Pretty much every major film opening this summer will have something resembling a compromised theatrical window.
Almost every major film opening this summer will have something resembling a compromised theatrical window. On the eve of the first “big” movie of the summer, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, opening theatrically, Disney has announced that Jungle Cruise will be debuting July 30 both theatrically and on Disney+ via “Premier Access” (via a one-time $30 lease). The Dwayne Johnson/Emily Blunt adventure comedy is based upon the famous Disney theme park ride. Under normal circumstances, it would likely be Disney’s first new live-action franchise (outside of the MCU) since Pirates of the Caribbean in 2003 and National Treasure in 2004. It was also supposed to be Disney’s first big “only in theaters” offering since Onward in March of 2020, but that’s not happening. I understand the decision, as it accounts for uncertain overseas conditions and the possibility of another Covid surge anywhere in the world while still allowing the film to open as scheduled. As with the Warner Bros/HBO Max deal, it offers a cushion to justify putting out a finished product into the world. We’ll see if they release Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as “theaters only” over Labor Day, but that film going out sans Disney+ (as well as No Time to Die finally opening) would be an unofficial sign that normalcy is returning. The move for a film I (optimistically?) pegged as a likely summer breakout typifies the season as a whole. Pretty much every major film opening this summer will have something resembling a compromised theatrical window. The Warner Bros. releases ( Those Who Wish Me Dead, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad and Reminiscence) will play concurrently (for the first 30 days of theatrical release) in theaters and on HBO Max. The Disney summer flicks ( Cruella, Black Widow and Jungle Cruise) are all “in theaters with a Disney+ premier access,” while Pixar’s Luca is only in theaters for territories without Disney+.
