Arthouse-indie films: why aren't blu-rays released simultaneously?

[malakaheso]

Ok, I just want some clear answers about this topic. Before I proceed, I am going to set the parameters of this topic:

1)Film makers like Wes Anderson are not really 'arthouse' film makers. Their films get fairly wide releases and play to a certain segment of the mass audience. It makes sense for their films to be released theatrically.

What I don't get, however, is when really small films that don't really have a chance of making a lot of money don't get released on home video at the same time as they get released theatrically, or why they don't just bypass the cinema altogether.

Is the reason to do with the film owners/producers? Do they demand that the distributors get the film in theaters first before dropping them on home video? Is it a prestige thing? Is it still a strike against a film if it goes direct to 'video'?

To use two recent examples: Jauja(with Viggo Mortensen) and Manglehorn(with Al Pacino). Neither film was going to make serious coin at the cinemas, so why bother holding off on the video release? In the case of Pacino, Manglehorn got mixed reviews at festivals, made peanuts at the theaters, and fans of his will have to wait until September/October to see a film that barely played on any screens.

I just don't see the point in making people wait. They should just sell us the films directly ASAP.

[defile959]

In some instances it has to do with contractual obligations, likely having to do with the financing process. Many years ago I worked as a projectionist in a theatre, and occasionally we would have showings of movies like that - they were more geared to a home video release, but would be released to a small number of theatres where they would generally play for one, maybe two weeks to fulfill a contractual obligation of showing the film theatrically. I'm not sure how common this is today, but twenty years ago it happened fairly regularly.

[benricci]

You are also ineligible for many awards without some sort of theatrical exhibition in commercial theaters.