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, 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.

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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Film - Complete Hop to Streaming

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 (2020), from Universal - international only
• The Woman in the Window, from Disney.^note Though Disney not having much confidence in the movie in the first place didn't help.
• Bad Trip, from Orion Pictures.^note Was briefly released by accident on Prime Video on its originally intended release date.
• Run, from Lionsgate - international only
• The Mitchells vs. the Machines, from Columbia Pictures^note limited-time exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights
• Fatherhood, from Columbia Pictures^note limited-time Netflix exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights
• Vivo, from Columbia Pictures^note limited-time exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights and Mainland China release
• Gunpowder Milkshake, from STX Entertainment.
• My Little Pony: A New Generation, from Paramount.^note A double Channel Hop for the My Little Pony franchise, since My Little Pony: The Movie (2017) was released by Lionsgate.
• NIMONA (2023), from Disney.^{sort of...} The adaptation of the webcomic was initially greenlit by 20th Century Fox, which was taken over by Disney shortly afterwards. Disney would shutter Blue Sky Studios 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 Annapurna Pictures took over the film.
• The Man from Toronto, from Columbia Pictures^note limited-time exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights

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+ and at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles.
• The Beatles: Get Back. ^note Redeveloped as a miniseries during the course of the pandemic.
• Turning Red, from Pixar. ^note Released theatrically in markets without Disney+, and got a limited theatrical release in New York City, Los Angeles, and Oakland.

Disney+ (via Premier Access):

• Mulan (2020)

Hulu

• Run, from Lionsgate.
• Happiest Season, from Sony Pictures.
• The United States Vs Billie Holiday, from Paramount.
• Deep Water, from Disney.
• Fire Island, from Disney.^note  A double Channel Hop 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.

HBO Max

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

Paramount+ ^note Unless otherwise noted, all films are produced by Paramount.

• The Spongebob Movie Sponge On The Run
• Infinite
• Rumble

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 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 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.
• Cinderella, from Sony Pictures.^note Limited simultaneous theatrical release
• Everybody's Talking About Jamie, from Disney.^note Limited theatrical release one week before streaming debut.
• Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, from Columbia Pictures^note limited-time Prime Video exclusivity; Sony retains home entertainment and linear TV rights. Later received a limited theatrical release.
• Deep Water, from Disney - international only

Apple TV+

• Greyhound, from Sony Pictures / Columbia Pictures.
• Finch (2021), from Universal.

Film - Streaming with Simultaneous Theatrical Release

Disney+ (via Premier Access):

• Raya and the Last Dragon
• Cruella
• Black Widow (2021)
• Jungle Cruise

Hulu

• While not an official transfer of ownership as Disney produced it themselves, Nomadland 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).
• 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).

HBO Max

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
• The Matrix Resurrections
• Mortal Kombat
• Reminiscence
• Space Jam: A New Legacy
• Those Who Wish Me Dead
• Tom & Jerry (2021)

Paramount+ ^note Unless otherwise noted, all films are produced by Paramount.

• PAW Patrol: The Movie
• Clifford the Big Red Dog

Peacock

• The Boss Baby: Family Business, from Dreamworks Animation, 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 first film was originally released by Twentieth Century Fox, while the sequel will be released under the Universal brand.
• Halloween Kills, on Peacock for 60 days and simultaneously released in theaters.
• Marry Me, on Peacock and simultaneously released in theaters. A dual channel hop, as the film was initially developed at STX Entertainment before moving to Universal.
• Firestarter, on Peacock and simultaneously released in theaters.

Film - Other Examples

MGM+ (formerly 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".

Theatrical Studio to Theatrical Studio

• Joe Bell 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 Unhinged (2020) disappointing at the box office and their other releases scuttled; eventually, the studio dropped Joe Bell, which was picked up by Roadside Attractions.

Notable Aversions

• MGM allegedly pitched No Time to Die to Apple TV+ and Netflix due to the rising costs incurred by its delays. However, the streamers balked at its $600 million pricetag.
• Apple TV+ and Netflix allegedly approached Paramount about purchasing Top Gun: Maverick, but the studio refused to sell.
• After previously picking up Enola Holmes from the studio, Netflix made a $250 million offer to Legendary Pictures to purchase Godzilla vs. Kong. This time, however, WarnerMedia blocked the deal, which led to backlash when Warner's plan to release the film on HBO Max was revealed. Ultimately, Warner compensated Legendary for its part in the film's production as a result.

TV examples

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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