The COVID-19 pandemic has had this cataclysmic effect on the movie industry. It’s now safe to say that, pardon the metaphor, the industry is losing its oxygen and, quite possibly, nearing its last gasps of air. I’m, of course, referring to the theatrical experience, and not digital where Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+ have been flourishing this past year with audiences hungry for any kind of new content. Despite Christopher Nolan trying to kickstart the industry again with his “Tenet” in late August, that plan failed, the domestic box-office was disastrous, and now we’re basically back at square one.
With all that being said, theater chains like AMC, Regal, and Cineplex are nearing their last breaths with the news today that Denis Villeneuve’s much-anticipated sci-fi epic “Dune” has been delayed from its December release to an October 21st, 2021 release. Yikes. This comes after “No Time to Die,” “Black Widow,” and “Wonder Woman 1984” were pushed back as well.
And so, you might ask, what is left this year? Well, take for example our August-published list of the 20 most anticipated movies of fall 2020. Of those twenty titles, eight have been pushed back to next year, with the other 12 all going for a digital release albeit either through VOD, Netflix, Amazon, or Apple TV. In other words, you all should just stop worrying and love streaming for the rest of the year. It’s here to stay and we can still look forward to watching David Fincher’s “Mank,” Pixar’s ‘Soul,” and Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe,” among many other titles.