My final thoughts on THE INTERVIEW debacle…
Bear in mind that I fully supported the nation’s top theater circuits for having taken their tough hands off stand in not showing the movie.
In my opinion it’s got nothing to do with Freedom Of Speech.
And I haven’t yet seen the movie after Sony cancelled the critic’s screening four hours prior to its scheduled showtime, but I hear it’s pretty damn funny for a Seth Rogen, James Franco flick.
So why did theaters initially cancel their bookings of THE INTERVIEW?
* Threats against theaters.
* Insurance issues.
* Pressure from malls and other multi-use properties and businesses surrounding theaters.
* Potential (post 9/11) staffing issues.
* Possible negative impact on other movies showing over the holidays in their theaters,…just to mention a few.
Let me assure you that after THE DARK KNIGHT RISES 2012 midnight massacre at Cinemark’s Aurora, Colorado theater, the industry is a lot more nervous these days.
Now fast forward a to this past Christmas week.
Things had cooled down a bit and, according to sources, there was a slight chance for the movie to open at least at some major circuit theaters.
That’s when Sony Entertainment dropped the bomb!
They announced a last minute day-and-date release deal for the film with various pay-per-view networks which TOTALLY goes against the grain of America’s mainstream theater operators. Operators who’ve been pouring millions of dollars into upgrading their megaplexes.
It could have opened the floodgates to FUTURE day-and-date theater/video on demand playoff patterns.
Which would be a sure road to movie theater suicide.
Don’t think for a minute that other studios aren’t analyzing the outcome of the theater box office for THE INTERVIEW for possible future day-and-date VOD runs.
Note that the only way the major theater chains will play day-and-date with video tiers is if the film’s distributor rents an auditorium from the exhibitor outright for showings. That’s called “four-walling” a theater.
So what’s this mess going to do to Sony Entertainment?
I predict that top management of the company will be out within the next six months.
How could they have put such insensitive info into their emails?
The hacked documents have just done too much damage to the studio, not to mention Sony – home to Columbia Pictures, Tri-Star and Screen Gems – hasn’t exactly set the box office on fire the past couple years.
And remember: The ultra conservative Sony mothership doesn’t like controversy!
Matter of fact rumors are hot and heavy these days about Japan’s Sony corporation to unload their entire American studio and distribution division.
Possible buyers? LionsGate, Netflix, Google—or maybe even a CHINESE powerhouse!
That’s right, the Chinese – who’ve already swallowed AMC Theatres.
Hold on while I check my fortune cookie……
movie sucked (in my opinion).
and probably would have made money but now we’re finding out from
sources that it was actually done with an inside sony culprit. what have
you heard jack.
this will continue so get used to it boys.
hackers at age 14 can get into other’s computers now.
maybe don’t put the movie online at all before release….like the days before the
internet. Duh!
I haven’t seen the movie but don’t blame the theater companies for boycotting it. Why contribute to their own funeral? Shame on those little guys who didn’t look beyond their pocket book and played it anyway. Funny but they will be the ones put out of business first.
Hold it a second, Jon…
So Butch Rigby is going to burn in Movie Hell for showing “The Interview”?
I don’t get it, what were Butch and Cinetopia’s sins?
I for one was thrilled to be able to venture out on Christmas Day and watch “The Interview” in Greater Kansas City’s finest movieplex.
AMC had every right to chicken out, but blame it on Butch?
Enlighten me, please.
I think jon is saying that movie theatres are probably
doomed like blockbuster.
people with be able to get movies right from on demand
….pay per view or via dvd right into their homes.
maybe he’s saying that movie theatres will be a thing
of the past like dinosaurs in afew years when studios realize
that they can cut expenses…and right to direct to the
viewer.
that would save them millions…and give them billions
more in profits.
It will happen…just a matter of time.
Hey jack….how could they put such insensitive crap in their emails?
it happens everyday. I’m sure if the hackers released all the emails
we would find even more insults and cracks about the people in
hollwood.
Are you that naïve….email is just another gossip mill.
I guarantee there’s some really good stuff they didn’t release that would
shake up the entire movie industry!
guarantee the irs would love to get their hands on those figures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Perhaps I should wait for the DVD?