The entire entertainment industry has been put on hold as result of the coronavirus pandemic, with most movies being pushed back from their release dates indefinently. Some studios have released their films on VOD, but most are holding out on this last resort option, hoping that with many nations reopening, that the entertainment industry can return to normal. However, this looks to be unlikely according to new study by Variety.
This study shows that 70% of consumers would rather watch new movies from home, even after movie theaters reopen with social distancing guidelines. The study cites anxieties around the virus being the number one factor for people staying home, “Anxiety over health and safety in public spaces still greatly outweighs the desire to leave home, and that disparity has only gotten larger as the pandemic has unfolded.” The study surveyed roughly 1,000 people in mid-May and was conducted by the sports and events analytics firm Performance Research, in partnership with Full Circle Research Co.
This study shows how difficult it will be for Hollywood to return to normal and, with a vaccine for the virus not expected anytime soon, it will be a while before traditional theatrical releases return. Expect low budget movies, especially horror movies like The Wretched, a film that has found success in the drive in movie theater format, to be the most consistently released entries this coming year.
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