The Black Panther sequel will play in French cinemas following Disney’s threat to pull it in response to strict release window policies.
The crisis currently engulfing French cinema seems to have abated slightly. This time, with the news that Disney has blinked first in its battle to strip away the strict release window policies that are one of the key foundations of French cinema. The Hollywood studio already pulled the theatrical release of upcoming animated feature Strange World in France, using the film’s removal from cinemas as a warning shot to suggest that it would do the same with some of its higher-profile blockbusters if the country refused to relax its strict windowing laws.
Under guidelines established at the beginning of the year, Disney’s current standard video-on-demand window in France is 17 months. Whilst that time period dwarves some of the release windows in other countries, especially following further relaxations in the wake of the pandemic, those strict windows have historically been seen as essential, not only to the country’s cinema industry, but also to its thriving domestic film sector.
However, with box office takings significantly down this year, the French film industry is embroiled in something of a crisis, with some pointing to the seemingly unassailable strength of the global streaming market as a force that will reshape the industry, no matter how forcefully it resists.
The disagreement between Disney and the French National Film Board has served as a focal point for this lack of consensus, and although the American studio appears to have backed down, the indication is that behind-closed-doors assurances may have been given that the theatrical exclusivity window may not remain in its current form for too much longer.
What that means for cinemas in France remains to be seen but they are seemingly in a tough position either way as they either risk losing the kind of blockbuster titles which sustain them, or they kiss goodbye to the exclusivity windows that protect their business.
For its part, Disney has said that it will continue to determine the nature of French releases on a film-by-film basis, which probably came off sounding far more ominous than it meant it to.
Probably.
We’ll bring you more on this story as it continues to unfold.
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