Sony Bought a Movie Theatre Chain. Plus, Pixar’s Big Comeback
Jun 18, 2024
auto_awesome
Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw joins Matt to discuss Sony Pictures acquiring Alamo Drafthouse, Sony's interest in theaters, and the future of animated movie casting. They explore if other studios should buy theaters and predict voice actor salaries for sequels like Inside Out 2.
Sony's acquisition of Alamo Drafthouse signifies a vote of confidence in theatrical business's future and focuses on enhancing the movie-going experience with specialized theaters.
Disney's cost-effective strategy for 'Inside Out 2' emphasizes prioritizing essential voice actors like Amy Poehler while minimizing expenses on supporting cast members.
Deep dives
Sony's Acquisition of Alamo: A Strategic Move
Sony's decision to acquire Alamo Drafthouse, a smaller theater chain known for catering to cinephiles and offering unique movie experiences like dine-in services, indie films, and older re-releases, signifies a vote of confidence in the future of the theatrical business. By focusing on a specialized theater chain rather than a major one, Sony aims to experiment with enhancing the movie-going experience without diluting its core business. This strategy also avoids favoritism towards Sony releases and maintains a clear boundary between the studio and the theater chain.
Disney's Approach to Animated Sequels and Voice Casts
The success of 'Inside Out 2' without the original voice cast of Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling sheds light on Disney's shifting approach to animated sequels and voice actors' compensation. Disney's decision not to offer substantial salaries to non-essential voice actors for sequels demonstrates a practical, cost-effective strategy. This move indicates a trend towards prioritizing essential voices like Amy Poehler while minimizing expenses on supporting cast members.
Evolution of Media Regulations and Studio-Theater Dynamics
The overturning of long-standing regulations like the Paramount decrees highlights the changing landscape of media ownership and distribution. With digital platforms reshaping the entertainment industry, rules restricting studio ownership of theaters become outdated. As major studios like Sony explore owning theater chains, the dynamics between content producers, exhibitors, and audiences undergo a significant transformation, reflecting a need for regulatory updates to align with modern media practices.
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Sony Pictures' acquisition of the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater chain, what this move says about Sony’s interest in theatrical moviegoing, whether this experiment was ultimately a smart move, and whether any other studios or streamers should be in the theater-buying business (02:54). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of casting animated movies (24:33).
For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click this link: puck.news/thetown