Universal responds to AMC's refusal to play its movies: “We absolutely believe in the theatrical experience...We expect to release future films directly to theaters, as well as on VOD when that distribution outlet makes sense'
, announcing it will no longer play any of the studio’s films in the wake of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s promise to open titles on premium and in theaters at the same time.” on April 10 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and widespread theater closures rather than wait for theaters to re-open — which is unlikely to occur until mid-summer.
AMC Theaters chairman-CEO Adam Aron attacked the notion of breaking that 90-day window in a strongly worded letter to Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley, saying the change in releasing policy is unacceptable. “Universal’s unilateral pronouncements on this issue are unpalatable to us, as has always been the case, AMC is willing to sit down with Universal to discuss different windows strategies and different economic models between your company and ours,” he said. “However, in the absence of such discussions, and an acceptable conclusion thereto, our decades of incredibly successful business activity together has sadly come to an end.
The spokesperson also said Unviersal was “disappointed” by AMC’s move and by statements by the National Association of Theatre Owners. Rival studios have also been experimenting with PVOD recently with Warner Bros. releasing “Scoob,” a cartoon based on Scooby-Doo characters, directly onnext month, while Disney announced “Artemis Fowl” would launch exclusively on Disney Plus in June.
“Universal does not have reason to use unusual circumstances in an unprecedented environment as a springboard to bypass true theatrical releases,” said NATO president and CEO John Fithian. “Theaters provide a beloved immersive, shared experience that cannot be replicated – an experience that many of the VOD viewers of this film would have participated in had the world not been sequestered at home, desperate for something new to watch with their families.
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