Watch a movie that's in theaters, on Amazon?

Darren Levine

Darren Levine

Veteran
So, my lady just found this: http://www.amazon.com/Europa-Report-Watch-While-Theaters/dp/B00DNUF7KW

Firstly, it seems that this movie is grassrooting, or just didn't have the bling for a mainstream release, and is in small theaters like NY's cinema village.

But still... it's available to watch right now on amazon, while it's in theaters.

What say you? Beginning of the end for theaters? I dunno, i do like my 72" tv, but i do enjoy the occasional big flick cinema night out.
 
Day-and-Date releases (VOD release on same day as a film debuts in a couple theaters in LA/NY) have become the norm for a number of indie distributors. I don't know if Magnolia Pictures (who, you'll notice, distributed Europa Report) pioneered this technique, but they're certainly the ones who put it on the map, with releases like I Am Love, Melancholia, 13 Assassins, All Good Things, Let the Right One In, Trollhunter, Hobo with a Shotgun, and The Girlfriend Experience, dating back to 2002. After Magnolia showed they could earn millions on low-budget acquisitions with festival press and tightly-budgeted, target-specific marketing campaigns geared around theatrical runs of usually less than 50 theaters nationwide, with day-and-date (or early-release) VOD runs, all the mini-majors got on-board (the majors still don't want to piss off NATO, so it will be a while before they try day-and-date).

Magnolia and IFC Films have each released 25 films theatrically this year (with no more on the schedule), which is 2-3 times more than any of the major studios (and is currently the highest number of films put out by a distributor this year). IFC is considerably worse at planning their releases, often only releasing the film on cable VOD or some other annoying bulls--t (instead of iTunes/Amazon which is the real money-maker). Radius-TWC was created by The Weinstein Company (and headed by former Magnolia execs) to acquire and plan VOD-centric releases, and they've had a couple good ones like Only God Forgives, which I'm certain made a small killing on VOD.

TL;DR version: Day-and-Date releases have been around for about a decade, and while they're definitely the future of indie cinema, it will be at least another decade, probably more, before the majors forsake massive theatrical runs.

-EMB
 
I acted in an indie film that was released this summer day and date. It was great for the producers because while they were doing talk backs at limited theatrical venues around the country, they could use that buzz to get viewers. I think it's a really great strategy, especially for indies.
 
This film doesn't deserve to be in a theater. The concept is interesting but the execution - lighting, acting, special effects visible in the trailer do not warrant a $10 ticket price. It's a budget production and it shows. Probably even the makers with their mediocre talents who have aspirations to be something they are not add to the over-all student film vibe. I suspect if the filmmakers were more honest about their own limited skills and their budget they would have a stronger film.

Watch Herzog's "Wild Blue Yonder" for similar ideas without the naivete of trying to do something neither filmmakers or their budget are prepared for.
 
it looks like they went for the.... all cameras are security cameras or otherwise actually exist in the reality of the film. Chronicle did this very well, but maybe ER went the wrong way....
 
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