From my research, the cost can range from $150 to $500 per screen, per week. This cost doesn’t include marketing.
Factors Influencing Theatrical Release Costs
If YES, here are factors that affect the cost:
- To release a movie in theatres requires work from hundreds of people.
- Distributors don’t pay to get films into theatres.
- For major releases, theatres offer incentives for distributors.
- Theatres and distributors share box office sales, averaging 55% for distributors.
As a filmmaker, understand the process. First get a theatrical distributor responsible for marketing and negotiating with theater chains. Their cost varies greatly.
With expectations from moviegoers, theatre owners focus on customer service. The cost for leasing and remodeling a facility averages $600,000. Theatre owners also have other expenses for utilities and more. Owners make money through ticket sales and concessions. Distributors might take 35 percent of ticket sales.
How much streaming platforms pay varies. Different deals exist like profit-sharing between 10-50 percent. Marketing is huge – $35 million on average. Opening weekends matter most.
Steps to Take for a Theatrical Release
To start, contact cinemas directly and ask if they’d showcase your film. They’ll likely watch many films weekly, including studio productions. Follow up by email to request a chance to show your film.
Persist until an answer. Alternate calling and emailing. After three unanswered messages, stop contacting. Confirm your first screening date. Set a two month window.
Most use digital projection from hard drives or satellite. Film rolls were once mailed. Now digital films are sent. But how? Some think theaters get mailed drives.
Distributors share the box office, averaging 55 percent. Marketing costs millions. Opening weekends matter most. Deals get renegotiated week-by-week. More revenue then goes to theaters.
Pre-1950s, studios owned theaters and decided what showed. A court ruling made studios give up control. This let independent theaters show films not just from major studios.
The path from idea to screen: A film gets purchased by a distribution company. They market and display it. Distribution takes many forms, but films generally follow a process. The company invests in sharing the film with audiences.