Hello, "The King": Hollywood movies back on Russian screens

Unofficial Hollywood screenings in the format of pre-screening service resumed on January 16, after the big domestic releases of the New Year vacations. In some cinemas, the pictures have been running since January 11, "Izvestia" learned. Viewers are available "Nosferatu", "Sonic at the Movies 3", "Wallace and Gromit: The Wildest Revenge", the musical "Wicked" and the anime "The Lord of the Rings: The Rohirrim War". But some novelties are unlikely to reach Russia - this is one of the best dramas of 2024 "Brutalist" and the biopic "Bob Dylan: Nobody Knows" starring Timothee Chalamet.

Hollywood movies weren't showing over the holidays

In late December, specialized media, including the online publication Cinemaplex, reported that major Russian distributors urged cinemas to refuse to show alternative distribution releases from January 1 to 15. The January holidays are called the "New Year's battle" in the industry, and it is the highest-grossing period for cinemas, as people go to see movies with their whole families. Every year rental companies release their biggest releases during the New Year vacations. Usually they become the first billion-dollar movies of the year - and they lead in collections throughout the recent history of domestic distribution. So it was with "Cheburashka", "Bremen Musicians", "Kholop-2". In the new year, these slots went to the fairy tales "The Wizard of Emerald City. Yellow Brick Road" and "Finist. The First Bogatyr." Over the holidays tapes earned 2.6 billion and 1.9 billion rubles respectively.

During the holidays, cinemas really refused to show Hollywood films, which for the third year are shown in Russia under the scheme of pre-screening service. During this lull abroad released the animated film "Wallace and Gromit: The Wildest Revenge", the horror "Nosferatu" from the director of "Lighthouse" Robert Eggers, the adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked" with Ariana Grande, the threequel "Sonic in the cinema" and prequel "The Lion King" about Mufasa.

Similar suspensions have occurred several times in 2024: unofficial screenings of Hollywood films went on "vacation" for the May and November holidays. Suspension of screenings of American novelties this time ended on January 16 - in the schedules of a number of the capital's cinemas (large federal cinema chains such as "KARO" and "Cinema Park" / "Formula Kino" such screenings do not support), all of the above-mentioned releases were seen. You can also buy a ticket to the sequels "Gladiator" and "Moana", action movies "Mission Red" and "Craven Hunter" and anime "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim".

- Until the 15th, all of Hollywood was suspended due to the release of Russian films. Since January 16, he returns, - reported to "Izvestia" in the network "Kinokvartal". This information was confirmed by several other cinemas in Moscow.

In the network "5 stars" foreign releases on pre-screening service also returned to the schedule from January 16. At the same time in "Atlantis Cinema" shows of novelties of Hollywood majors began last weekend. From January 11, you can buy on one of the most talked about horror films - "Nosferatu". The "Beacon" director has made a remake of the classic 1922 German film "Nosferatu, Symphony of Terror" with an impressive cast including Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Emma Corrin, Willem Defoe and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. At the same time discussed "Nosferatu" became also because of the fact that in the Kazakh version of the missing some scenes. The media of the republic noticed that in "Nosferatu" cut out several erotic episodes and "blurred" some parts of the body. Since some Hollywood films reach Russia from Kazakhstan (cinemas do not officially confirm this information, but it is indicated by occasional subtitles in Kazakh), it is likely that this version of "Nosferatu" is shown here.

Without "Brutalist" and Bob Dylan

It is not yet clear whether Russian viewers will soon see one of the best dramas of 2024. "Brutalist" Brady Corbett, which has already won the "Golden Globe" in the category "Best Dramatic Film", will be released in wide global distribution in late January, in the U.S. limited screenings began on December 20, 2024. Corbet's picture about the Hungarian architect took home the Best Director prize at the 81st Venice Film Festival. Corbett, as well as the performer of the title role Adrien Brody, were awarded the "Golden Globes" in their respective nominations. In Moscow cinemas "Izvestia" could not confirm whether "Brutalist" appeared in the schedules.

- No, there is no such movie. The repertoire changes every week. Starting from this Thursday and until next Thursday, no one will definitely show it. Then the schedule will change again. But so far we know nothing about "Brutalist" - said in "Atlantis Cinema".

A similar situation with the tape "Bob Dylan: Nobody Knows" directed by James Mangold. The biopic, where the role of the cult American artist performed by Timothy Chalamet, released in global distribution at the end of December. To Russian cinemas tape has not yet reached.

As explained to "Izvestia" head of the Association of owners of cinemas (AVK) Alexei Voronkov, box office alternative distribution in Russia is falling from year to year and will soon outlive itself. Winter, especially New Year's Eve, is the weakest time for shadow distribution, the expert notes, since Russian blockbuster films rule the roost. Strong domestic projects get in the grid schedules of cinemas also in the spring and fall - "no alternative content to date does not give such results as a strong Russian cinema for the big screen".

Winning for alternative Hollywood in Russia remains only summer. The vacation season is the traditional decline in attendance at cinemas - due to fears of small fees, distributors try not to put in these dates of major domestic releases. For example, in the summer of 2024 we saw the boom of "Puzzle 2" not only in the world, but also in Russia. Against the complete absence of any advertising, the movie gathered full halls.

Probably, the next lull of unofficial foreign releases will occur on February or March holidays. AVC notes that such suspension agreements are due to economic benefits for both distributors and cinemas: once a strong Russian project is released, there is no point in working with any alternative content.