To be clear, yes, we still encourage you to enjoy your movies in the safety of your own homeYet we know there are some who plan to hit theaters this weekend. If you happen to go to a Cinemark affiliated theater, there is one movie you won’t see: Disney’s Raya and the last dragon, which will be released worldwide and on Disney Plus Friday, March 5.
Per Deadline and THAT Cinemark Theaters announced to skip the premiere on Wednesday, which cites an issue with Disney’s steep licensing terms in a statement
“In today’s operational environment, we make short-term booking decisions on a discreet, film-by-film basis, focusing on the long-term benefits of exhibitors, studios and moviegoers. While in talks with The Walt Disney Company, we have not yet reached acceptable licensing terms for Raya and the last dragonAs we continue to work with our studio partners, we remain optimistic that we will achieve mutually beneficial terms that will give moviegoers the opportunity to see the exciting film line-up in our theaters. “
Like other theaters, Cinemark struggles to get back on their feet during the pandemic. Hybrid film release plans by people like WarnerMedia and utmost importance have only made things more complicated with shortened theater windows and changing licensing terms – some of which can fall out of a theater company’s diminished budget. If a studio refuses to give in to its terms, it could lead to more decisions like this – a consequence that means little to a giant company like Disney, but could have a greater material impact on a theater chain’s ability to operate. thrive. Disney has not commented on Cinemark’s decision. But like Deadline notes, there is still a possibility for the two sides to reach some sort of common ground in the 11th hour.
Raya and the last dragon stars Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Daniel Dae Kim, Gemma Chan and Sandra Oh. Here’s what Danette Chavez had to say in her recently review of the film:
Although it was in production years before the pandemic changed everyone’s way of life, Raya And The Last Dragon really feels like the first Disney blockbuster of the COVID era. Accidental or not, this lavishly animated production resonates with the collective grief of the world in which it is released, inviting everyone to sit with that pain, even if it hints at better days to come. Aided by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, along with co-directors Paul Briggs and John Ripa, the film is still a Disney princess tale (with nods to a Disney acquisition). But with his muted palette and infusion of Southeast Asian cultures, Raya is also bringing some innovation to that frame, while raising some of the questions we’ve all asked ourselves as infection rates and death tolls have increased: how did we get here? And how do we find our way out?
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