‘Nomadland’ to Do a Hybrid Release Between Hulu and Theaters
Searchlight Pictures has decided to modify their plans of release for the upcoming awards contender Nomadland.
Variety is reporting that Chloé Zhao’s critically acclaimed film will start a short theatrical run in the U.S. on January 29, followed up by a nationwide release on February 19. That same day, the movie will premiere on Hulu. Additionally, the international release has been delayed until March 4. Variety did not mention any type of PVOD release for international markets, so I think it’s safe to assume that it will be only a theatrical release overseas. Still, it would make sense for Disney to release it on the Star section of Disney Plus, which will be available by that point.
While I remain a believer in the theatrical experience and really want it to be the way we watch movies for many years to come, I think this shift makes sense. At the end of the day, they won’t be leaving a lot of money on the table by making this a hybrid release because Nomadland was never going to make $150 million at the box office. And this way, everybody can enjoy the movie at home.
That being said, these Oscar movies always make more money than people think, especially when they win the Best Picture award. Just look at last year – how many people went out to check Parasite out after it won the Oscar, versus the number of people that had already watched it? Moonlight is another very good example of this, as it was a movie that saw a massive spike in its box office after it won the Oscar in February 2017.
Nomadland was the big winner of the festival circuit last fall, and it is poised to score a lot of nominations come March, plus it will probably take home several statues on April 25. As of today, it is the favorite to win Best Picture and Best Director, and will also fight hard for Best Cinematography, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and many others.
We are now in the middle of the longest awards campaign ever, and we still have three more months to go. Films are now being released, so the public is finally having the chance to check them out. Make sure to come back for our reviews on (at least) most of the Oscar movies and all of the coverage for the season. If you are lost and don’t know what to watch in order to prepare, here’s a list of some of the movies that will be competing for the big awards:
Nomadland (theaters and Hulu)
One Night In Miami… (theaters and PrimeVideo)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Mank (Netflix)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
The Father (theaters)
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Minari (theaters)
Malcolm and Marie (Netflix)
Promising Young Woman (VOD)
Nomadland was written, directed, produced, and edited by Chloé Zhao, who adapted the book from Jessica Bruder. It was also produced by Frances McDormand, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, and Peter Spears. The cast includes Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie, Bob Wells, Derek Endres, Melissa Smith, James R. Taylor Jr., and Emily Jade Foley. Nomadland will arrive in theaters in February 2021.
Miguel Fernández is a Spanish student that has movies as his second passion in life. His favorite movie of all time is The Lord of the Rings, but he is also a huge Star Wars fan. However, fantasy movies are not his only cup of tea, as authors like Scorsese, Fincher, Kubrick or Hitchcock have been an obsession for him since he started to understand the language of filmmaking. He is that guy who will watch a black and white movie, just because it is in black and white.
