The 97th Academy Awards celebrated a diverse array of films, each navigating unique release strategies in the evolving landscape of film distribution. Movie Tracker reveals the post-theatrical release timelines of the Best Picture nominees in the US.
Anora - Neon
Winner of Best Picture, 'Anora' from Neon had an extended theatrical run, transitioning to TVOD over four months post-release. As of now, no streaming date has been announced.
The Brutalist - A24
A24’s ‘The Brutalist’ embraced a rapid release strategy, moving to TVOD within 45 days of its theatrical debut, priced at $19.99. This approach mirrors PVOD timelines but at standard pricing.
A Complete Unknown - Searchlight
‘A Complete Unknown’ meanwhile adopted a true PVOD model, releasing digitally at a premium price of $29.99 within a similar 45-day window. Its theatrical release came on Christmas Day, and its inevitable release on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in international markets has not received a confirmed date as of yet, although typically this occurs 90 days after theatrical release.
Conclave - Focus Features
‘Conclave’ had an unconventional release for Universal titles, hitting PVOD just a day after its theatrical release. Its availability on Peacock coincided with its transition to standard TVOD pricing, reflecting a strategy to maximise both transactional and streaming revenues.
Dune: Part Two - Warner Bros.
Following Warner Bros.' established release pattern, ‘Dune: Part Two’ enjoyed a substantial theatrical window before moving to PVOD and TVOD, eventually streaming on Max. This staggered approach aimed to capitalise on revenue across multiple platforms.
Emilia Pérez - Netflix
With a limited theatrical release to qualify for awards, 'Emilia Pérez' transitioned to Netflix in under two weeks, bypassing transactional platforms entirely. Currently, there is no option for TVOD purchase.
I’m Still Here - Sony
'I'm Still Here' maintained an extended theatrical presence, with the gap between theatrical release and PVOD the largest of all the nominees. As of now, no Pay-One streaming release has been announced, keeping the film exclusive to theatres and PVOD for now.
Nickel Boys - Amazon MGM
Opting out of PVOD ‘Nickel Boys’ has allowed a reasonable gap to form before its anticipated release on either Amazon Prime or MGM+. Amazon’s dominance in the TVOD marketplace provides the company a firm understanding of the value of the transactional window for high-profile releases.
The Substance - MUBI
Released simultaneously in theaters and on TVOD at standard pricing, ‘The Substance’ became available on Mubi, across all 190 countries it operates, just over a month later, on Halloween. The London based SVOD acquired international rights to the title for $12 million dollars, with it scoring $82 million worldwide in box office.
Wicked
The significant box office success of ‘Wicked’ has produced a delayed arrival on Peacock. This has allowed for maximised revenue across theatrical, PVOD, and TVOD platforms before its streaming debut.
For many major studios, post-theatrical release timing is a careful balancing act—ensuring strong transactional revenue while also supporting their own SVOD services. For this year’s influx of indie nominees, proximity to the Oscars not only kept them front of mind for the Academy but also drove renewed consumer interest in their theatrical and transactional windows, while potentially igniting a bidding war for those still seeking a Pay-One deal in the U.S.
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