Via the NY Times we get this story about how Bob Iger and the Walt Disney Studios are looking to experiment with shorter in-theater times for its movies, which in theory will lead to bigger bucks in alternate methods of distribution. I’m not sure I follow the logic there. If I’m going to spend money on owning a DVD, there’s a very good chance I saw it first in the theaters and wanted to be able to relive that experience at home. Shortening the amount of time I have to watch something in the theaters, just makes it more likely I won’t grow any attachment to the property at all.
One thing I do understand is the need to get out of the 3D theaters to make way for the next big movie. That’s exactly what Alice is doing to Avatar. So, until more 3D theaters open, this may be the defacto new reality anyway.
I think it’s a really bad idea. Personally, I was angry about the short run of the Toy Story 1/Toy Story 2 3-D thing. The limited engagement was so short (and not extended in my area like in some others) I never made it to see them.
Amy,
I understand your frustration. However, you really didn’t miss anything by not seeing Toy Story in 3-D. I think since it was not originally designed for 3-D, there was nothing spectacular about the re-release that you can’t see at home by owning the DVD’s. I would expect it to be different for TS3.
For quite some time, the number of people that see any movie on video is considerably higher than the number that see it in the theater. This also means that a very large percentage of sales are to people who never saw the film in the theater.
In many ways, it has started to reach the point where the theaterical release is really kind of like a big promotional campaign for the home video. Shortening the theatrical-to-DVD window basically gets the titles out on video while the promotional buzz surrounding the theatrical release is still fairly fresh in people’s minds.
they’re shortening the time span from 16 weeks to 13 weeks..that’s plenty of time to see it in theaters..
Great! I am not a theater going person. Do not like being stuck in a dark room full of people talking, texting away and blinding me while I try to watch an overpriced movie. I count the days until DVD so I can enjoy the experience. My home theater is comfortable and offers me the movie experience I enjoy. Bring it on! The sooner to DVD the better Is say.
Hasn’t Mr. Iger been a proponent of our ability to view content anywhere anytime/simultaneous release i.e. in theaters, on demand, hand held, dvd, web etc., all at the same time?
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