Just days after it hit theaters, Sony Pictures’ Bloodshot will be available for fans to own digitally next week.
Bloodshot, based on the Valiant Comics title starring Vin Diesel, was set to hit theaters on March 20, but Sony Pictures announced Wednesday it will be available to purchase for $19.99 on Tuesday, March 24, through all digital retailers.
The move comes as movie theaters across the country are shutting down nationwide due to the spread of COVID-19, a.k.a. the coronavirus.
Bloodshot digital: Just days after it hit theaters, Sony Pictures’ Bloodshot will be available for fans to own digitally next week
Bloodshot opened in theaters on March 13, debuting in second place at the box office with just $9.17 million, behind Onward with $10.6 million.
With fears of the coronavirus spreading, the weekend overall was the lowest at the box office in 22 years, leading studios scrambling to find alternative ways to get their movies into theaters.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman stressed that the studio still values the theatrical experience, but this is a rare exception where the ‘window’ between theatrical and digital/home video needs to shrink.
Box office debut: Bloodshot opened in theaters on March 13, debuting in second place at the box office with just $9.17 million, behind Onward with $10.6 million
‘Sony Pictures is firmly committed to theatrical exhibition and we support windowing,’ Rothman said, referring to the traditional 90-day window between a theatrical debut and a digital/home video release.
‘This is a unique and exceedingly rare circumstance where theaters have been required to close nationwide for the greater good and Bloodshot is abruptly unavailable in any medium,’ he added.
‘Audiences will now have the chance to own Bloodshot right away and see it at home, where we are all spending more time,’ Rothman said.
Committed: ‘Sony Pictures is firmly committed to theatrical exhibition and we support windowing,’ Rothman said, referring to the traditional 90-day window between a theatrical debut and a digital/home video release
‘We are confident that — like other businesses hit hard by the virus — movie theaters will bounce back strongly, and we will be there to support them,’ he concluded.
Sony’s move comes just days after Universal Pictures committed to putting several of their movies that are playing in theaters on digital as well.
However, movies such as The Invisible Man, The Hunt and Emma, were priced at $19.99 for just a 48-hour digital rental, not $19.99 to own digitally, like Sony is doing with Bloodshot.
More digital: Sony’s move comes just days after Universal Pictures committed to putting several of their movies that are playing in theaters on digital as well
Warner Bros. also announced on Monday that it’s DC Extended Universe superhero movie Birds of Prey will be available to own digitally for $19.99, also on March 24, just a month and a half after it hit theaters.
Bloodshot follows Ray Garrison (Diesel), a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation.
With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he’s an unstoppable force –stronger than ever and able to heal instantly, though the company has taken over his mind as well, as Bloodshot goes on a quest to determine what is real and what isn’t.
Bloodshot also stars Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, Talulah Riley, Lamorne Morris and Guy Pearce.
Brought back: Bloodshot follows Ray Garrison (Diesel), a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation