In a decision that seems strange considering it’s Sony Pictures biggest animated franchise, Hotel Transylvania 4 is set to go straight to streaming.
Variety broke the news earlier today mentioning that the deal would cost upwards of $100m, and Sony would retain home distribution and Chinese theatrical market rights.
The series has generated over $1.3 billion in box office gross since its first release back in 2012, and has really become a jewel in Sony Animation’s crown.
Citing reasoning such as the surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19 (where experts have said US/Europe are around 6 weeks behind the recent UK surge), highly unvaccinated populations across the US, Sony Pictures have had to make a decision.
Amazon paid $100 million for Hotel Transylvania 4
Read more: A Quiet Place 2 Sets Pandemic Record In The US
Along with the rise of states and cities demanding indoor venues such as theatres have vaccine mandates, with millions of children not vaccinated, or unable to be vaccinated due to age such as New York City, they’ve had to make a decision.
However, we should note this is unconfirmed but the fact industry sheet leader Variety is reporting this, and rumours have grown over the past week probably mean it is likely to happen.
And if we are to go off their reporting that Sony Pictures will only retain Chinese theatrical rights and home video, the UK/Europe would likely go straight to streaming by all accounts.
Sony was the first studio to release a big family film with Peter Rabbit 2 in May 2021 initially in the UK, Australia and Europe before the US.
The film grossed $40m in the US and $113m across the world for a running gross of $153m.
For Sony to feel $100m from Amazon Prime is a good deal, perhaps these numbers just weren’t good enough or worth another risk.
Whilst Peter Rabbit 2 only grossed $2-3m in China in 2021, Hotel Transylvania 3 back in 2018 took $32m in China alone, and the market wasn’t as large as it is now $167m in the US, and $361m in total internationally.
The figures don’t seem to add up as they seem to lose more on this deal especially internationally, but if North America is going to insist children of all ages for cinema visits are vaccinated, it will pose a huge problem for animated and family films going forward.
Which will affect domestic gross.
If this does come to pass, it’ll be another blow to the industry and theatres worldwide, along with UK cinemas.
What do you think of the news?
Is this the right decision?
Let us know in the comments below.
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