Countdown Chaos: Theater Owners Issue Urgent Warnings to Studios Amidst Series of 2023 Movie Delays

Summary

Theater owners are concerned about potential delays in 2023 movies due to the SAG-AFTRA strike and believe it could harm their business.

Theaters, currently in the process of recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, would face significant consequences if major releases are postponed. The potential delay of fall releases, due to actors' limited promotional opportunities and the AMPTP's refusal to negotiate with SAG-AFTRA, is a cause for concern among studio executives and theater owners, who highlight the potential harm it could inflict on the movie industry.

The SAG-AFTRA strike in July 2023, in conjunction with the Writers Guild of America, has led to potential delays in movie releases for the year. The strike arose due to unresolved negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers regarding fair pay, streaming residuals, and AI regulations. As a result, actors are unable to promote their projects, causing studios to postpone numerous releases slated for the latter half of 2023.

Variety spoke with several theater owners who expressed concern over the detrimental impact that these delays could have on their business. Joe Masher, COO of Bow Tie Cinemas, stated that their current economic stability is being sustained by Barbie and Oppenheimer, but he worries about the future, particularly considering the recent recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris Randleman, CRO of Flix Brewhouse, a Texas-based chain, warned against studios relocating significant portions of their slate out of 2023, emphasizing that it would be a grave mistake. Greg Marcus, CEO of Marcus Theatres, offered a slightly more positive perspective on the situation.

Masher: We're really having a great time at this party, but we're worried about what might happen next. If the strike continues for a long time, we're genuinely concerned, especially since we've just overcome the pandemic.

Randleman: It would be a huge error for the studios to relocate important projects from 2023, and it would negatively impact theaters just as they're starting to recover. The industry can't handle another wave of significant date changes. It will harm everyone involved.

Every 2023 Movie That's Been Delayed Due To The SAG-AFTRA Strike

Sony has made significant changes to its release calendar. Gran Turismo has been pushed back two weeks to August 25. Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 has been moved from December to spring 2024. Kraven the Hunter has been delayed from October to August 2024.

Disney has also made adjustments to its schedule. Searchlight's Poor Things has been shifted from September to early December. Additionally, the release dates of Taika Waititi's Next Goal Wins, the animated Wish, and Magazine Dreams starring Jonathan Majors are under consideration for possible delays.

Amazon's Challengers, starring Zendaya, was originally set for September but has now been delayed until April 2024.

Warner Bros. is also contemplating the possibility of postponing several major releases, including Dune: Part Two, The Color Purple, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

The SAG-AFTRA strike, although well-intentioned, may inadvertently have negative consequences for the theater industry, which had recently made a recovery from the pandemic. The AMPTP bears responsibility in this situation as they have allegedly displayed a reluctance to engage in further negotiations with the actors in the near future. As a result, studios are contemplating the postponement of significant fall releases, despite theater owners forcefully warning against the potential harm this could inflict upon the movie business.