Concerned about future home releases

[jFug]

So I've been thinking about how this coronavirus pandemic will affect home media releases down the line. I was looking at 4K release calendar on the site and now through the beginning of June is full of some great releases.

My concern is that after that initial week in June we will enter a "release desert" because of the fact that all major movie releases from mid March through the beginning of June have been pushed back or delayed indefinitely.

So three months from now (when what was supposed to be releasing in theaters now was supposed to hit home media) we can expect no "newer" movies to be released. Do you think studios will release more catalog titles to fill the empty months or not?

Best case scenario, the pandemic will be on it's way out by the end of April so it's possible major June releases like Top Gun: Maverick, Soul, and Candyman will not be affected, but those would end up hitting home media in late September/October. Worst case scenario this may push back a lot of home releases considerably.

Thoughts?

[ckmoak]

Maverick already got hit...

[JPK]

Consider yourself lucky you can even buy physical media. We are in lockdown and no 'non-essential' products can be delivered.

I want 1917 and Rise of Skywalker but will have to wait until May (or June at this rate).

[TXMoviebuff77]

It’ll be awhile before new releases will be available, I bet Invisible Man will be the last recent release, or maybe Bloodshot or Onward. Nothing has been released in theaters since.

[DanTheMan]

Let’s just say that Black Friday is probably gonna be underwhelming compared to other years.

Well.....if we have a Black Friday.

[BluBonnet]

If you think the pandemic will be "on it's way out" by the end of April, I really don't know what to tell you.

Maybe it isn't a bad time to a) catching up with stuff you haven't watched yet or b) pick up some good books

[hoejunter]

I’m just watching things I’ve had in my watch list for a while. I’ve got a ton of stuff on Netflix to get though and a pile of unwatched Blu Rays.

[Tony208]

It'll be bad for a while if you're looking for new releases. Maybe they make more catalog 4k releases to make up for it.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by DanTheMan

Let’s just say that Black Friday is probably gonna be underwhelming compared to other years.

Well.....if we have a Black Friday.

Underwhelming for the consumer or the retailer? The markets going to be so messed up by Black Friday idk if they are going to be able to offer a sale big enough to get people back in the stores. We are going to go into a depression at this rate.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by JPK

Consider yourself lucky you can even buy physical media. We are in lockdown and no 'non-essential' products can be delivered.

I want 1917 and Rise of Skywalker but will have to wait until May (or June at this rate).

Nonsense, I live in Spain that is fully locked and I got last Monday the soundtrack for The Rise Of Skywalkeras a 2LP set.
And JB Hi Fi from Australia shipped me last week the Star Wars OT and Rogue One on UHD BD.
I'm not a religious person but remember the Bible "ask, and you will be given".
Does JB Hi Fi ships to New Zealand? Chances are that if they are in Australia and ship to Spain, will also ship to New Zealand.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Tony208

It'll be bad for a while if you're looking for new releases. Maybe they make more catalog 4k releases to make up for it.

It remains to be seen how much of the US will be on lockdown by then, and whether online businesses are still prioritizing essential items. Also, lots of people will have been unemployed for weeks, if not months.

I mean, there could still be a few sales here and there, but most likely just a fraction of what you'd see in normal times.

[JPK]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

Nonsense, I live in Spain that is fully locked and I got last Monday the soundtrack for The Rise Of Skywalkeras a 2LP set.
And JB Hi Fi from Australia shipped me last week the Star Wars OT and Rogue One on UHD BD.
I'm not a religious person but remember the Bible "ask, and you will be given".
Does JB Hi Fi ships to New Zealand? Chances are that if they are in Australia and ship to Spain, will also ship to New Zealand.

Nope. I even had a BBQ grill that was in transit before lockdown and now the freight company is holding it at their depot.

JBHiFi here is only allowing 'essential' computer peripherals and appliances etc to be purchased. See landing page: https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/

Amazon USA is not allowing me to add most items to my cart for delivery to NZ.

We have some of the strictest laws in the world right now. I can't even drive 3 minutes down the road to the beach for a walk. Cars can only be used to drive to medical appointments and grocery stores.

[chip75]

Unless things are ready to ship to suppliers, I doubt we'll see many new physical releases this year. The time before authoring and production isn't huge, so with factories closed down there won't be much production happening. Some of the finalising maybe shifted to home-work, but the plants would need to be re-opened.

[jFug]

Originally Posted by Tony208

It'll be bad for a while if you're looking for new releases. Maybe they make more catalog 4k releases to make up for it.

That's what I was wondering.

[eddievanhalen]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

If you think the pandemic will be "on it's way out" by the end of April, I really don't know what to tell you.

Maybe it isn't a bad time to a) catching up with stuff you haven't watched yet or b) pick up some good books

The confinement in Europe I think it will last at least untill mid to late May, and that's being optimistic.
When the countries let people goout and all comercial activities to resume it will be either:

A) They'll do it gradually and check the contagion rate by the gradual open.
B) We'll get a longer confinement so Goverments feel safer that the opening won't be more problematic than expected.
Because this virus, just like HIV, is here to stay.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by eddievanhalen

Because this virus, just like HIV, is here to stay.

This virus is not like HIV because:
1) "Herd immunity" (eventually!)
2) Vaccine (possibly within 12-18 months with a little luck)

[Vilya]

I have greater concerns right now than how delayed future physical media releases might become.

I have a few discs on hand to tide me through any potential drought and there are lots of things on my wishlist that I can also chip away at.

[HeavyHitter]

Other than ones in the pipeline (which will probably get delayed) I do question what we get after that. Hopefully UHD BD can remain a niche for a while at least like LD did for years.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have greater concerns right now than how delayed future physical media releases might become.

I have a few discs on hand to tide me through any potential drought and there are lots of things on my wishlist that I can also chip away at.

Same. I've got stacks - literal stacks - of discs to get through so no new releases isn't a tragedy (tho I would like to get hold of the Star Wars UHDs before the world closes!).

However I am concerned about what the future for disc will be after this, just as with so many other businesses and services that we take for granted in this modern life of ours. If they have to prioritise what types of discs they produce then this could be the end of 4K UHD on physical media, or at least the beginning of a long hiatus.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Same. I've got stacks - literal stacks - of discs to get through so no new releases isn't a tragedy (tho I would like to get hold of the Star Wars UHDs before the world closes!).

However I am concerned about what the future for disc will be after this, just as with so many other businesses and services that we take for granted in this modern life of ours.

If sufficient demand for discs still exist, they will continue to be offered. If not, I can finally and fully embrace my inner psycho and maniacally at all within earshot; I have been practicing here for years.