Looks Like Netflix May Officially Buy Its Own Theater

Looks Like Netflix May Officially Buy Its Own Theater

Netflix has built itself into an entertainment juggernaut specifically by giving consumers a seemingly endless number of reasons, first on DVDs and then on streaming, not to leave their home and go to the theater. This has put the company at odds with entrenched parts of the film industry, exhibitors in particular. Now, although Netflix hasn’t beat the theaters, it looks like it could still join them as the streaming service may officially buy its own theater.

Netflix is in early talks with the non-profit American Cinematheque to buy the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. If it comes to pass, this deal, which could be worth tens of millions of dollars, would get Netflix its very first physical movie theater. The purchase is far from done and there are issues with real estate and permits that must be settled before it can be finalized, but Netflix is on its way to owning a theater, and a historic one at that.

However, despite the fact that Netflix (and Amazon) has flirted with purchasing a theater chain in the past, Deadline’s sources indicate that this should not be viewed as Netflix diving headfirst into its own operational theater business. So don’t expect every town to have a Netflix theater anytime soon.

While it may be a one-off thing for now and not the first domino to fall in a plan to conquer the theater industry, Netflix’s potential purchase of the Egyptian Theatre offers a number of positive outcomes for the streaming service, the Egypitian Theatre, American Cinematheque and the film community.

The Egyptian Theatre is a Hollywood landmark; built by Sid Grauman in the early 1920s, the theater hosted Hollywood’s first movie premiere (Robin Hood) in 1922. The Egyptian last underwent a renovation in 1998 and this deal would help preserve the historic theater and its mission to keep the big screen movie tradition alive for years to come.

American Cinematheque currently screens classic, historic, foreign, independent and rarely seen films, amongst other things, at both the Egyptian Theatre and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Under the deal, the non-profit American Cinematheque would gain a much needed influx of cash to help it stay afloat and expand its programming.

Netflix and American Cinematheque look at this potential purchase as a partnership that would establish a mutually beneficial relationship. Netflix would screen its films on weekday nights, as well as have special screenings and events for its bigger titles. Also, this purchase would not impact Netflix’s existing relationships with chains like IPIC or Landmark Theatres that play the service’s films. American Cinematheque would retain the freedom to play what it wants, while getting the financial support to continue running screenings, lectures and festivals on weekends.

You can see how purchasing the Egyptian Theatre would be something of an olive branch, meant to ingratiate the disruptive streaming service to cinephiles and those in the industry that have a negative view of Netflix. Netflix, the company that made it so you could watch movies on a 4” phone screen, would be preserving a historic theater whose mission is to champion the big screen experience. This move would show that Netflix values that experience.

This news comes on the heels of an Oscar season where Netflix’s Roma made a major splash, raising the issues of whether or not streaming movies should be eligible for Academy Awards. Some in the industry, like Steven Spielberg, who are champions of the theatrical experience are against streaming movies with short theatrical windows being eligible. At the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, Netflix will be sitting out for the second year in a row in part because of the tension with exhibitors. Hopefully this will be the first step towards everyone getting along.

Netflix is out here trying to change hearts and minds. We’ll see if it works.

Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all the biggest theatrical releases this year.

Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, And Vile Trailer Is Surprisingly Murder-Free

Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, And Vile Trailer Is Surprisingly Murder-Free

After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Netflix scooped up the somewhat controversial Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, the Ted Bundy movie starring Zac Efron as the charming and despicable serial killer. We’ve been waiting to hear when the wider public would get to see this film and now, along with a release date, the streaming service has released a new trailer for the film and it's surprisingly murder-free. Take a look:

Despite this being a serial killer movie with an R rating for “disturbing/violent content,” this latest trailer for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile eschews all such brutality, opting not to show any of Ted Bundy’s murders. Yet that lack of onscreen violence does nothing to diminish the darkness present in this trailer. If anything, it actually gives the whole thing an underlying sense of dread that is much more potent than the previous trailer.

That is perhaps the most interesting thing about this trailer, how much it contrasts with the original Voltage Pictures trailer that arrived right before the Sundance premiere and before Netflix picked up the movie. The original trailer, which actually did show brief snippets of Ted Bundy committing crimes, had more of a light feel to it, showcasing Zac Efron’s charm and attractiveness as the serial killer. It also had a rock soundtrack that fit the way the trailer was cut, but was incongruous with the nature of the crimes.

This new trailer for Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is a different beast entirely. Instead of focusing on Zac Efron’s Ted Bundy, this trailer puts much more emphasis on the character of Liz,played by Lily Collins. The film is told from the perspective of Ted Bundy’s girlfriend who refused to see the truth about him for years and this trailer is more in line with that as we see more of her struggle with Ted and that truth.

Additionally, this trailer establishes a much more serious tone, utilizing ominous music that befits that horrors Ted Bundy committed, even if we don’t get to glimpse them here. Zac Efron’s Ted Bundy, who has been the subject of some controversy for being attractive, has his charm toned down in this trailer and his creepiness is amplified. It’s kind of fascinating how that dichotomy of presentation is reflective of the way Ted Bundy was outwardly perceived and his true nature.

I wonder if Netflix choosing to sell the film in this way is at all a response to the criticisms that have been raised about ‘hot Ted Bundy’. It also raises the question of what this film actually is, because the trailers pitch two different tones. Such is the power of editing.

When we first heard that this movie was coming to Netflix it seemed that the streaming service was planning on a small theatrical run come awards season. Whether it will receive any awards recognition remains to be seen, but Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile will be arriving much sooner than that previous assumption would indicate. The film will arrive on Netflix and in select theaters on May 3.

While not an awards season release, that does position Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile in closer proximity to Netflix’s series, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, also from director Joe Berlinger. So Netflix can capitalize on that true crime interest as the one-stop shop for Ted Bundy in 2019, the 30th anniversary of his execution.

Will Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile wind up becoming one of the better serial killer movies based on true life crimes? Find out when it hits Netflix on May 3. For all the biggest movies heading to theaters this year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

New DVD Releases March 2019: All The Latest Movies And TV Shows Coming This Month

New DVD Releases March 2019: All The Latest Movies And TV Shows Coming This Month

March may not be the most notable month at the movies, but it is a month where a bunch of big releases from the year prior start being made available to families at home. I say families, but many of the releases this month are decidedly grownup, including titles like Ben Is Back, Green Book, Creed II, The Favourite and If Beale Street Could Talk.

Having said this, there is plenty for families to get excited about, as well. Probably the most notable family title this month is Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, the new animated classic that went on to win Best Animated Feature at the recent Academy Awards ceremony. Plus, older kids should relish Aquaman and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald while Mary Poppins Returns should speak to the kid in all of us.

But don’t take my word for it. You can check out the list of what will be made available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital in March of 2019, below.

Per usual, Digital releases are the same day as Blu-ray and DVD releases, unless otherwise noted in the “Early Digital Releases” column. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse, for example, was made available on Digital on February 26. Take a look at other February releases with our guide.

Tuesday, March 5 DVD, Blu-ray And Digital Releases

Creed II

Instant Family

The Favourite

Ben Is Back

Fear The Walking Dead: The Complete Fourth Season

Vox Lux

Free Solo

Gunpowder

Krypton: The Complete First Season

Of Fathers and Sons

The Mercy

Burning

Dead Ant

Don't Go

House of Cards: Season 6

Prospect

The Clovehitch Killer

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek

The Vanishing

Week of March 5 Early Digital Releases

Aquaman

Vox Lux

Tuesday, March 12 DVD, Blu-ray And Digital Releases

Green Book

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald

Mortal Engines

The Last Ship: The Complete Fifth Season

London Fields

Piercing

The Last Man

Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes

Tyrel

Week of March 12 Early Digital Releases

Mary Poppins Returns

Vice

If Beale Street Could Talk

They Shall Not Grow Old

Second Act

Tuesday, March 19 DVD, Blu-ray And Digital Releases

Mary Poppins Returns

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Chesapeake Shores: Season 3

Pokemon The Movie: The Power Of Us

The Final Wish

The Quake

Week of March 19 Early Digital Releases

Bumblebee

The Mule

Triple Threat (March 22)

Tuesday, March 26 DVD, Blu-ray And Digital Releases

Aquaman

Stan & Ollie

If Beale Street Could Talk

Legion: The Complete Season Two

Second Act

Midnight, Texas: Season Two

Capernaum

Columbus

Kim Possible

King of Thieves

MFKZ

Week of March 26 Early Digital Releases

Welcome To Marwen

On The Basis of Sex

Holmes & Watson

All in all, there are some good releases coming out this month. Which will you be adding to your collection? Be sure to let us know in the comments, below.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Gets Earlier Release Date

Spider-Man: Far From Home Gets Earlier Release Date

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is standing on a precipice. Avengers: Endgame will finally arrive in a matter of days, ending Phase Three and the MCU as we know it. Not much is known about that the studio is cooking up for the next series of films, but there is one movie that we should expect arriving a few months into Phase Four, Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Spider-Man: Far From Home will be Tom Holland's second starring role in the MCU. While Peter Parker faded to dust in Endgame, he'll somehow end up in the world of the living before departing on a class trip to Europe. Moviegoers are eager to meet Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio in the upcoming sequel, and the fandom will be happy to know that the movie's release has been moved up. Three days specifically, meaning Far From Home will now hit theaters on July 2nd.

This date change, which comes to us from Slashfilm, is sure to delight moviegoers who fell in love with the web crawler's world in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Peter Parker's second solo flick will assemble all the familiar faces from the first movie, including his friends, Happy Hogan, MJ, and even Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes.

It may originally be surprising that Spider-Man: Far From Home went from being released on a Friday to a Tuesday, but it makes sense if you sit down with a calendar. The earlier date coincides with Independence Day in the US, with plenty of people given time off for the holiday. As such, Far From Home will likely make a large sum of money, with American moviegoers looking for a way to spend their vacation.

It'll be interesting to see how Spider-Man: Far From Home ultimately does in theaters. Every installment in Phase Three was a financial success, including Homecoming. But it'll be a new world after Endgame, and the stakes will be decidedly lower once that massive blockbuster finally arrives. But audiences may be eager to see what comes next, and exactly how the MCU will continue on after Thanos' assault on the galaxy.

Related: Avengers: Infinity War Creates A Strange Problem For Spider-Man: Homecoming 2

Spider-Man didn't debut in the MCU until Captain America: Civil War, but he quickly became a fan favorite hero in the shared universe. Tom Holland brought a youthful energy and gymnastic abilities to the role, especially when he was given more material in Spider-Man: Homecoming. He became a real Avenger in Infinity War, and had the most heart-wrenching death scene when he faded to dust. He's expected to appear in Endgame in some capacity, although it's not clear how.

Spider-Man: Far From Home will arrive in theaters on July 2nd, but first he'll appear in Avengers: Endgame on April 26th. In the meantime, fill out CinemaBlend's Endgame death pool, and be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Shazam! Director Details The Alternate Opening And Ending

Shazam! Director Details The Alternate Opening And Ending

Warning: SPOILERS for Shazam! are ahead!

It’s been almost two months since Shazam! first hit theaters, which means it’s now winding down its run on the big screen. However, once that’s complete, you’ll be able to pick up the World’s Mightiest Mortal’s first movie on home media, and among the special features that will be included are an alternate opening and an alternate ending.

For those who need a refresher, Shazam! began in 1974, showing how the young Thaddeus Sivana was brought to the Rock of Eternity by The Wizard Shazam, but deemed unworthy to serve as the Wizard’s champion because he was tempted by the Seven Deadly Sins. Right after being sent back Earth, Thaddeus, his father and brother were caught in a car accident that crippled Daddy Sivana.

Here’s what Shazam! director David F. Sandberg had to say about the movie’s alternate opening that will be available to fans on Twitter:

In the original opening an elevator takes Thad to the Rock of Eternity. We did the car crash instead to have a more dramatic opening to the film. Thad also sees a hologram with some Sin backstory, similar to Billy.

While Thaddeus Sivana being brought to the Rock of Eternity via an elevator is reminiscent of how Billy Batson was brought there through a subway train, the car crash was definitely the more jarring approach, as initially it looked like the Sivana family avoided being struck by one car, only to be hit out of nowhere by another. As far as the origins of the Seven Deadly Sins go, the movie provided a reasonable amount of background on them, so throwing in a little extra for the Young Sivana might have been too much.

As for Shazam!’s ending, the main story wrapped up with the Shazam-ified Billy Batson and his new friend Superman having lunch at school with Freddy Freeman and their adoptive siblings. But after that, the mid-credits scene showed the incarcerated Sivana being visited by Mister Mind, who was briefly shown when Sivana visited the Rock of Eternity as a kid, but had been freed by the time Billy Batson was brought to the Wizard’s liar.

On the off chance they weren’t satisfied with the sinister caterpillar’s appearance, David F. Sandberg and his team had a backup plan, with Sandberg revealing:

The alternate ending was a backup we shot in case the cameo at the end didn’t work. The alternate had all the kids transform and fly off to stop a hostage situation.

It’s unclear what David F. Sandberg specifically meant by if Mr. Mind’s cameo “didn’t work,” but regardless, that didn’t end up being a concern. That being said, seeing the Shazam Family foil a crime together would have clarified to those unfamiliar with the comics that Freddy, Mary, Pedro, Eugene and Darla permanently retained their powers, as opposed to their time as superheroes being a one-time thing.

While Shazam! didn’t make nearly as big of a splash at the box office as Aquaman did, it received a lot of positive reviews, and Warner Bros has a sequel in development. While it will be a while until we learn specific plot details concerning Shazam! 2, but it’s a good bet that it will involve Sivana and Mr. Mind getting up to nefarious shenanigans.

You can purchase Shazam! on Digital HD on July 2, and the Blu-ray and DVD copies will hit shelves on July 16. If you’re wondering what the DC Extended Universe has coming up, look through our handy guide.

George Clooney Says He ‘Wasn’t Good’ At Playing Batman

George Clooney Says He ‘Wasn’t Good’ At Playing Batman

If you didn’t already know, one of the rules when playing the Hollywood game is it’s never easy playing Batman. From Michael Keaton straight through to the news that Robert Pattinson is the top tier choice for the lead in director Matt Reeves’ entry in this character’s canon, it’s been consistently proven true.

But nowhere was that strife most felt than during George Clooney’s tenure in the Batsuit for director Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin. However, Clooney himself has been known to apologize for his performance, as even he admits his Batman wasn’t that good. Please accept his apology, through the remarks provided by the actor below:

Now, fair deal: I was playing Batman and I wasn’t good in it, it wasn’t a good film. But what I learned from that failure was that I had to relearn how I was working. Now, I wasn’t just an actor getting a role, I was being held responsible for the film itself

More than just learning the lesson that it’s hard to be Batman, George Clooney learned in one of his earliest major motion pictures that when you accept a role in a film like Batman & Robin, you’re basically accepting responsibility for the film’s quality to a certain extent.

While the movie is in the hands of the director and other people plying their crafts alongside a lead actor such as Clooney, there’s going to be a public perception that his leading performance is the key factor that let the audience down.

However, there was a silver lining to the Batman & Robin experience that George Clooney had, and he let The Hollywood Reporter in on that knowledge as he talked to them for their Awards Chatter podcast. As it turns out, the sting of playing Batman helped the actor to choose projects a little wiser, which put him on a run of movies that still can’t be beat: Three Kings, Out of Sight and O Brother, Where Art Thou.

So while playing Batman isn’t the easiest job in the world, it’s certainly worth it. If you’re really good at it, you’ll be forever remembered as a titan of the role, like Michael Keaton and Christian Bale. But if you’re tenure is a little more embattled, like George Clooney or Ben Affleck, you’re going to learn some hard lessons about where you need to go next. An all important lesson for Robert Pattinson or Nicholas Hoult to consider, should either of them become the next Caped Crusader.

George Clooney can currently be seen in Hulu’s Catch-22, as all episodes are now streaming as of today. But if you’re looking for something more in the way of movies, you can hop over to our 2019 release schedule and see what’s coming down the road.

Netflix's Murder Mystery Trailer Reunites Adam Sandler And Jennifer Aniston

Netflix's Murder Mystery Trailer Reunites Adam Sandler And Jennifer Aniston

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston were last seen in a movie together in 2011’s romantic comedy Just Go With It. In that film, their characters got caught up in a web of lies while pretending to be married. It's a tough act to be sure, but nothing like what they will have to deal with in Murder Mystery. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston reunite for the Netflix action-comedy, which has just dropped its first trailer. Check it out below:

First, it must be said that I didn’t know we needed Adam Sandler with a ridiculous cop mustache, but I’m here for it. Although we’ve only seen them together in one other movie, the Murder Mystery trailer reminds us that Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler have good chemistry and a fun dynamic. Here Aniston plays the frustrated wife completely exhausted with her husband, and him as the perpetually disappointing spouse who puts in the absolute minimum amount of effort ("The boat does all the work").

They are taking their honeymoon 15 years late to try and find a spark in their listless marriage, only for that spark to come in the form of the film’s titular murder mystery. And while they’re in over their heads, perhaps his detective skills and her love of mystery novels will see them through and provide more than a few laughs along the way.

The premise of Murder Mystery is nothing new; whodunits are tried and true, and that’s because they are effective. Here, after an offer to spend the weekend on a luxury yacht so generous some might call it suspicious, Nick and Audrey Spitz wind up being framed for a murder of a billionaire. But rather than confine the film entirely to the yacht as the true killer is rooted out, Murder Mystery takes the characters on the run, bringing some action to the proceedings.

That action provides some of the trailer’s funnier moments. The part where we see that Adam Sandler’s detective is missing horribly while firing at a would-be assassin and getting yelled at by his wife for it is great. He clearly trained at the Stormtrooper School of Marksmanship. Also, between this and the new trailer for Men in Black: International, it’s a good week for right-hand drive car humor.

Murder Mystery also seems to be doing a light bit of satire of the whodunit premise. The inspector is your classic European detective you find in these kinds of stories, a Hercule Poirot-type character who is both brilliant and ridiculous. Adam Sandler’s Nick even yells out his Magnum P.I. fantasy while racing to a get in a Ferrari and escape their pursuers.

I don’t think it’s unfair to say that some of Adam Sandler’s movies in recent years have been… not great. You might even call some stinkers or “a Devlin,” as Jennifer Aniston’s character in Just Go With It would say. But Murder Mystery looks like a lot of fun. It’s got a solid premise and while it’s obviously still a comedy, it doesn’t look as inane and full of hijinks as something like The Ridiculous 6.

Murder Mystery lands on Netflix on June 14. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see what’s headed to the big screen this summer and for all your movie news keep it locked to CinemaBlend.