Few cinemas on board for Netflix’s big and small screen release of ‘Beasts of No Nation’ movie
‘Beasts of No Nation’, Netflix’s first ever original movie, is set to receive a limited run in US theatres, as the industry revolts against the streaming company’s dismantlement of the standard 90 day cooling off period.
The video streaming company announced last October that it was looking to release movies in theatres and at home concurrently, in a move cinema chains see as an assault on their lucrative content exclusivity window.
Major US theatres including Regal, Cinemark, Carmike and AMC, unhappy upon the intrusion from the Netflix, have refused to air the movie. As a result, across the US it will be airing on few screens, sitting in the double figures.
Patrick Corcoran, vice president of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said: “Theatre owners get frustrated when, for [public relations] purposes, Netflix makes these grand pronouncements about changing the industry.
“You can’t revolutionise the theatre industry without bringing the theatre industry along.”
The movie, which Netflix picked up for $12m, stars Idris Elba who has been touted to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as a result of his role portraying an African commander of child soldiers.
The limited theatre run qualifies the movie for Academy Awards with a Netflix spokesperson admitting it may also fit the bill for an Emmy award. The movie released worldwide on Netflix today (Friday 16 October). If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you can check it out here.