Month: January 2020

Distribution

UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

January 28, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on UPDATED: Sundance Heats Up

After a slow start to the 35th annual Sundance Film Festival, the weekend produced a handful of sizable deals, including from Amazon Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and Lionsgate.

Distribution

Sundance Slumps

January 26, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Sundance Slumps

Deal activity is muted so far at this year’s festival despite claims that producers and sales agents were withholding their best films at TIFF in September to introduce at Sundance.

Streaming

Netflix Results Are In

January 22, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Netflix Results Are In

Netflix missed its subscriber forecast in the US and Canada. Despite that, the streamer beat its overseas estimate of 7 million by adding 8.33 million.

Distribution

Will Sundance Boom or Bust?

January 20, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Will Sundance Boom or Bust?

After a lackluster Sundance in 2018, last year was full of mega-deals, especially by Netflix and Amazon. Buyers spent over $120 million acquiring rights to some 40 films.

Streaming

Apple Considers MGM Buyout

January 15, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Apple Considers MGM Buyout

After the abysmal start to Apple’s new streaming service, Apple TV+, the tech company is searching for relevance with a new leader and a possible strategic acquisition.

Production

Production Battle of Britain

January 15, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Production Battle of Britain

There is a mad rush by the most significant content creators, especially streaming services, to utilize the production infrastructure in England as a base of European operations.

Streaming

Sony Shutters Streaming Service

January 8, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Sony Shutters Streaming Service

Sony Pictures is shutting down its PlayStation Vue streaming television service in the first quarter of 2020. Rising content costs and a plethora of choices have made the service untenable.

Distribution

Box Office Declines

January 6, 2020 FilmTake Comments Off on Box Office Declines

The box office in North America was down almost 5% from 2018 even after rising ticket prices, and despite a slew of mega-budget franchise films being released.