Though a few films open before like “Unhinged” this week and “The New Mutants” next week, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” is the first real major new blockbuster to hit cinemas after they re-open and tickets for it are reportedly going on sale later this week in the United States.
With cinemas themselves eager to re-open and many in financial dire straits, studios like Warner Bros. Pictures have the advantage and now they intend to lean on it. Indiewire reports that the studio has issued some fairly strict terms when it comes to the release of “Tenet”.
Warners is reportedly asking for 63% of the box office receipts for the film. While above 60% isn’t incredibly rare, it’s still seen as a big move – especially paired with some other requirements about longevity of play.
For a single screen location, the studio wants a minimum of four weeks being shown guaranteed. For twin-screen locations, a minimum of five weeks. For those with three to eight screens, they demand eight weeks on one of the biggest screens. For those with over nine screens, which is most major multiplexes, “Tenet” has to be shown for at least twelve weeks again on one of the biggest screens.
That means “Tenet” will stay on the big screen in single screen locations right up until the release of Warners’ next blockbuster “Wonder Woman 1984,” and occupy at least one major screen at the biggest multiplexes right through until Thanksgiving. With the only real big release between the two Warner films being 20th Century Studios’ “The King’s Man,” it shouldn’t be a major issue.
It’s if the same rules carry on over with “Wonder Woman 1984” then the bodies might begin piling up as October also has “Candyman,” “Death on the Nile” and “Connected” set while November has “Black Widow,” “No Time to Die,” and Pixar’s “Soul” all scheduled.
The other big concern is piracy reports Variety. With its limited availability and staggered global release combined with the raised expectations for it and selling point of its mysteries, demand for pirated copies is expected to be high.
One upside of the social distance seating though is that it’s expected to make it far easier to spot someone trying to camcord a film for pirating networks – combined with the fact that some cinemas are employing security personnel to enforce physical distancing to also help anti-piracy measures.
“Tenet” begins its global rollout with previews in Australia this coming weekend ahead of official launches late next week in select international territories. It arrives in the U.S. on September 3rd.
