Filmmaker Christopher Landon expresses frustration at the disappearance of the theater window for some releases amid… Halloween ends’ modest opening weekend at the box office.
Landon went to Twitter on Saturdays to regret day-and-date releases for films like Universal Pictures’ latest entry Halloween saga, which opened wide in 3,901 theaters on Friday, the same day it was also made available to stream on Peacock. Landon explained that this remains a sore subject for him, given that his horror comedy film freaky began streaming less than a month after its theatrical release on November 13, 2020.
“Stop this,” Landon wrote of day-and-date releases. “Please. It’s not working. Studios: Stop gambling with filmmakers and their movies to support your fledgling streaming services. This happened to me on freaky and it destroyed us. We worked SO HARD to make a fun movie. Blood Sweat and tears. Months away from our families. And for what?”
Landon said films are used as guinea pigs to experiment with the viability of home viewing and that he “begged” the studio to give its freaky strategy. “Circle the wagons and protect them for theatrical performances or go all in for streaming,” continued Landon, who was also at the helm. Happy day of the dead. “No hair split. at least the Halloween people became whole. We got a snake. So yeah…bitter topic. PTSD.”
He concluded colorfully: “Dear studios: stop trying to suck two cocks at once. Honor the sanctity of the theatrical experience.”
Halloween ends is heading for a softer-than-expected opening weekend of $43.3 million after previously tracking at more than $50 million. Its franchise predecessor, Halloween killswas released day-and-date last year and opened for $49.4 million.
Universals freaky featuring Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton in the story of a male serial killer who swaps bodies with a teenage girl. The film, which grossed $9 million at the domestic box office, was released as the industry weighed options amid the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This topic was a hot button for Hollywood, as Christopher Nolan was one of the filmmakers who made Warner Bros.’ criticized.’ surprising announcement in late 2020 that all releases for the next year day-and-date would be available on HBO Max.
A representative from Universal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
