Shout Factory Acquires 8 Godzilla Films! - Blu-ray Forum

The Dark Uniter · 10-31-2014, 03:14 AM

According to an exclusive report on The Hollywood Reporter, Shout Factory has acquired Westchester Films, which has rights to the works of Alfred Hitchcock as well as 8 Godzilla films including the 1954 original:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...r-films-736617

DenOfEarth · 10-31-2014, 03:16 AM

Yeh but Criterion already did great on Godzilla 1954, does this mean the sequels will be in the Scream label?

SethRex · 10-31-2014, 03:17 AM

If the 54 version is one of the 8 i wonder what the other 7 are?

RiFiFi1955 · 10-31-2014, 03:20 AM

what Hitchcocks did they have?

Lt. Brannigan · 10-31-2014, 03:21 AM

As I recollect, this deal is streaming rights only. Physical rights remain unaffected.

steve_dave · 10-31-2014, 03:29 AM

Quote:

New York-based Westchester, founded in 2006 by producers Mark Balsam and Julian Schlossberg, will operate as a subsidiary of Shout! Its strength lies in rights for platforms including digital broadband, pay TV, VOD, satellite and broadcast networks.

Shout!, meanwhile, is seeking to diversify beyond DVD sales and aiming to launch a digital channel this year.

It does not look like home video rights were acquired just television, on demand, and streaming rights.

So Criterion's DVD & BD releases of Godzilla look to be unaffected but its status on Hulu is ???.

Undeadcow · 10-31-2014, 03:37 AM

This acquisition likely doesn't cancel any pre-existing contracts. If, for example, Criterion license Godzilla for physical and digital streaming then Criterion retains probably that license for it's duration. Maybe in 5 years or whenever it lapses Shout can do whatever.

Egbert Souse · 10-31-2014, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

what Hitchcocks did they have?

Foreign Correspondent is the only one.

cakefactory · 10-31-2014, 04:09 AM

This got posted a month ago and the conclusion seemed to be "it probably doesn't mean anything at all for blurays."

Vlad Draculi · 10-31-2014, 06:16 AM

ON care if they are being released on BD.

MaskedRider · 10-31-2014, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SethRex

If the 54 version is one of the 8 i wonder what the other 7 are?

Here's hoping 1985 is one of them. I'm not the biggest Godzilla fan (I've only seen a few) but I know that's one that hasn't been released in the US and I'd love to see it.

Lt. Brannigan · 10-31-2014, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaskedRider

Here's hoping 1985 is one of them. I'm not the biggest Godzilla fan (I've only seen a few) but I know that's one that hasn't been released in the US and I'd love to see it.

This deal is for streaming only.

zbinks · 10-31-2014, 08:48 AM

It seems that Westchester may have physical media rights to certain films that are currently licensed to Criterion or Hen's Tooth Video for Blu-Ray and/or DVD. When those deals expire, the rights would presumably land with Shout! Factory, but I suspect none will be in the near future.

I don't think the deal has any physical media ramifications for the Godzilla films. As far as I can tell, the Godzilla films they have broadcast/nonphysical media rights to 8 Shōwa series films (Gojira / Godzilla: King of the Monsters / Godzilla Raids Again / Mothra vs. Godzilla / Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster / Godzilla vs. Monster Zero / Godzilla's Revenge / Terror of Mechagodzilla). Physical media rights to these films are currently licensed to Criterion and/or Classic Media.

hanshotfirst1138 · 10-31-2014, 12:45 PM

I suppose it's too much to hope that they can acquire the AIP dubs much loved by nostalgic fans

.

Oscar Rothman · 10-31-2014, 12:51 PM

Old news and as pointed out by a few members already, it has nothing to do with blu-ray rights.

10-31-2014, 03:14 AM	#1
The Dark Uniter Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2010 Location:Maryland, USA 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:395 DVD collection:94 Blu-ray reviews:1	Shout Factory Acquires 8 Godzilla Films! According to an exclusive report on The Hollywood Reporter, Shout Factory has acquired Westchester Films, which has rights to the works of Alfred Hitchcock as well as 8 Godzilla films including the 1954 original: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...r-films-736617

10-31-2014, 03:16 AM	#2
DenOfEarth Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:May 2011 Location:Boulder City, Nevada 4K collection:164 Blu-ray collection:1556 DVD collection:229 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:1	Yeh but Criterion already did great on Godzilla 1954, does this mean the sequels will be in the Scream label?

10-31-2014, 03:17 AM	#3
SethRex Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jan 2009 4K collection:6 Blu-ray collection:7 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 6 Trading Score:127	If the 54 version is one of the 8 i wonder what the other 7 are?

10-31-2014, 03:20 AM	#4
RiFiFi1955 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2012 Location:Albany, NY 4K collection:104 Blu-ray collection:1930	what Hitchcocks did they have?

10-31-2014, 03:21 AM	#5
Lt. Brannigan Banned Member since:Jul 2012 Trading Score:44	As I recollect, this deal is streaming rights only. Physical rights remain unaffected.

10-31-2014, 03:37 AM	#7
Undeadcow Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Nov 2011 Location:Houston, TX Blu-ray collection:1855 Trading Score:196	This acquisition likely doesn't cancel any pre-existing contracts. If, for example, Criterion license Godzilla for physical and digital streaming then Criterion retains probably that license for it's duration. Maybe in 5 years or whenever it lapses Shout can do whatever.

10-31-2014, 04:09 AM	#9
cakefactory Blu-ray Baron Top contributor Member since:Oct 2012 Location:WI, USA 4K collection:436 Blu-ray collection:3878 DVD collection:808 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:23	This got posted a month ago and the conclusion seemed to be "it probably doesn't mean anything at all for blurays."

10-31-2014, 06:16 AM	#10
Vlad Draculi Banned Member since:Jul 2014 Blu-ray collection:567 Trading Score:2	ON care if they are being released on BD.

10-31-2014, 08:48 AM	#13
zbinks Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Nov 2011 Location:Illinois 4K collection:46 Blu-ray collection:3037 DVD collection:442 Digital collection:1 Trading Score:1	It seems that Westchester may have physical media rights to certain films that are currently licensed to Criterion or Hen's Tooth Video for Blu-Ray and/or DVD. When those deals expire, the rights would presumably land with Shout! Factory, but I suspect none will be in the near future. I don't think the deal has any physical media ramifications for the Godzilla films. As far as I can tell, the Godzilla films they have broadcast/nonphysical media rights to 8 Shōwa series films (Gojira / Godzilla: King of the Monsters / Godzilla Raids Again / Mothra vs. Godzilla / Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster / Godzilla vs. Monster Zero / Godzilla's Revenge / Terror of Mechagodzilla). Physical media rights to these films are currently licensed to Criterion and/or Classic Media.

10-31-2014, 12:45 PM	#14
hanshotfirst1138 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2011 4K collection:112 Blu-ray collection:741 DVD collection:91 Trading Score:24	I suppose it's too much to hope that they can acquire the AIP dubs much loved by nostalgic fans .

10-31-2014, 12:51 PM	#15
Oscar Rothman Banned Top contributor Member since:Apr 2012 Location:Hawaii Blu-ray collection:412	Old news and as pointed out by a few members already, it has nothing to do with blu-ray rights.

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