Russia’s movie theater industry is on the brink of collapse. After the country launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, Hollywood’s largest studios were quick to pull out of the market. Russian distributors initially thought they could make up for the lost movies by showing Indian and Latin American films, but filling theater seats has turned out to be harder than they anticipated.
Now, the industry is discussing “solutions” such as the parallel import of foreign films, “compulsory licenses” issued by the Russian government, and the “non-contractual use of rights” to new films. Some theaters have already screened the latest Top Gun and Doctor Strange films illegally, and industry experts say illegal showings will only become more common as theaters fight to stay open.
formerly Mad Cornish Projectionist.