Will the G.I. Joe Blu-ray/DVD release hurt multiplex theaters?

[kndy]

"Our members are ballistic," National Association of Theatre Owners president John Fithian said.

"We don't know what Paramount is up to, but it's highly objectionable," Fithian said.

New York Magazine: The current average window between a movie's theatrical and home-video releases is 129 days, but NATO is worried Paramount's move could inspire other studios to move up their DVD releases as well, thus reducing audiences' urgency to drop $50, battle traffic, wait in line, sit through an hour's worth of commercials, be made motion-sick by 3-D glasses, and spend 120 minutes sharing recirculated air with a theater full of swine-flu sufferers during the first weekend of a film's release.

New York Magazine
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment...o_kill_mo.html

The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...ec348a084fee30

[P@t_Mtl]

I go less and less to theaters myself, no more then 5 times a year on average now, compare to 10 or 20 years ago that is way way down. I don't go see a movie multiple time in theater also. For me personaly it's not because of earlier releases on home video however.

[blujacket]

I go maybe once a year to the theater. I would rather wait and buy the Blu-ray and watch it in the comfort of my home.

[STARSCREAM]

What the heck are they b*tching about, most movies come out 3 months after theater release. GI-Joe came out August 14th so it will be pretty much 3 months since release.

[solarrdadd]

I only go to see the really big budget sci-fi adventure/action type movies and in IMAX. like star trek, harry potter and the soon to be released avatar. other than that, i'll wait because i have a better experience at home, no crying kids, no kids kicking the back of my seat, i can pause the movie anytime i want, watch it in my boxers and scratch and the food and drinks at my house are so much cheaper than the theater and there is no sticky stuff on the bottom of my shoes or feet when i get up off the sofa!

[benricci]

People will still go to the movies because it's something to do, to get out of the house.

Pushing up a DVD release date a few weeks on a summer blockbuster is not gonna cause a noticeable amount of people to stay home and avoid that blockbuster in the theater.

[SapGoblin]

I go to the theater just about EVERY week!!!

So there ya go!?!?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

What the heck are they b*tching about, most movies come out 3 months after theater release. GI-Joe came out August 14th so it will be pretty much 3 months since release.

Also, GI Joe was seen as a "disappointment" by the studio because it'd been slaughtered by guilt-by-association bad reviews from critics still traumatized by Transformers 2, and because Paramount had pre-emptively expected it to be one from the reshoots--
On Paramount's books, the movie was written off as a quote-fingers "flop", and given the short disk window for a bottom-tier summer release...But like a certain similarly studio-framed racecar driver, it's really not too darn bad a movie once audiences can actually get the chance to rent it.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

What the heck are they b*tching about, most movies come out 3 months after theater release. GI-Joe came out August 14th so it will be pretty much 3 months since release.

Article states that the average window is 129 days, which is over 4 months.

Paramount is hoping to get as much of the holiday market as possible, and since there's a big release pretty much every week after November 3 they chose to try and get the early market. They don't want to release it in December and have to compete with Night at the Museum 2, Harry Potter, Public Enemies, and The Hangover.

[STARSCREAM]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Article states that the average window is 129 days, which is over 4 months.

Paramount is hoping to get as much of the holiday market as possible, and since there's a big release pretty much every week after November 3 they chose to try and get the early market. They don't want to release it in December and have to compete with Night at the Museum 2, Harry Potter, Public Enemies, and The Hangover.

Geez, so they are gonna throw a hissy fit over 3 months and 4 months!!?

[banned user105]

Good for Paramount. If NATO wants to do something about declining theater attendance then maybe they should address rising ticket/concession prices and the numerous annoying distractions during movies that keep people from wanting to spend their hard-earned money there. New York Magazine nailed it.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

Geez, so they are gonna throw a hissy fit over 3 months and 4 months!!?

These are the same TYPE of execs that threw a hissy fit over the VCR because "multiple people can see a movie for one fee!!!!!, We're DOOMED!!! Destroy the VCR!!!!"

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by doctorthodt

Good for Paramount. If NATO wants to do something about declining theater attendance then maybe they should address rising ticket/concession prices and the numerous annoying distractions during movies that keep people from wanting to spend their hard-earned money there.

Yes, the experience of going to see a movie in theater as gone down hill a lot in the last 15 years IMO.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

Geez, so they are gonna throw a hissy fit over 3 months and 4 months!!?

Not throwing a hissy fit, but there's a pretty big difference between 88 days and 129 days.

[STARSCREAM]

Originally Posted by doctorthodt

Good for Paramount. If NATO wants to do something about declining theater attendance then maybe they should address rising ticket/concession prices and the numerous annoying distractions during movies that keep people from wanting to spend their hard-earned money there. New York Magazine nailed it.

Bravo!!! +1000

[STARSCREAM]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Not throwing a hissy fit, but there's a pretty big difference between 88 days and 129 days.

It's now worth complaining about it my point. Would be different if it was coming out a month after theater release.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

It's now worth complaining about it my point. Would be different if it was coming out a month after theater release.

I agree with you. I think the theaters are just mad that GI Joe wasn't the blockbuster they hoped it would be so are just looking for an excuse to complain. It's not like Paramount announced before the movie was released that it would be out on DVD/BD in November. The box office was not hurt by this, and they shouldn't assume that just because one studio is releasing a couple movies earlier than usual that all the other studios will suddenly start doing it.

[Steve]

Even without knowing the exact date a movie will be released on DVD/blu-ray, I do know that it will be somewhere in the 3-4 month range on average. This is pretty much the case for any movie nowadays. Knowing this doesn't necessarily keep me from going to see a movie at the theater, but it makes me feel better if I don't make it. Either way, I do enjoy seeing a movie much more at my house than at a commercial theater for all the reasons mentioned in posts above.

[painted_klown]

Pushing up a Blu release isn't going to stop people from going to the movies at all. In fact, I feel that it will actually lead to films making MORE money in the long run. Here's why.

A movie gets released to theaters and you see the trailers and say to yourself "I wanna go see that". Then the movie either A) Never makes it to your local multiplex OR B) You never get the opportinuty to actually make it to the theater to see it because you work at a resort and have crappy hours and by the time you get a day off the movie is no longer at your local multiplex. (maybe that last one is just me)

Then time passes and you forget about that cool trailer you saw or even lose interest altogether because now something else has came along to grab your attention.

If there is a smaller gap between theatrical and blu ray release dates then there is more of an opportunity for studios to cash in on these films while they are still fresh on your mind, and are "hot" movies.

All films, but especially "brainless popcorn action movies" would probably benefit the most from this strategy. Let the consumers have their big, loud, dumb, blockbusters while they are still being heavily discussed on messgae boards.

This is not a slight against any robot film sequal () but I wasn't too concerned with seeing it in the theaters after the reviews poured in.
I do however like the first movie and after reading about it on here so much and knowing the whole time that it will be a joy to watch and hear I have actually become quite excited about the blu release on the 20th. So much so, that I have actually decided to take the day off, go pick up a friend (who seriously LOVES both of these mvoies) and roll to Wal-Mart as soon as I get up just to spend the day rocking it and having a good time with a buddy.

[xander]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Yes, the experience of going to see a movie in theater as gone down hill a lot in the last 15 years IMO.

See, I feel the exact opposite. Granted, I've always lived near or in a decent sized city (currently KC), but I have loved the innovations in theater luxury and amenities over the past decade. I try to go once every week or two, and nothing beats it. I love seeing movies at the theater.

As for the theater to home video window, I think the difference in 3 to 4 months is negligible at this point in lowering theater attendance.