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How Long Do Movies Have To Be For Regular Distribution To Theaters? What’s The Maximum Length?

How Long Do Movies Have To Be For Regular Distribution To Theaters? What’s The Maximum Length?

A feature film runs anywhere from 40 minutes to 60 minutes and longer. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, British Film Institute, and American Film Institute put the run time at 40 minutes. The Screen Actor’s Guild puts it at 60 minutes or longer.

However, there is no actual standard.

What is the Longest a Regular Distribution Film Can Be?

Peopl having fun while watching movie in the cinema.

There is no real answer to this question. It all depends on the distributor and how they want to release the film. Some distributors may want to release a very long film, while others may prefer shorter films. There is no right or wrong answer, it all comes down to preference.

What is the Shortest Feature Film?

Sherlock Jr, released in 1924, runs for 45 minutes. Toy Story 1, released in 1995, runs for 81 minutes.

What is the Longest Feature Film Ever Distribued?

Sideview angle of ancient queen Cleopatra.

One of the longest-running live-action feature films is Cleopatra (1963), which runs at 248 minutes. The longest running animated feature film is In This Corner (And Other Corners) Of The World, which runs 168 minutes and was released in 2016.

What is Counted in the Run-Time of Feature Films?

Director reviewing the shoot fot the film.

The beginning credits, film, and ending credits all count into the run time of a feature film. However, there are some films that do not include the credits in their run time. This is usually up to the distributor or the film’s director.

What is the Maximum Length of Time of a Movie?

The longest most movies will run is about two hours. However, there are some that run longer, such as epics and marathons. These movies can be up to four hours or more. The length of a movie is usually determined by the distributor or the film’s director.

The average feature film runs between 90 minutes and 120 minutes. However, there are some that are shorter and some that are much longer.

How Long Does it Take to Distribute a Film?

2oth Century Fox Logo.

The distribution process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It all depends on the distributor and how they want to release the film. Some distributors may want to release the film very quickly, while others may want to take their time and release it slowly. There is no right or wrong answer, it all comes down to preference.

How are Movies Distributed to Theaters?

Rear-view of people watching movie in the movie theaters.

Movies are typically distributed to theaters through a distribution company. The distribution company will send copies of the film to the theaters that have agreed to show it. The theaters will then show the film to audiences.

Related: Do Movie Theaters Pay the Studio or Producer To Show a Movie?

Type of Film Distribution

There are two types of film distribution: wide release and limited release.

Wide release is when a film is distributed to many theaters across the country. This is the most common type of distribution.

Limited release is when a film is distributed to only a few theaters in a specific area. This is less common than wide release.

How Movies Get Distributed

Major film distributors across the world logos in white background.

If a movie has a major star or is backed by a popular studio, it is more likely to be distributed. 

The two parties involved will discuss terms and come to an agreement. It will either be leasing or profit-sharing.

In a profit-sharing deal, the distributor and the exhibitor will agree to share the profits from ticket sales. The distributor will usually take a larger percentage of the profits than the exhibitor.

In a leasing deal, the distributor will lease the film to the exhibitor for a set period of time. The exhibitor will then keep all of the profits from ticket sales. This type of deal is less common than profit sharing.

After the terms have been agreed upon, the distribution company will send copies of the film to the theaters that have agreed to show it. The theaters will then show the film to audiences.

Theatrical Window Meaning

The theatrical window is the time period between when a film is released in theaters and when it is released on home video. The theatrical window is typically about four months long.

Why is There a Theatrical Window?

Movie theater with white screen and empty seats.

The theatrical window exists because movie theaters need to make money. They need to recoup the cost of showing the film and make a profit. If they didn’t have a window of time where they had exclusive rights to show the film, they would go out of business.

Home Video Release

After the theatrical window has closed, the film will be released on home video. This can be either DVD, Blu-ray, or digital download. Also, the film may be picked up by streaming services.

How Do Streaming Services Get Movie Rights?

Popular streaming services in the world.

There are a number of ways that streaming services can get the rights to movies. The most common is through licensing agreements with movie studios or other content providers. These deals give the streaming service the right to stream certain movies in return for a fee. Sometimes, these fees are based on how popular the movie is, or how many people subscribe to the service. Other times, they’re simply a flat rate.

In some cases, streaming services may also purchase the rights to movies outright. This is typically done for older movies that are no longer being shown in theaters, or for movies that didn’t perform well at the box office. By buying the rights to these movies, streaming services can offer them to their subscribers without having to pay any licensing fees.

Related: Netflix vs. Disney Plus vs. Amazon Prime Video vs. Hulu vs. HBO Max vs. Quibi (A Guide to Hearing Over the Hype of the Streaming Wars)

What Happens if a Movie is a Hit at the Box Office?

If a movie is a hit at the box office, it means that it made more money than the studio was expecting. The studio will then make a profit on the film and may even see some of their investment back.

Hits happen for many reasons. It could be because the movie is good, or it could be because there was a lot of marketing for the film. Whatever the reason, hits are a part of the business and they happen to even the most successful studios.

How Long do Movies Stay in Theaters?

Famous AMC theaters exterior view during pandemic.

The amount of time a movie stays in theaters depends on how well it is doing. If a movie is doing well, it will stay in theaters for longer. If a movie is not doing well, it will be removed from theaters and replaced with a new movie.

Movies typically stay in theaters for about four weeks. However, some movies will stay in theaters for much longer if they are doing well. For example, Avatar was in theaters for over seven months!

What Happens When a Movie Leaves Theaters?

When a movie leaves theaters, it goes to what is called the second-run market. This is where movies go to be shown at cheaper prices than first-run theaters. Second-run markets include discount theaters and dollar cinemas.

Movies will stay in the second run market for a few months before they are released on home video. After that, they will go to streaming services like Netflix or Hulu.

Sources:

whatculture.com

entertainment.howstuffworks.com

worldofreel.com

cbr.com

streamhash.com