Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context ChannelHop / COVID19PandemicRelatedExamples

Go To

1%%PLEASE NOTE: We're at the point where not every movie that gets sold to a streaming service is necessarily doing so because of the pandemic. Please check before adding it to this list rather than the regular "Channel Hop - Film" page.
2With the onset of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic shuttering theaters across the globe, numerous films planned for theatrical release in 2020 (and 2021, if not 2022 or even later) were either sold from their original distributors to various streaming services or shifted to their in-house streaming service. Some of them did have limited domestic theatrical release and/or wide release in countries where theaters have widely reopened.
3
4Note that, unless otherwise specified, these channel hops are based on distribution in the United States; while some (particularly those sold to global platforms like Netflix) did have their worldwide rights sold to streamers, others (e.g. ''Film/{{Run}}'', ''Film/Coming2America'') had their international rights maintained by their original distributors, as numerous countries outside the U.S. were able to stage a more successful theatrical recovery earlier in the pandemic.
5
6----
7
8[[foldercontrol]]
9
10[[folder:Film - Complete Hop to Streaming]]
11!!Creator/{{Netflix}}
12* ''Film/TheLovebirds'', from Creator/{{Paramount}}.
13* ''Film/EnolaHolmes'', from Creator/WarnerBros.
14* ''Film/TheTrialOfTheChicago7'', from Paramount.
15* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOnTheRun'', from Paramount - '''international only'''
16* ''Film/{{Mosul}}'', from 101 Studios.
17* ''Film/NewsOfTheWorld2020'', from Creator/{{Universal}} - '''international only'''
18* ''[[Film/TheWomanInTheWindow2021 The Woman in the Window]]'', from [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Disney]].[[note]]Though Disney [[ExecutiveMeddling not having much confidence in the movie in the first place]] didn't help.[[/note]]
19* ''Film/BadTrip'', from Creator/OrionPictures.[[note]]Was briefly released by accident on Creator/PrimeVideo on its originally intended release date.[[/note]]
20* ''Film/{{Run}}'', from Creator/{{Lionsgate}} - '''international only'''
21* ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'', from Creator/ColumbiaPictures[[note]]limited-time exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights[[/note]]
22* ''Film/{{Fatherhood}}'', from Columbia Pictures[[note]]limited-time Netflix exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights[[/note]]
23* ''WesternAnimation/{{Vivo}}'', from Columbia Pictures[[note]]limited-time exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights and Mainland China release[[/note]]
24* ''Film/GunpowderMilkshake'', from Creator/STXEntertainment.
25* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration'', from Paramount.[[note]]A double ChannelHop for the ''My Little Pony'' franchise, since ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'' was released by Creator/{{Lionsgate}}.[[/note]]
26* ''WesternAnimation/Nimona2023'', from [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Disney]].[[labelnote:sort of...]]The adaptation of the [[Webcomic/{{Nimona}} webcomic]] was initially greenlit by 20th Century Fox, which was taken over by Disney shortly afterwards. Disney would shutter Creator/BlueSkyStudios in 2021, allegedly as a pandemic cost-cutting measure; however, some Blue Sky staffers alleged Disney had been hostile towards the film for some time. Eventually, Netflix acquired distribution rights after producer Creator/AnnapurnaPictures took over the film.[[/labelnote]]
27* ''Film/TheManFromToronto'', from Columbia Pictures[[note]]limited-time exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights[[/note]]
28
29!!Creator/DisneyPlus [[note]]Unless otherwise noted, all films are produced by Creator/WaltDisneyPictures.[[/note]]
30* ''Film/ArtemisFowl''.
31* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' (stage recording).[[note]]A rare case of coming out before planned, to compensate how the play was shut down as well; Disney stated it still plans theatrical and home video releases[[/note]]
32* ''Film/TheOneAndOnlyIvan''.
33* ''Film/{{Clouds}}'', from Warner Bros.
34* ''WesternAnimation/{{Soul}}'', from Creator/{{Pixar}}. [[note]]Released theatrically in markets without Disney+, but got a limited release in New York City and Los Angeles in March 2021.[[/note]]
35* ''WesternAnimation/{{Luca}}'', from Pixar. [[note]]Released theatrically in markets without Disney+ and at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles.[[/note]]
36* ''Series/TheBeatlesGetBack''. [[note]]Redeveloped as a miniseries during the course of the pandemic.[[/note]]
37* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', from Pixar. [[note]]Released theatrically in markets without Disney+, and got a limited theatrical release in New York City, Los Angeles, and Oakland.[[/note]]
38!!!Creator/DisneyPlus (via Premier Access):
39* ''Film/Mulan2020''
40
41!!Creator/{{Hulu}}
42* ''Film/{{Run}}'', from Creator/{{Lionsgate}}.
43* ''Film/HappiestSeason'', from Creator/SonyPictures.
44* ''Film/TheUnitedStatesVsBillieHoliday'', from Paramount.
45* ''Film/DeepWater'', from [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Disney]].
46* ''Fire Island'', from [[Creator/SearchlightPictures Disney]].[[note]] A double ChannelHop here. It was initially developed as a series by Quibi under the title ''Trip'', but placed into turnaround after the failure of that streaming service. Then Disney picked it up for a theatrical release, but then decided to increase focus on streaming because of the pandemic, and cancelled the theatrical release. It will be released on Disney+ Star internationally.[[/note]]
47
48!!Creator/HBOMax
49* ''Film/AnAmericanPickle'', from Sony Pictures.
50* ''Film/CharmCityKings'', from Sony Pictures Classics.
51* ''Film/{{The Witches|2020}}'', from Warner Bros.
52
53!!Creator/ParamountPlus [[note]]Unless otherwise noted, all films are produced by Creator/{{Paramount}}.[[/note]]
54* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobMovieSpongeOnTheRun''
55* ''Film/{{Infinite}}''
56* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rumble}}''
57
58!!Creator/PrimeVideo
59* ''Film/BoratSubsequentMoviefilm''; skipped a planned theatrical release, but got a limited release in the United States in March 2021. [[Film/{{Borat}} The previous film]] was released by [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Twentieth Century Fox]].[[note]]Disney had bought Fox by the time of ''Subsequent Moviefilm'''s creation and was believed to be uninterested in the film. Baron Cohen and the producers wanted the movie to be released before the 2020 U.S. election to be seen by as many people as possible, and felt giving it a theatrical release during the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic would've made the film a hard sell for most audiences. It was originally hoped the film would be distributed by Creator/{{Universal}}, but the pandemic and Universal's then-ongoing feud with theater chains scuttled those plans before distribution rights could be sold.[[/note]]
60* ''Film/BrutusVsCaesar'', from Orange Studio and France 2 Cinéma.
61* ''Film/WithoutRemorse'', from Paramount.
62* ''Film/MySpy'', from Creator/STXEntertainment.
63* ''Film/Coming2America'', from Paramount.
64* ''Film/RunSweetheartRun'', from [[Creator/BlumhouseProductions BH Tilt]].
65* ''Film/TheMauritanian'', from [[Creator/STXEntertainment STX International]] - '''United Kingdom only'''
66* ''Film/TheTomorrowWar'', from Paramount.
67* ''Film/{{Cinderella|2021}}'', from Creator/SonyPictures.[[note]]Limited simultaneous theatrical release[[/note]]
68* ''Theatre/EverybodysTalkingAboutJamie'', from [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Disney]].[[note]]Limited theatrical release one week before streaming debut.[[/note]]
69* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvaniaTransformania'', from Creator/ColumbiaPictures[[note]]limited-time Prime Video exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights. Later received a limited theatrical release.[[/note]]
70* ''Film/DeepWater'', from Disney - '''international only'''
71%%No indication has been made that ''Shotgun Wedding'' being sold to Prime Video was pandemic-related.
72
73!!Creator/AppleTVPlus
74* ''Film/{{Greyhound}}'', from Sony Pictures / Creator/ColumbiaPictures.
75* ''Film/Finch2021'', from Creator/{{Universal}}.
76[[/folder]]
77
78
79[[folder:Film - Streaming with Simultaneous Theatrical Release]]
80!!Creator/DisneyPlus (via Premier Access):
81* ''WesternAnimation/RayaAndTheLastDragon''
82* ''Film/{{Cruella}}''
83* ''Film/BlackWidow2021''
84* ''Film/JungleCruise''
85
86!!Creator/{{Hulu}}
87* While not an official transfer of ownership as Disney produced it themselves, ''Film/{{Nomadland}}'' was made available on Hulu day-and-date with its wide theatrical release (following a virtual cinema premiere and an exclusive two-week Creator/{{IMAX}} run).
88* ''Film/PalmSprings'', from Creator/{{Neon}}. [[note]]This one's complicated, in that Neon and Hulu jointly purchased distribution rights to the film, with the intent that it would play in theaters under the former before becoming a streaming exclusive under the latter. The pandemic, however, led to the film becoming a day-and-date release in both drive-in theaters (under Neon) and Hulu (as a Hulu Original, with no Neon branding).[[/note]]
89
90!!Creator/HBOMax
91!!! It was announced on December 3, 2020 that all Warner Bros. theatrical releases through the end of 2021, starting with ''Film/WonderWoman1984'', will stream on HBO Max for a one-month period on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBxppYsRaUM the same day they arrive in theaters]]. Here is a list of them:
92* ''Film/TheConjuringTheDevilMadeMeDoIt''
93* ''Film/CryMacho''
94* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse
95** ''Film/WonderWoman1984''
96** ''Film/TheSuicideSquad''
97* ''Film/Dune2021''
98* ''Film/GodzillaVsKong''
99* ''Film/InTheHeights''
100* ''Film/JudasAndTheBlackMessiah''
101* ''Film/KingRichard''
102* ''Film/TheLittleThings''
103* ''Film/{{Malignant}}''
104* ''Film/TheManySaintsOfNewark''
105* ''Film/TheMatrixResurrections''
106* ''Film/{{Mortal Kombat|2021}}''
107* ''Film/{{Reminiscence}}''
108* ''Film/SpaceJamANewLegacy''
109* ''Film/ThoseWhoWishMeDead''
110* ''Film/TomAndJerry2021''
111
112!!Creator/ParamountPlus [[note]]Unless otherwise noted, all films are produced by Creator/{{Paramount}}.[[/note]]
113* ''WesternAnimation/PAWPatrolTheMovie''
114* ''Film/CliffordTheBigRedDog''
115
116!!Creator/{{Peacock}}
117* ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBabyFamilyBusiness'', from Creator/DreamworksAnimation, was released simultaneously on the Peacock platform (for 60 days) and in theaters. This marks a double Channel Hop for the ''Boss Baby'' franchise, since the [[WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby first film]] was originally released by [[Creator/TwentiethCenturyStudios Twentieth Century Fox]], while the sequel will be released under the Creator/{{Universal}} brand.
118* ''Film/HalloweenKills'', on Peacock for 60 days and simultaneously released in theaters.
119* ''Film/{{Marry Me|2022}}'', on Peacock and simultaneously released in theaters. A dual channel hop, as the film was initially developed at Creator/STXEntertainment before moving to Universal.
120* ''Film/{{Firestarter|2022}}'', on Peacock and simultaneously released in theaters.
121[[/folder]]
122
123[[folder: Film - Other Examples]]
124!!Creator/MGMPlus (formerly Epix)
125* ''Film/SaintMaud'', joint release with original distributor Creator/{{A24}}.[[note]]A24 released the film in theaters in January 2021 before the film's Epix premiere in February; the Epix broadcast explicitly bills it as an "Epix Original".[[/note]]
126
127!!Theatrical Studio to Theatrical Studio
128* ''Film/JoeBell'' was originally acquired by Solstice Studios following its premiere at the 2020 Toronto Film Festival. However, the nascent studio was hit hard by the pandemic, with their first release ''Film/Unhinged2020'' disappointing at the box office and their other releases scuttled; eventually, the studio dropped ''Joe Bell'', which was picked up by Roadside Attractions.
129
130!![[AvertedTrope Notable Aversions]]
131* Creator/{{MGM}} allegedly pitched ''Film/NoTimeToDie'' to Creator/AppleTVPlus and Creator/{{Netflix}} due to the rising costs incurred by its delays. However, the streamers balked at its $600 million pricetag.
132* Apple TV+ and Netflix allegedly approached Creator/{{Paramount}} about purchasing ''Film/TopGunMaverick'', but the studio refused to sell.
133* After previously picking up ''Film/EnolaHolmes'' from the studio, Netflix made a $250 million offer to Creator/LegendaryPictures to purchase ''Film/GodzillaVsKong''. This time, however, [[Creator/WarnerBrosDiscovery WarnerMedia]] blocked the deal, which led to backlash when Warner's plan to release the film on Creator/HBOMax was revealed. Ultimately, Warner compensated Legendary for its part in the film's production as a result.
134[[/folder]]
135
136[[folder: TV examples]]
137
138!!Creator/TheBBC
139
140Owing to the sudden dearth of new programming available due to the pandemic, several series originally intended for BBC Two (generally home to more niche or highbrow programming) were moved or promoted to the more mainstream BBC One to fill the holes in the schedule. Examples of this include:
141
142* ''Series/DragonsDen''
143* ''Series/TheGreatBritishSewingBee''
144* ''Series/MasterChef: The Professionals''
145* The Australian import ''The Secrets She Keeps'' was originally intended for BBC Four (a digital channel even more niche and highbrow than BBC Two, and frequently features other imported dramas), but was promoted to BBC One, a decision likely helped out by the fact that it featured [[Series/DowntonAbbey Laura Carmichael]] in the lead role
146[[/folder]]

Top