Rather than see their revenue streams shut off because of nationwide bans on attending entertainment events due to the coronavirus, Universal Pictures has decided to offer its three current releases via video on-demand.
The films—The Invisible Man, The Hunt and Emma--are expected to be available for home viewing beginning Friday. The cost for 48-hour rentals will be $19.99.
“Universal Pictures has a broad and diverse range of movies with 2020 being no exception. Rather than delaying these films or releasing them into a challenged distribution landscape, we wanted to provide an option for people to view these titles in the home that is both accessible and affordable,” said Jeff Shell, CEO of NBCUniversal in a statement released Monday. “We hope and believe that people will still go to the movies in theaters where available, but we understand that for people in different areas of the world that is increasingly becoming less possible.”
In a related move, DreamWorks has announced that its forthcoming Trolls World Tour will be available on-demand April 10, the same day it’s set for national theatrical release.