In the weeks leading up to the triumphant release of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, one of the most heavily hyped aspects of the film's production has been its limited 70mm presentation. So, just how many theaters will show the film in 70MM? An error in a recent report suggested that it would be fewer than the expected 100 screens, however the update on that assures us things are still on track for Hateful Eight to show the film in 70mm on about 100 screens. Get the update and our original article below...
UPDATE: THR added a correction to their story, stating that they "incorrectly reported the theater location count for The Hateful Eight's exclusive film run." So 100 screens prepped for 70MM projection remains the goal for The Weinstein Co.
EARLIER: While on the red carpet for the film's Hollywood premiere, a lot was said by the producers about shooting the film in the 70mm format was beneficial to the film's content. However hidden in THR's coverage of the frivolity and technical kudos of the premiere event was a little piece of news with a big consequence. As it turns out, the report has listed that "roughly" 50 theaters have been retrofitted to show the full 70 mm experience – which is down significantly from the originally quoted number. One of the first people to catch onto the news was New York Post film critic Lou Lemenick, who took to Twitter with the post below to warn the masses:
As we had previously reported, 96 theaters in the United States alone were supposed to be ready by Christmas to show the 70mm "Roadshow" version of The Hateful Eight, as per information released in a lengthy New York Times piece about the film. However, with the latest information update quoting 50 theaters ready for Quentin Tarantino's next bloodbath, we're starting to wonder if that's going to even be possible with each passing day.
With the process weighing in at $60,000 - $80,000, per previously reported information, it's costly for theaters to make the leap. So while the number of projectors may be available, the number of physical locations that can afford the process is the new quandary. Though any theater that's debating on whether to install a 70mm projector should keep one thing in mind before completely rejecting the idea: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story might also be shot in the same format, and will undoubtedly require the same support that The Hateful Eight requires if it does.
Seeing as The Hateful Eight is being touted as more of a must see in 70mm than Star Wars: The Force Awakens is, you can see where the drop in available theaters would have been a huge problem. 70mm is the big gimmick for Tarantino's latest masterpiece, and if enough people aren't able to see it, who's going to want to watch a film in 70mm again? Not to mention, think of the future opportunities for both new and recurring 70mm exhibitions that a theater would miss out on without the upgrade. With The Weinstein Company intent on fulfilling its 100 theater commitment, we're eager to get our hands on the official list of theaters getting in on the action, so we can plan our holiday movie outings accordingly.
The Hateful Eight is scheduled to be released in its limited 70mm "roadshow" version on Christmas Day, with the wider digital release slated for January 8th.
