The internet is quickly shifting the way cinematic releases work. We recently reported how The Weinstein Company's Snowpiercer--despite doing well in its limited US release--was quick to hit VOD as a new model of film distribution emerges. Now The Weinstein Company is bucking convention by releasing one of their upcoming titles on Yahoo! streaming 10 days ahead of its theatrical debut.
THR reports that Yahoo! Screen, in conjunction with TWC, will debut One Chance online ahead of its theatrical debut. That said, no dates have yet been secured for this bow. All the same, it's a daring move as theater owners have been shying away from movies that hit VOD services ahead of their theatrical openings. This has pushed TWC to a less traditional theatrical model called four walling, which essentially means The Weinstein Company will rent theaters here or there in which to screen One Chance, in addition to those theaters that request the title on their own. You may remember this strategy from when Warner Bros. did something similar with Veronica Mars earlier this year.
While this might seem a major risk, the TWC branch Radius has been working to open up the options for distribution, and has been narrowing the window between theatrical release and VOD availability - as they did with Snowpiercer. As part of this push, Radius has also begun sharing data about VOD releases returns so that the picture of a film's success can be broadened to include this venue. It seems that TWC has a perfect partner with Yahoo! Screen, which is pushing to be recognized as a viable platform, having secured an ambitious string of live concert broadcasts as well as the sixth season of Community.
Once Chance made its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and since then has opened in Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Scandinavia and more, boasting overseas totals of $9 million. Could its revolutionary release in the U.S. prove another big win for the movie? We'll see once TWC sets down actual dates.
In case you're unfamiliar with Once Chance, the film is a biopic about the true story of Paul Potts, a blue-collar Brit who was endlessly bullied for his love of opera. But one day an appearance on Britain's Got Talent changed everything. Paul Potts went on to make a record, called One Chance. Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell (better known Stateside for his involvement in American Idol) acquired the movie rights to Potts life and is now producing the movie One Chance. In the film, Potts is portrayed by Broadway star James Corden, who'll play the lead in Disney's Into The Woods this Christmas.
Take a look at the film's trailer below:
To see Paul Potts' big moment on Britain's Got Talent click to the next page:
