Bored yet? Here is a little relief for you...not to mention for the kids.
Many film studios are releasing their newest movies on VOD or streaming platforms early amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has prompted governments to order theaters and other public places to close, and millions of people to stay at home and practice social distancing.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Disney announced that the live-action Mulan (which had already faced delays) is now coming to Disney+ on Sept. 4. For $29.99, subscribers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Western Europe will be able to watch the highly-anticipated film from the comfort and safety of their own home. Mulan will be released theatrically in locations where theaters are open.
Disney has already released Frozen II on Disney+ and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is available on VOD.
See all the movies being released early on VOD and streaming platforms:
Meanwhile, many movies' theatrical release dates have been postponed, some indefinitely, with no information on whether or not the films will be released digitally instead. The list includes Disney's Marvel films Black Widow and The New Mutants, Fox Searchlight's The Personal History of David Copperfield, Paramount's A Quiet Place Part II—John Krasinski's sequel to the hit horror film.
Universal Pictures and Illumination's Minions: The Rise of Gru, which was supposed to be released in July, was delayed an entire year. Similarly, Disney has pushed all its Avatar and Star Wars sequels back one year.
Universal Pictures' ninth Fast & Furious film F9 will be released on April 2, 2021, nearly a year after it was originally supposed to hit theaters. Sony Pictures is releasing Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway on January 15, 2021 instead of April 3. The release date for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer's To Time to Die, Daniel Craig's last James Bond movie, was postponed from April 10 to November 25.
(E! and Universal Pictures are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
(This story was originally published on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 2:49 p.m. PST)