Odeon bans Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

[Zirak]

Full story: http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/blog/article/13146/cinema-boycott-threatens-alice.html

I have to question the logic of this move. In short, Odeon are refusing to screen the new Alice in Wonderland film because Disney want to release the DVD 13 weeks after the film has been out in the cinemas. Odeon (and Vue are also considering to follow in their footsteps by banning it as well) are concerned this will impact the sales of their tickets at the box office, assuming that people will wait for the DVD, so they decide to ban it completely.

I fail to see how this resolves the problem. Banning it means there will be NO ticket sales at all, their customer base will be left high and dry (Odeon is the only local cinema to me that can show it in 3D) and this will forever sour relations with Disney going forward, putting any further film releases, if not into jeopardy, then at least into question. I realise they won't ban every single Disney film going forward but there may be some friction from this issue that will last long into the future. I just can't see how Odeon see this as a viable business option. Essentially the whole company is behaving like a spoiled child, refusing to allow Disney to do what they want by denying them any profit from the film release, denying themselves the profits in the first place. "If we can't have our way, no-one will" -- sort of thing.

Another fact to this issue that I believe is blown out of proportion is how many people Odeon believe will actually wait for the DVD rather than going to the cinema. I always prefer to see a film on the big screen, it's a far more immersive experience. It has far more to offer than a DVD does -- for one thing, the screen and sound systems will ALWAYS be better. I have yet to see a home cinema setup that equals a proper cinema.

This has dashed my hopes of seeing this film in 3D on the big screen. I'll still try to see the 2D edition but ultimately Odeon have removed the 3D choice from me. I'll definitely carefully consider seeing any film in an Odeon cinema from this point forward.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Jinx]

I saw this report as well and I agree with you it's a stupid move by Odeon cinemas. They believe people will wait for the DVD release rather than go to the cinema? If I really want to see a film I'll go see it.

13 weeks? Oh wait you mean roughly 3 months...I'm sorry but that's a whole quarter of the year, that's a long time to wait for a film you really want to see. To me the cost of a cinema ticket is worth seeing a film I really want to see 3 months earlier than buying my own copy.

Odeon have made a stupid mistake and while I don't like to wish misfortune on people I hope they suffer for this by the film being brillant. I doubt that high a percentage of people would stop going to the cinema due to slightly earlier DVD releases.

Also as Zi said the cinema experience is better than any home cinema system I've seen which is one reason why I to go in the first place. 

[Pyra]

Disney have tried to do this before, and normally threats of this sort of action have prevented it. Why are Disney trying to shorten the length of time between cinema and dvd releases. Somehow I think it has more to do with there profif rather than the piracy as they have claimed.

[Zirak]

UPDATE (BBC News): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8528820.stm


So it seems Odeon definitely won't show it, but Vue and Cineworld will. I'm hoping the nearest Vue's to me do 3D films.

I have no illusions that Disney want to capitalise on the release of the film by releasing the DVD so soon after and just because a DVD is available to purchase doesn't mean people won't pirate it. The whole point of it is to get something for nothing, as far as I'm aware. Still, even if their motive is just greed, I don't think it would impact ticket sales all that much. I still think Odeon made the wrong decision and it's not the best solution to the feud.

[KT]

Well obv cinemas have to pay for the rights to show films, but I agree it is a silly move... I still think people would go and see it, for the experience of the big screen and cos 3 months is still quite a while...

[Pyra]

The reason they are trying to stop it isn't just this film though. Lets just say that by not showing this film both Disney and Odeon lose £5million. Now lets say the impact of the reduced lead time to DVD is a loss of £100,000 for odeon. If their fear is right that by Disney is trying to reduced the standard lead time, then that will be £100,000 loss per film, for every film for the rest of time. Ok numbers pulled out of my arse, but I hope you get the idea. Attempting to oppose this change is more profitable for Odeon as long as the reduction in projected profits is non-zero by the change.

Odeon's logic in this matter is (at least to me) is perfectly reasonable. I still don't understand disneys.

[Zirak]

UPDATE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8536195.stm


Looks like Odeon have reversed their decision following talks with Disney.