On March 2, Sean Baker entered the story when he picked up four Oscars for Anora, including the best film marked – the most of any filmmaker received for a film. You can also remember the night when long relaxation on theatrical windows has ended. In his speech of acceptance for winning the best director, Baker appealed to arms on the delicate subject of the duration of a title exclusively in theaters before going to the houses.
“Distributors, please focus above all on the theatrical outings of your films,” he argued in order to return to a 90-day window. “Let’s put it back in the way it was before.”
Several days before the Oscars, Adam Aron of AMC Entertainment – the controversial Maverick and CEO of the largest theater circuit in the world – told investors during a profit call of February 25 that the relaxation of theatrical windows must be revisited in the post -comfortable era, because the levels of presence remain significantly heartbreaking.
“I hope we can introduce longer windows because I think that the current industry experience has failed,” said Aron, recalling that before the pandemic, most films in the United States were not available at home up to at least 74 to 90 days after their initial theatrical version.
What Aron did not mention is that it was in fact AMC which first concluded a historic agreement with Universal in the summer of 2020, collapsing the window at 17 days for an opening of film at $ 50 million or less and 31 days for a title opening. Universal, belonging to Comcast, wanted to experiment with a new premium video window for a long time by which a title is offered for rental at a price of $ 20 or more. The pact has become the new standard to a large extent, although most studios hold more than 40 days (it all depends on how a film takes place).
In particular, Disney, with the exception of a few titles, remained attached to an exclusive 60 -day window. Aron declared during the call for profits that a 45-day window should be “sacrosanct” and that “17 days and 30 days are too short”. He added that he would then like to consider 60 days or more.
Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter The head of the AMC met at least three of the five major studios, but many are not looking forward to returning to past practices. “This ship has sailed,” said a studio director.
Aron, who intends to continue these meetings, is not convinced. “These conversations are live at the moment between studios and theaters” because he thinks that the two would generate more money if there was at least one 45-day window, he told investors.
The mega -circuit cinemark made no statement as to whether Windows should be longer – the company has much fewer debts than the AMC – but the CEO Sean Gamble suggested during a Morgan Stanley conference on March 4 that shortened windows could create confusion.
“On the positive side, we have not seen a more abrupt decay on the trajectory of a film throughout its life cycle after its release in theaters,” said the executive. “This is very consistent with pre-pale models. And even when he enters the house on a Pvod service, we did not see a stronger drop at that time, so it is encouraging. But as consumers become more aware of these short windows, does this finally lead to a form of reduction in overall attendance? I think it is something that is still to be determined over time. »»