Vin Diesel’s ‘Bloodshot’ Released on Demand Early
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Citing the unprecedented number of theater closures nationwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sony Pictures will release Vin Diesel’s “Bloodshot” digitally months early, on March 24.
The Valiant Comics adaptation will be available for digital purchase for $19.99 in the U.S. with all leading retailers. International digital sale dates will be solidified in the coming days. Prior to crisis, most theatrical releases were not available in the home until roughly 90 days after they premiered in multiplexes. Sony joins Universal and Warner Bros. in releasing films (including “Birds of Prey,” “The Way Back,” “The Hunt” and “The Invisible Man”) early on VOD.
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“Bloodshot” opened with $9.2 million at 2,861 North American locations last weekend, finishing in second place behind Pixar’s “Onward.” Since then, the AMC, Regal and Cinemark chains have closed, and many states have ordered movie theaters to shutter due to the need to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Bloodshot,” directed by David S. F. Wilson, is centered on a Marine who was killed in action and brought back to life with superhuman abilities. The cast also includes Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell and Guy Pearce. “Bloodshot” carries a $45 million price tag and is financed by Sony, Bona Film Group and Cross Creek Pictures. Reviews have been mostly negative, earning the pic a 35% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, said the studio still supports keeping an exclusive window for theaters prior to releasing titles via home entertainment.
“Sony Pictures is firmly committed to theatrical exhibition and we support windowing,” Rothman said. “This is a unique and exceedingly rare circumstance where theaters have been required to close nationwide for the greater good and ‘Bloodshot’ is abruptly unavailable in any medium. Audiences will now have the chance to own ‘Bloodshot’ right away and see it at home, where we are all spending more time. We are confident that — like other businesses hit hard by the virus — movie theaters will bounce back strongly, and we will be there to support them.”
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