https://insidethemagic.net/2020/10/could-disney-buy-movie-theaters-tm1/

Found this proposition interesting... from Disney's perspective they could vertically integrate their content and exhibition of their content while keeping ALL the profits... still exhibit other studio content but just charge the studios the same fee that AMC did.

I wonder if this is the type of thing we'll see... evidently August was the magic date that allows studios to make these kinds of purchases and theaters could be available at a bargain.

I would expect that Disney isn't going to make a move on just a district court ruling.

imjustsayin said:

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https://insidethemagic.net/2020/10/could-disney-buy-movie-theaters-tm1/

Found this proposition interesting... from Disney's perspective they could vertically integrate their content and exhibition of their content while keeping ALL the profits... still exhibit other studio content but just charge the studios the same fee that AMC did.

I wonder if this is the type of thing we'll see... evidently August was the magic date that allows studios to make these kinds of purchases and theaters could be available at a bargain.

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I called this same idea back on 10/10. I thought Amazon would do it but looks like Disney is going to pull the trigger first:

You hit the nail on the head. The other benefit of the subscription model is it is guaranteed money each month and from what I saw with moviepass customers, they were getting stuff at the theater too.

Thats why if I were Amazon, I would scoop up regal, buy them for peanuts and change the paradigm by rolling in their Amazon prime subscription with their theaters. It would also be an avenue to supplant their studios with a vertically integrated product, bypassing the stodgy bookers and middlemen there as well. Hell, they could even show nfl games, older films, anything on their prime catalogue or allow special events curated by locals picking the flicks as well, again, just to get butts in the seats. People would be more apt to go to events like this if they were technically already paying for it.

Thats the future model of theaters and I'm sad Landmark didn't go that route because I think they would have knocked that out of the park.

Isn't there a law that prevents this?

There was. It recently ended, though.

The Blue Rat owns enough s***!

Would this scenario eliminate non Disney/Amazon movies from being shown in AMC or Regal Theaters?

It would be interesting, the pushback of some distributors of refusing their movies in Disney owned theaters. I could also see Disney playing hardball on other distributors in favor of better deals with smaller entities who are forced into coercion.

i honestly don't think it would be any more contentious between studios and exhibitors (theaters) than it already is. The commercial model could theoretically be the same... meaning the hypothetical Disney owned theaters would still show Universal movies and Sony movies, etc... they would just charge the same % to exhibit those movies as did AMC, Regal, Cinemark, etc.... They would just get to keep their own ticket sales profits 100% rather than sharing with other exhibitors.

I also wouldn't think Disney would refuse to show Disney movies in non-Disney theaters... they would probably spice up the customer experience in some way at their own that the other theaters wouldn't to drive traffic to their theaters... but ticket sales would help everywhere.

Finally, I wouldn't see studios like Universal or Sony refusing to show their movies in a Disney owned theater, as again, the business model would theoretically be the same as it is today anyway.

At the end of the day, who knows... so much is in flux right now, but this is an industry that is hungry to find stable ground and I'd be surprised if their werent some major shifts or consolidations in how we consume this type entertainment content.

Here's to hoping Movie Theaters stay around in some capacity no matter what. Nothing replaces overpriced buttered popcorn, a Coke, and a great big screen movie with Dolby Atmos Sound!

I don't think Disney could brand them Disney and maintain Disney standards in them, maybe, but seems expensive

They could make every theatre into a Disney Store and sell a lot of merchandise too. Do things like have scheduled characters show up at theatres. Turn each movie theatre into a mini Disney World.

Sweet! Roller coasters and authentic German food at movie theaters.

Quad Dog said:

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They could make every theatre into a Disney Store and sell a lot of merchandise too. Do things like have scheduled characters show up at theatres. Turn each movie theatre into a mini Disney World.

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Yeah, the showbiz/chuckee cheese model is proven gold and cannot fail.

Not sure if you are kidding, but an animatronic Olaf installed in screenings of Frozen 2 would make them so much money on repeat attendance.

And they could sell pizza and add video games and ball pits!

Quad Dog said:

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They could make every theatre into a Disney Store and sell a lot of merchandise too. Do things like have scheduled characters show up at theatres. Turn each movie theatre into a mini Disney World.

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Probably true, but I really don't want to pay comparable Disney prices to go to a movie. I mean, $100 for a movie? No thanks.