Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie’s chances at the box office?

As someone who has followed the movie industry closely for decades, I can’t help but feel a sense of disbelief and even disappointment when I hear about films being released digitally just weeks after their cinema debut. Having grown up in the era of long theatrical windows, I can’t help but feel that something is lost in this new trend.


After the massive success of “A Quiet Place: Day One” in theaters, I was shocked to find out that it would be released for home viewing just a month later. Many gamers and movie enthusiasts alike took to social media expressing their disappointment, arguing that theatric experiences add to the overall enjoyment of horror films.

Paramount has not yet confirmed the reported release date for “Day One,” which has generated discussion about its potential impact on the film’s box office performance and sparked a larger debate over the lack of time given for movies to grow audiences in theaters.

What wasn’t mentioned is that this has simply become the norm, especially in the US.

As a passionate gamer, I wouldn’t be shocked if I could purchase or rent “Day One” digitally towards the end of this month. Based on Paramount’s past release patterns, they usually make their movies available for digital consumption about a month after their initial theater showings.

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

Each major studio has their own digital release strategy.

A Mad Max Saga” from Warner Bros.

Disney stands out with its current practice. Just like “Wish” and “Elemental,” the upcoming “Inside Out 2” will only be shown in cinemas exclusively for 100 days before being added to Disney+. It’s unlikely that the digital version will be accessible any sooner than two months after its cinema premiere.

The success of the Pixar sequel, which has earned over $1.35 billion (and still growing), can be seen as validation for advocates pushing for extended movie theater showings.

Does the quick digital release actually influence a film’s box office success? Or is it true that audiences will only choose to watch a movie in the theater or not?

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

According to Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst, my friends and I might have a more exciting time at the movies than we thought during the pandemic. While some feared that shifting to more flexible release schedules would be disastrous for cinema owners, it hasn’t been as dire as anticipated.

He pointed out that this action didn’t mean the end for cinemas, but instead highlighted the significance of premiering films in theaters first. The allure and prestige bestowed upon each movie during its theatrical run is a valuable asset.

Based on my years of experience in the film industry, I firmly believe that the term “dynamic” signifies a crucial shift away from the outdated notion of a “one size fits all” approach to film distribution and exhibition. As someone who has witnessed the rapid evolution of audience preferences and market trends, I can attest to the fact that each movie comes with its unique set of circumstances.

As a gamer, I’ve learned that rushing things without considering the consequences can have negative effects. The same goes for movies and their digital releases. While it’s tempting to make a quick release, if the time frame is too short, audiences might hold off on seeing it in theaters and opt to wait for the home video instead. So, it’s essential to strike a balance between providing accessibility and maintaining box office success.

As a gamer, I can relate this to the world of video games. Each game offers distinct features that cater to various player preferences. Despite some titles being released earlier digitally, many gamers still choose the traditional route and head to the store to purchase a physical copy and enjoy the experience in a dedicated gaming space.

According to Dergarabedian’s observation, “The Fall Guy” ranked fifth at the US box office during the weekend following its digital release, which became available for purchase or rental in the United States after a 19-day waiting period according to Universal’s standard.

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

In retrospect, the first installment of Dune, titled “Dune: Part One,” continued to draw crowds to theaters upon its simultaneous debut on Max in the US.

Discovering that a movie will soon be released for home viewing can influence which films we choose to watch.

In the past, Disney, specifically Pixar, has found itself in a similar predicament. With the ongoing pandemic, they unveiled the films “Soul,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” on Disney+ instead of in theaters. This move may have conditioned viewers to anticipate watching new releases right from the comfort of their homes.

The movie “Lightyear” underperformed in cinemas initially, while “Elemental” had a sluggish beginning but eventually picked up. It’s believed that some of the reason for this was the assumption among audiences that they could instead watch “Lightyear” at home.

While it’s an oversimplification to assume that extending a movie’s theatrical window would automatically lead to greater box office success, the fact remains that most blockbusters from the previous two decades have earned the bulk of their revenue within the first six weeks of release (approximately 38 days).

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

As a long-time film enthusiast and industry observer, I’ve had the pleasure of following Scott Mendelson’s insightful analyses for years. Earlier this year, his work took an intriguing turn as he delved deep into the success stories of some of the biggest movies over the past two decades. Having read numerous articles and studies on box office trends, I must admit that Scott’s approach stood out for its comprehensive and engaging style. His background as a box office analyst and entertainment journalist for esteemed publications like Puck News and The Outside Scoop lends him a unique perspective, allowing him to dissect the data and provide valuable context. This in-depth exploration not only showcased the key factors contributing to these blockbuster films’ success but also provided insights into the ever-evolving landscape of Hollywood.

Films like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Barbie,” “Inception,” and both installments of “A Quiet Place,” as well as the “Dark Knight” trilogy, had earned 85-95% of their total US box office revenue by the end of their sixth weekend in theaters.

He pointed out that word-of-mouth and elements surprising or new can result in greater “opening weekend to total domestic sales” ratios. After a movie’s premiere, audiences’ positive reactions often bring more viewers in the third week rather than three months later.

As a gamer, I’ve seen how new trends can subtly change the game without causing an immediate defeat. The same goes for movies and the shifting landscape of film distribution. While some films have had strong openings in recent years, they haven’t been significantly impacted by the emerging digital release windows yet. However, just because the damage hasn’t been fatal doesn’t mean it won’t be a slow and steady demise for cinemas.

In truth, it’s uncertain if we’ll fully understand the situation until theaters experience a volume of releases similar to the 2010s. This might occur next year, but for now, film studios seem to be relying on viewers being uninformed or apathetic about the current state of new releases.

From my perspective as a movie enthusiast, another intriguing aspect Mendelson brought up is the belief that faster digital releases may impact a film’s box office performance. The underlying assumption here is that audiences are well-informed about the release dates for movies they can stream at home.

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

If you haven’t kept up with the US movie release schedule, you probably won’t know the regular release patterns for each film studio.

As a gamer, I can understand why some folks might jump to conclusions when a game like “The Fall Guy” comes out digitally so soon after its cinema release, just 19 days to be exact. It’s natural for people to assume that the game didn’t perform well in cinemas and that’s the reason for the quick digital release. But in truth, as someone who’s been following the gaming industry closely, I know that’s not always the case with Universal releases. Sometimes, it’s just the company’s strategy to capitalize on the buzz and hype surrounding a new game. So let’s not jump to conclusions based on assumptions, but rather wait for more information before forming an opinion.

It may come as a surprise that “A Quiet Place: Day One” could be released for home viewing towards the end of this month. However, given the current situation in the US, where such releases have become more common, this shouldn’t be entirely unexpected. The uproar is likely due to the fact that not many people are familiar with Paramount’s strategy of making new movies available for home viewing so soon after their theatrical release.

In the UK, there isn’t any studio that can match Universal’s 19-day gap between cinema release and home viewing. Consequently, this issue isn’t as significant a concern in the UK (for example, “The Bikeriders” hasn’t been made available for home viewing in the UK yet).

Tom Linay of DCM shared his perspective with Digital Spy, stating, “I believe we’re still in a phase of exploration and adaptation for studios as they determine what works best for their films. It’s evident that some films may benefit from an extended release period, potentially lasting over 100 days.”

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

In recent times, some of the most notable movies such as “Oppenheimer,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” and “Barbie”/”Wonka” have all had extended runs in theaters.

Disney made known prior to the release of “Inside Out 2” that it would enjoy a theatrical run of over 100 days, and there’s a strong chance this film could top box office charts for the year. Contrary to what we’ve been led to believe for years, that people prefer watching Pixar movies at home, “Inside Out 2” has proven this notion wrong.

In simpler terms, I believe films with strong box-office prospects benefit from a lengthy run in theaters.

In simpler terms, a film that appears promising is likely to maintain its success at the box office, as people are often drawn to it regardless of the option to wait and watch it at home within a month of its theater release.

In today’s film industry, movies like “The Fall Guy” no longer consistently draw large box office revenues as they used to.

Do quicker digital releases hurt a movie's chances at the box office?

I’ve noticed a trend for some movies taking a hit due to certain practices, and these films seem all too familiar – they’re the type of studio productions that have been struggling to make an impact for over a decade. From “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” in 2016 to “Long Shot” in 2019, and more recently “The Creator” in 2023, these movies just haven’t left a lasting impression.

A less grim way of putting it would be: “Despite its roots in an older TV series and popular leads who aren’t guaranteed box office success alone, The Fall Guy still manages to hold its own.”

In simpler terms, the reason why “Universal has released The Fall Guy from its home video catalog after 19 days” can be attributed to the lackluster sales performance of similar movies during the previous eight years.

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2024-07-15 17:19

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