Movie lovers cooped up at home because of the growing coronavirus threat are getting an unexpected but welcome treat from Hollywood studios: early video-on-demand (VOD) releases of some recent blockbusters, including even a few films still in theaters (the ones that are still open, that is).
Following the unprecedented closure of movie theaters around the globe to help curb the spread of COVID-19, movie studios have been frantically shuffling their schedules, postponing some of their biggest releases (such as No Time to Die, A Quiet Place 2, and F9) for months or even until next year.
But Hollywood isn’t only throwing out the rule book as far as their upcoming releases go; they’re also shattering the traditional three-month U.S. theatrical window when it comes to more recent and even current movie releases.
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That means instead of waiting until (most likely) May to rent the hit horror movie The Invisible Man on iTunes or Amazon Prime Video, Universal plans to release it as an online rental as early as this week. Read on for a list of big Hollywood movies that are coming early to VOD in the U.S., with more sure to follow: U.S. theatrical release date: February 7 VOD release date: March 24 Price: $20 to buy (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu) This R-rated superhero (or supervillain) saga with Margot Robbie headlining as Harley Quinn failed to make a big dent in the box office, but it’s still surprising that Warner Bros. decided to release it to VOD next week, a couple months ahead of schedule. U.S. theatrical release date: February 21, 2020 VOD release date: Likely this Friday Price: $20 to rent (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu) A buzzy and prestigious adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel, Emma was still doing steady business in theaters when the first movie-screen closures hit, and now Universal is doing what would normally have been unthinkable: releasing the film to VOD as soon as this week as a $20 rental. U.S. theatrical release: November 22, 2019 VOD release date: Available now on Disney+ Price: Included in the price of a Disney+ subscription As I type this very article, my seven-year-old daughter is about three feet away, asking me a question approximately every 30 seconds. Thank goodness for Disney, which decided to release the sequel to “Frozen” as a Disney+ exclusive a full three months ahead of schedule. Talk about the perfect carrot for convincing your tykes to finish their remote-learning math assignments. U.S. theatrical release date: March 13, 2020 VOD release date: Likely this Friday Price: $20 to rent (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu) Originally slated for theatrical release last fall, but pulled from the schedule amid controversy over its violent subject matter, The Hunt finally made its theatrical debut less than a week ago. That what makes The Hunt’s expected VOD release—this Friday, only a week after it landed in theaters—such a head-turner. The Invisible Man is one of a series of recent hit movies getting an early VOD release. U.S. theatrical release date: February 28, 2020 VOD release date: Likely this Friday Price: $20 to rent (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu) Another buzzy hit from Universal, this Elizabeth Moss-starring horror film was already a hit when theaters around the globe began to shutter. Normally, it would enjoy a long run on the big screen before going VOD in the summer. Instead, The Invisible Man will be available to rent online for $20, way ahead of schedule. U.S. theatrical release date: December 20, 2019 VOD release date: March 13, 2020 Price: $20 to buy (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu) The final (and to many, underwhelming) chapter of the Skywalker saga didn’t exactly go into hyperspace in terms of jumping its typical theatrical release window, but The Rise of Skywalker did manage to land on the big VOD platforms a few days early. Take it, we will. U.S. theatrical date: Originally scheduled for April 10 VOD release date: April 10 Price: Not confirmed yet Trolls made a big splash when it made its way to theaters back in 2016 (clearly a lot of kids loved it, but my seven-year-old movie critic gives it an “eh”), so expectations were high when its sequel, Trolls World Tour, was scheduled for an April 10, 2020 theatrical release date. Well, that’s not going to happen, but Universal has a new plan: a so-called “day-and-date” VOD release for the big-budget kids flick. Let’s block ads! (Why?)Birds of Prey
Emma
Frozen II
The Hunt
The Invisible Man
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Trolls World Tour