Best picture nominees are leaving theaters sooner than they used to

"Please watch movies in the theater, and let's keep the great tradition of the movie-going experience alive and well. Sean Baker's Oscar acceptance speech emphasized the importance of theatrical releases. Movie icons like Zendaya and Ryan Coogler similarly encourage audiences to return to theaters, though they face significant obstacles as the industry continues struggling to bring in audiences matching pre-pandemic numbers."

"Since 2019, the number of movie theater screens in the country has dropped by over 5,000, nearly 14%, according to research firm Omdia. Recent movies with best picture nominations are showing in fewer theaters nine or 10 weeks after their initial theatrical release, creating a shorter tail for audiences to see them. These patterns reflect a combination of variables including release dates, voters' taste, and shifts in theatrical exhibition patterns."

"For decades, studios kept their movies in theaters for at least 90 days before making them available at home. But those norms began to change even before the pandemic—in 2018, Netflix released best picture nominee Roma, for example, for roughly three weeks in theaters before making it available to stream. Standard exclusivity periods have been significantly shortened across the industry."

Movie industry leaders including Sean Baker, Zendaya, and Ryan Coogler advocate for preserving the theatrical movie-going experience. However, the industry faces substantial challenges: the number of movie theater screens in the United States has dropped by over 5,000 since 2019, representing nearly a 14% decline. This decline is reflected in Oscar best picture nominees, which are showing in fewer theaters nine to ten weeks after their initial release compared to past nominees. These trends stem from multiple factors including changing release strategies, pandemic-related production delays, and shifting exhibition patterns. Studios have abandoned traditional 90-day theatrical exclusivity windows, with streaming services like Netflix releasing films in theaters for shorter periods before making them available online.

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