Cinema Chains to Boycott Netflix's CROUCHING TIGER Sequel
Furious cinemas chains have threatened to boycott the forthcoming sequel to the Oscar-winning martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon following Netflix’s announcement that the film will be available to view on the same day it hits cinemas. The streaming service announced on Monday that it is teaming with The Weinstein Company to co-produce the new movie. They plan to debut Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, simultaneously at Imax cinemas globally and via Netflix on 28 August next year.
However AMC, Cinemark, Regal and Carmike, which together own more than half the US’s 400 Imax screens, all said they would refuse to screen the film. They are angry because the plan radically ignores the longstanding theatrical “window” which means that new movies are not usually made available to view at home for at least 13-17 weeks after their release in cinemas. Europe’s second-largest chain, Cineworld, and Canada’s largest chain Cineplex also said they would not be screening the sequel.
The reaction from cinema owners challenges Netflix’s proposal because Imax owns only a handful of its own sites. The Weinsteins would most likely still be able to release the film in China, though opposition from AMC – owned by Chinese giant Wanda – suggests there could be issues there too.
Implications of this could be very interesting, seeing as how streaming sites like Netflix are the future of content providers. This is like when WWE got dropped by DISH and Direct TV. Gouging monopolies seeing their gravy train heading towards the end of the rail.
I'll be rooting for Netflix in this fight.
Furious cinemas chains have threatened to boycott the forthcoming sequel to the Oscar-winning martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon following Netflix’s announcement that the film will be available to view on the same day it hits cinemas. The streaming service announced on Monday that it is teaming with The Weinstein Company to co-produce the new movie. They plan to debut Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend, simultaneously at Imax cinemas globally and via Netflix on 28 August next year.
However AMC, Cinemark, Regal and Carmike, which together own more than half the US’s 400 Imax screens, all said they would refuse to screen the film. They are angry because the plan radically ignores the longstanding theatrical “window” which means that new movies are not usually made available to view at home for at least 13-17 weeks after their release in cinemas. Europe’s second-largest chain, Cineworld, and Canada’s largest chain Cineplex also said they would not be screening the sequel.
The reaction from cinema owners challenges Netflix’s proposal because Imax owns only a handful of its own sites. The Weinsteins would most likely still be able to release the film in China, though opposition from AMC – owned by Chinese giant Wanda – suggests there could be issues there too.
Implications of this could be very interesting, seeing as how streaming sites like Netflix are the future of content providers. This is like when WWE got dropped by DISH and Direct TV. Gouging monopolies seeing their gravy train heading towards the end of the rail.
I'll be rooting for Netflix in this fight.