If you're a true movie buff, or even just an enthusiastic fan, there's a good chance at some point you waited for a movie that never came. With online movie databases, cinema goers now have early knowledge of their favourite directors' and stars' next projects. Online rental services also give us a much broader range of DVD choices. That means that now more than ever before we're aware of just how many movies never make it to the theatres. If you've recently seen an unreleased gem and are wondering why it was never given the cinema release it seemingly deserved, here are just a few possible explanations.
No Budget - Quite frankly, it costs a lot to promote a theatrical release. While technology has revolutionised low-budget film making, it's done nothing to overcome the costs of actually promoting and releasing a film in theatres. When you consider that movies like last year's wildly popular low-budget hit, Paranormal, are made with little more than $10,0 00, but that it takes tens of millions to promote and release them, it's easy to see why some studios and producers simply don't - or can't - bother with a theatrical release.
Distribution Contract - With so many blockbusters coming out these days, it can be hard to get a distribution contract for a movie that has low income expectations.
Small Target Audience - Some movies are simply more profitable if they cut out the marketing and distribution expenses and go straight to DVD. For example, Disney has become the king of profitable straight-to-DVD releases. They know their market, and they know parents would rather buy the newest sequel than sit through it in a theatre.
Too Much Competition - These days, when a themed movie makes big money, other studios are all too quick to jump on the bandwagon, which can make it hard for smaller movies of the same genre to compete. Also, blockbusters are frequently rescheduled , and such an event may mean that a previously scheduled smaller release will suffer for having to share its date. It only makes sense then that theatres are reluctant to take on a movie that they know will be low grossing. If a studio knows that their movie is not going to be able to compete, then their only options are 1) to further delay its release in hopes of finding a better date, or 2) to release it to DVD and avoid the expense of a theatrical release altogether. As any movie insider knows, a poorly grossing film (even if it's received good reviews) can be the kiss of death it's for actors, director and writers.
Last Ditch Effort - Whether it's the earlier mentioned difficulties with competition, getting a good distribution contract or legal woes that prevent a movie from being released in theatres as originally planned, if complications have shelved a completed movie for more than two years the studio almost always releases it straight to DVD jus t to get it out there and cut their losses.
Direct to DVD Heroes - The world of movies is becoming increasingly more competitive, to the point that straight-to-DVD releases are no longer an option reserved for low budget bombs. Even big earners like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Gerard Butler have seen some of their recent projects go direct to DVD. Of course any cult classic fan knows that a movie can survive without a theatrical release. Take for example Boondock Saints. Its huge cult following recently earned it a sequel that was released worldwide a full ten years after the original went straight to VHS.
