[VIDEO] How the Pandemic Changed the Movie Business

January 11, 2022

For decades, Hollywood studios and movie exhibitors abided by the law of the “theatrical window,” the period of time where a film could only be seen in theaters. This window steadily shrank over the years as home video and streaming gained dominance until it was almost obliterated in 2020 as theaters shut down for the pandemic. The fascinating video below looks at the ways that coronavirus changed domestic movie distribution and how theaters could still have a profitable future ahead of them. 

Questions:

  1. How did the pandemic change movie distribution in the United States?
  2. What special appeal do theatrically released films hold with the public, and how does this benefit streaming services?