The Weinstein Company, Netflix Get Same Release Date For ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny’, But Theater Chains Opposed To Day-To-Movie Release Deal
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny" will hit theaters in August 2015 and Netflix plans to make the movie available online with the same release date as The Weinstein Company set it for theatrical release.
However, the film might not be played in 86 IMAX theaters of the country's largest theater chain, Regal, as it is opposed to day-to-date movie release deal between The Weinstein Company and Netflix.
"While a home video release may be simultaneously performing in certain IMAX locations, at Regal we will not participate in an experiment where you can see the same product on screen varying from three stories tall to 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide on a smartphone. We believe the choice for truly enjoying a magnificent movie is clear," Regal's vice president of marketing and communications Russ Nunley stated as published at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Other theater chains in the US share the same sentiment with Regal. The largest IMAX auditorium operator in the globe, AMC Theaters, said, "No one has approached us to license this made-for-video sequel in the US or China, so one must assume the screens IMAX committed are in science centers or aquariums."
Cinemark, the fourth largest theater chain and has 15 IMAX theaters, will also not play the film because of same release date on Netflix and theaters of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny".
Carmike Cinemas stated, "We are committed to an exclusive theatrical release for the enjoyment of our valued guests. We are therefore opposed to showing day-and-date releases at our entertainment complexes."
It seems that The Weinstein Company and Netflix would have to convince the major theater chains to allow them to continue with the day-to-date release of the sequel to the 4-time Academy Award winner "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny" will be the first mainstream film that will be given day-to-date release on Netflix.
