Since going out to the movies8 azd?r?c? videolarno longer really an option, Universal Pictures is bringing the movies to you.
The studio announced Monday that its current releases — including The Invisible Man, The Hunt, and Emma— will be made available on-demand as early as Friday, March 20. In addition, Trolls World Tourwill hit VOD April 10, the same date it was scheduled to arrive in theaters.
Per CNN, the titles will be available to rent on-demand for $19.99 for 48 hours in the U.S.
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The Invisible Manhad hit theaters Feb. 28, The Hunton March 13, and Emmaon Feb. 21.
In a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter), Universal Pictures cited "the rapidly evolving and unprecedented changes to consumers' daily lives" as the reason for the decision.
"Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable," said the company.
"We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible."
The company clarified that day-and-date releases would not be a blanket policy for their titles going forward, and that they would continue to monitor the situation as it evolves.
The news comes as movie theaters around the world have started to shut down due to the pandemic. Major American cities like Los Angeles and New York have already been ordered to close all theaters. Unsurprisingly, the box office has plummeted as a result, hitting a two-decade low over the weekend of March 13-15.
In response, several major releases have been delayed, including Universal's F9. On Saturday, Disney released Frozen IIon Disney+, about three months earlier than planned.
UPDATE: March 16, 2020, 3:20 p.m. PDT This article has been updated to reflect the correct VOD release date for 'Trolls World Tour.'
Topics COVID-19