“Mission: Impossible” fans don’t have to wait that long before they can stream the upcoming seventh installment in the franchise from the comfort of their homes.
Paramount Pictures joins other major Hollywood studios to cut the traditional 90-day theater window. ViacomCBS announced on Wednesday that some of the studio’s films, such as “Mission: Impossible 7” and “A Quiet Place Part II”, will go to the new streaming service Paramount + after only 45 days in theaters.
Like all studios over the past year, Paramount had to adapt due to the coronavirus pandemic. The studio sold some of its films to streaming services, including ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’, which went to Netflix, and ‘Coming 2 America’ to Amazon, but its biggest titles, including ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick “for more traditional theater releases.
However, as the pandemic approaches its first full year causing theaters across North America to close or at limited capacity, the studios are reconsidering new, proven release systems.
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‘Mission: Impossible 7’ will be available on the Paramount + service 45 days after the theatrical release.
(Chiabella James / Paramount Pictures and Skydance via AP)
“A Quiet Place Part II” has been delayed several times over the past year. It was originally supposed to come out in March last year, but was picked up according to schedule when theaters nationwide closed. Both it and “Mission: Impossible 7” are currently planned for the fall.
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The 45-day plan is another sign of how quickly the pandemic has changed the business of Hollywood. In the past, theater owners could insist on exclusive 90-day theater windows, but most had to make compromises to stay afloat during the pandemic.
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Over the past few months, Universal Pictures has reached an agreement with many theater chains to shorten the theater window for its films. Warner Bros. and parent company WarnerMedia follow with the more controversial decision to debut films simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, starting with the big tent pole “Wonder Woman: 1984”
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And there is also the pressure to get faster premium content to new streaming services. Paramount + launches March 4 and has stiff competition for audience dollars and attention in Netflix, Hulu, Disney +, Apple TV + and HBO Max. A few films are being produced to go directly to the service, including a new “Paranormal Activity” and a new “Pet Sematary” origin story. The company has also entered into an agreement with EPIX that will add thousands of other movies to Paramount +.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.