Forget concession prices or digital cinema, the most contentious issue between Hollywood studios and theater owners is the window of time between a movie’s theatrical release and when a film becomes available on DVD. The LA Times just reported here that Sony Pictures backed off their plans to unveil This is It before Christmas after the theater chains threatened to pull the Michael Jackson documentary from its screens since it violated the agreed-upon deal that studios would preserve at least three months between a film’s theatrical release and when you can watch it in the comfort of your own home. “We feel that a four-month window is the proper way to do business most of the time,” Sony’s vice-chairman Jeff Blake tells EW.com. “My argument here was this was a limited run and should be treated differently.” The theater chains didn’t agree and rather than risk receiving their full support (This Is It bowed on 6,000 screens across the country) Sony opted to postpone the DVD release til first quarter 2010.
It’s not a new story that theater owners are terrified about preserving their market share from competing technologies. But in a day where you can watch your favorite TV show on Hulu a day after it bows on the network, how would your movie going habits change if you knew a movie that opens in theaters would be available on DVD in a mere 45 days? Would you avoid going to the movies altogether? Or if it’s a movie you really want to see, would the DVD release alter your race to the theater at all?
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I don’t go to the movies anymore anyway. With a big screen TV, a nice sound system, a blu ray player, and not a single jagoff talking through the movie in my living room, not to mention not having to deal with hearing crying children at R-rated movies (WHAT are people thinking???), my TV-room blows most theaters away.
Plus, I can fix a steak dinner with all the trimmin’s for the same price as a drink, a popcorn, and a candy bar for me and the missuses.
So, I go to one or two a year, and that’s it. DVD release dates don’t factor into it for me. I go to flicks I feel I have to see on a big screen, such as Star Trek this year, or Iron Man last year, and that generally equals one or two a year. Other than that, I wait for the DVD already, so they could release DVDs simultaneously and it wouldn’t change my habits.
I do try and support my favorite directors, however. So whenever Terry Gilliam releases a movie, I make sure and see that in the theaters. DVD release dates would not alter that either.
I wish I could afford your lifestyle. Alas, $12 installments are just going to have to do it for me.
Plus, you don’t miss anything when you need to pee!
This is a good point that movies seemed to have grown to an intolerable length. One of the great things about a DVD is that you can fast forward.
Although I love seeing as many movies in the theater as possible, I have to agree with you, Miguel, about the rude people that always happen to sit right next to me. Ugh.
Don’t even get me started on my experience during The Informant!
The length of time for the DVD release is not part of the decision. I go see a movie at a theater when seeing a movie on a big screen adds value vs. seeing on DVD. An obvious extra value is a movie in 3D like “A Christmas Carol” or “Avatar.” Some action movies like Transformers, Star Trek, and Wolverine are much more impressive on the big theatre screen with big sound than DVD/Blu-ray in my house. (Of course, you need to go when the movie is new to the theatre before it gets moved to the tiny screens at the multiplex). One of my biggest motivations for watching on DVD is missing all the commercials at the theatre. It is interesting that television with a DVR and channels like HBO/Showtime is now a commercial free experience now while going to the theatre includes watching 15-20 minutes of commercials. I do not like paying more than $10 for a ticket and having to watch commercials. (How about charging $5 extra per ticket for a special showing at the theatre where no commercials are shown?)
I remember when it was seven years between the release of a movie and it’s debut on video. I feel so old. As much as I love going to the movies, with prices the way they are I pick and choose what I can afford to see on the big screen.
So disrespectful…smh
Anyway nothing will change the movie going experience so long as they keep the big screens big and the surround sound tight. Technology tries to make people lazy but the reality is human beings are made to be kept indoors. Thats why people will ALWAYS want to go out…
i love michael jackson. he will forever live in my heart. i just watched this is it last night, and i thought it was good. some people say there mightnt be a dvd release. but im sure there will be. i was originally planning on watching this is it in the movies at least 5 times, but people tell me to wait untill it comes out on dvd. CANT WAIT!!!!! ILY MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!
I wish they’d sell the DVDs in the movie theatre. With movies I really love, I’d love to buy one on the way out. I hate waiting 6 months for a Harry Potter DVD. Let the people who pay to see the movie have first dibs on buying the DVD. Probably not feasible, but I’d love it.