Channel Hop / COVID-19 Pandemic Related Examples

With the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic shuttering theaters across the globe, numerous films planned for theatrical release in 2020 (and 2021, 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.

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Note 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. Run, Coming 2 America) 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.

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Netflix

• The Lovebirds, from Paramount.
• Enola Holmes, from Warner Bros..
• The Trial of the Chicago 7, from Paramount.
• The Spongebob Movie Sponge On The Run, from Paramount - international only
• Mosul, from 101 Studios.
• News of the World, from Universal - international only
• The Woman in the Window, from 20th Century Studios.
• The Fear Street trilogy, from 20th Century Studios.
• Bad Trip, from Orion Pictures.^note Was briefly released by accident on Prime Video on its originally intended release date.
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, from Columbia Pictures
• My Little Pony, from Paramount

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Disney+ ^note Unless otherwise noted, all films are produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

• Artemis Fowl.
• 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
• The One and Only Ivan.
• Clouds, from Warner Bros.
• Soul, from Pixar. ^note Released theatrically in markets without Disney+, but got a limited release in New York City and Los Angeles in March 2021.
• Luca, from Pixar. ^note Released theatrically in markets without Disney+

Disney+ Premier Access:

• Mulan (2020). ^note Premier Access (extra $29.99 charge) until December 4, 2020. Also later released on additional digital purchase/rental platforms and home video formats.
• Raya and the Last Dragon. ^note Simultaneously released in theaters
• Cruella. ^note Simultaneously released in theaters
• Black Widow (2021), from Marvel Studios. ^note Simultaneously released in theaters

Hulu

• Run, from Lionsgate.
• Happiest Season, from Sony Pictures.
• Palm Springs, from 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).
• The United States Vs Billie Holiday, from Paramount.
• While not an official transfer of ownership, Nomadland, from Searchlight Pictures, was made available on Hulu day-and-date with its wide theatrical release (following a virtual cinema premiere and an exclusive two-week IMAX run).

HBO Max

• An American Pickle, from Sony Pictures.
• Charm City Kings, from Sony Pictures Classics.
• The Witches, from Warner Bros.

It was announced on December 3, 2020 that all Warner Bros. theatrical releases through the end of 2021, starting with Wonder Woman 1984, will stream on HBO Max for a one-month period on the same day they arrive in theaters. Here is a list of them:

• The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It
• Cry Macho
• DC Extended Universe
  • Wonder Woman 1984
  • The Suicide Squad
• Dune (2021)
• Godzilla vs. Kong
• In the Heights
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• King Richard
• The Little Things
• Malignant
• The Many Saints Of Newark (prequel to The Sopranos)
• The Matrix 4
• Mortal Kombat
• Reminiscence
• Space Jam: A New Legacy
• Those Who Wish Me Dead
• Tom & Jerry (2021)

Paramount+

• The Spongebob Movie Sponge On The Run, from Paramount

Prime Video

• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm; skipped a planned theatrical release, but got a limited release in the United States in March 2021. The previous film was released by 20th 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 COVID-19 Pandemic would've made the film a hard sell for most audiences. It was originally hoped the film would be distributed by Universal, but the pandemic and Universal's then-ongoing feud with theater chains scuttled those plans before distribution rights could be sold.
• Brutus Vs Caesar, from Orange Studio and France 2 Cinéma.
• Without Remorse, from Paramount.
• My Spy, from STX Entertainment.
• Coming 2 America, from Paramount.
• Run Sweetheart Run, from BH Tilt.
• The Mauritanian, from STX International - United Kingdom only
• The Tomorrow War, from Paramount.

Apple TV+

• Greyhound, from Sony Pictures / Columbia Pictures.

ePix

• Saint Maud, joint release with original distributor 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".

The BBC

Owing 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:

• Dragons' Den
• The Great British Sewing Bee
• MasterChef: The Professionals
• 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 Laura Carmichael in the lead role

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