available to rent on the same day as its theatrical release—to whatever extent that will exist as we know it in a few weeks—on April 10.
“Given the rapidly evolving and unprecedented changes to consumers’ daily lives during this difficult time, the company felt that now was the right time to provide this option in the home as well as in theaters,” NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said in a statement. “ “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.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s insiders claim that Universal’s decision isn’t a blanket one, and that we shouldn’t expect all of their 2020 releases to hit VOD on the same day as their theatrical premieres. And, it’s worth remembering that blockbusters like Fast & Furious 9, which is also a Universal movie, have had their release dates delayed rather than switch to streaming. Such an expensive movie is unlikely to recoup the necessary costs without a proper theatrical release, but it’s still quite notable that NBCUniversal has become the first studio to begin same-day streaming releases. As COVID-19 continues to spread and impact the world and entertainment industry, it’s possible that other studios may follow suit to varying degrees.
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the injustices of American society. Now our only way out is to come together—by staying apart.
Originally Appeared on GQ
