When To Stream’s Weekly Tracking Report
Welcome to When To Stream’s Weekly Tracking Report. Every Friday, we’ll break down the film titles whose first window streaming premieres are still not confirmed. This column will not examine second window SVOD premieres, though we’ll obviously still be tracking and reporting those.
One note: There are hundreds of new films every year, and we’re not able to track or highlight every single one. For now, we concentrate on major studio and indie distributor releases. If there are titles you’d like us to track, let us know in the comments. We’ll do our best to follow up, but might not have the bandwidth to spotlight fully.
Here are the film titles (in order of theatrical release) we are currently tracking:
Theatrical Release Date: July 28, 2023
Tracking: Similar to Suzume, another anime title whose theatrical to streaming window will be longer than usual. Tough to call, but we don’t anticipate it’ll hit streaming until early 2024.
PVOD Estimate: February/March 2024
Theatrical Release Date: September 22, 2023
Tracking: A theatrical re-release, so we’re not anticipating it’ll return to streaming until the holidays. The 4K Blu-ray will make a great gift!
PVOD Estimate: Late December 2023
Theatrical Release Date: October 4, 2023
Tracking: Sony Pictures Classic is one of the last distributors that still regularly adheres to a three-month theatrical exclusive window. IT AIN’T OVER and SHORTCOMINGS were exceptions, but we see no indication that Almodovar’s short film is coming anytime soon.
PVOD Estimate: January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: October 6, 2023
Tracking: Available now on Hoopla and Spectrum on Demand.
Theatrical Release Date: October 13, 2023
Tracking: A VOD release date of 12/22 is set.
Theatrical Release Date: October 27, 2023
Tracking: A PVOD Date of 12/15 has been confirmed.
Theatrical Release Date: October 27, 2023
Tracking: It’s an Angel Studios release, so we’re expecting a similar window to their summer blockbuster SOUND OF FREEDOM. The film has become the highest (non-concert film) doc of the year by a wide margin.
PVOD Estimate: Late February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: October 27, 2023
Tracking: A digital release date of 12/19 has been confirmed.
Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 2023
Tracking: This critical acclaimed A24 release is getting fantastic reviews, but will likely struggle to pull an audience. It just snagged a couple of Spirit Awards nominations, so we’re thinking A24 will want to get it to streaming to capitalize.
PVOD Estimate: Late December 2023
Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 2023
Tracking: This one is tough to track, as the distributor (Miercoles Entertainment) is new to us. We’re going with a standard 45-day window.
PVOD Estimate: Late December 2023
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2023
Tracking: Both Antman 3 and Guardians Vol. 3 enjoyed 60-day theatrical exclusive windows earlier in the year. We have no reason to believe Disney will alter their strategy for The Marvels.
PVOD Estimate: Mid January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2023
Tracking: We’re adjusting our estimate, as we’ve heard some rumblings this one might be fast-tracked to PVOD before the end of the year. After the film’s disappointing box-office, it’s probably the best strategy.
PVOD Estimate: Late December 2023
ORLANDO, MY POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2023
Tracking: Janus keeps their films exclusively in theaters between 3 and 4 months. That means it’s unlikely we’ll see Orlando on PVOD or Criterion Channel until early next year.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Late February/Early March 2024 (Criterion Channel)
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2023
Tracking: A Oscar-hopeful in the Documentary Feature category, A Still Small Voice is being distributed by Abramorama Films, whose digital releases are all over the map. Look for it to get fast-tracked to PVOD if it gets nominated.
PVOD Estimate: Late January 2024
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: Expected to arrive on PVOD 12/19.
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: As most predicted, Next Goal Wins pretty much tanked in theaters. Will Searchlight push up the streaming date to make it available before the holidays? We don’t think so, and are estimating the Disney 60-day window will stick.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Mid January 2024 (Hulu)
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: A PVOD date of 12/19 is expected.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERE HITE
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: IFC Films expands this documentary in to 47 theaters this weekend. Initial box-office was sluggish, so it’s really a do-or-die weekend. No love from critics groups or awards bodies so far either. Still, we’re holding on our estimate.
PVOD Estimate: Mid January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: Another title with Oscar hopes, this time in the International Feature category. Look for MUBI to keep it in theaters for their usual 60-day window.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Mid/Late January 2024 (MUBI)
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: A Prime Video premiere date of 12/22 was announced.
Theatrical Release Date: November 22, 2023
Tracking: Still hanging in there in theaters, and doing especially well internationally. Apple’s theatrical-first strategy is really paying off for them, and will only serve to bolster their films’s perceived value when they reach Apple TV+.
PVOD Estimate: Early January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: November 22, 2023
Tracking: The days of Encanto, which hit Disney+ about a month after its theatrical launch, are long over. Disney has been trying to re-train its audience not to expect short windows. Elemental’s long legs at the box-office seems to indicate it’s working. We expect Wish will follow Disney’s new normal: a 60-day exclusive theatrical window, followed by a one-month PVOD window.
PVOD Estimate: Late January 2024
SVOD Estimate: Late February 2024 (Disney+)
Theatrical Release Date: November 22, 2023
Tracking: The latest epic documentary from Frederick Wiseman will slowly roll-out in theaters through the winter. Like his other films, this one will not be distributed through traditional digital or VOD platforms. Instead, it will eventually stream through Kanopy, which can be accessed with a local library card.
SVOD Estimate: Mid 2024 (Kanopy)
Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 2023
Tracking: It’s looking like NEON will give Eileen a bit more breathing room in theaters. It expands today, despite underwhelming grosses in its initial limited release. It picked up 3 Spirit Award nominations, so hopefully that will help boost its profile a bit.
PVOD Estimate: Early January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 2023
Tracking: A real wild card. Not much history to go off of with distributor Toho International. We’re estimating at least a 60-day exclusive theatrical window, with an SVOD partner coming on board as well. It’s box-office success and great word of mouth has us pushing back our estimate a bit.
PVOD Estimate: Late February 2024
RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCE
Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 2023
Tracking: With Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour announcing a PVOD debut after a 60-day theatrical window, we have a bit of a template for AMC Theaters’s distribution arm. We’re thinking Queen Bey got the same deal.
PVOD Estimate: Early February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 2023
Tracking: Angel Studios did not keep their hot streak going after the successes of Sound of Freedom and After Death. But like those titles, we’re still thinking The Shift will take its time to reach streaming.
PVOD Estimate: Early February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 2023
Tracking: Look for this John Woo actioner to have a brief theatrical run, with a quick transition to PVOD in a few weeks. Lionsgate will want to squeeze out as much revenue as they can during the holiday season.
PVOD Estimate: Mid December 2023
Theatrical Release Date: December 1, 2023
Tracking: Distributor Utopia’s previous release Divinity enjoyed a 60-day exclusive theatrical window. We’re estimating this buzzy indie, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, will follow suit.
PVOD Estimate: Late February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2023
Tracking: Wim Wenders’ first of two film this winter (PERFECT DAYS will come early in 2024) is best experienced in 3D. Janus Films will likely keep this in theaters as long as they can, as they should. We don’t expect any sort of streaming release until Spring 2024.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Mid March 2024 (Criterion Channel)
Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2023
Tracking: Although it’s been screening in limited release for a few weeks, we’re treating 12/8 as its proper release date. As with most GKIDS releases, it’s likely to have a long theatrical-exclusive window. This is their highest profile title in a long time, so there’s always a chance they revise their strategy. But for now, we’re estimating a long window.
PVOD Estimate: Late March 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2023
Tracking: The new Yorgos Lanthimos opens in limited release today, with Searchlight Pictures expanding next weekend and going semi-wide on 12/22. Unless box-office significantly overdelivers, we’re estimating the studio will stick to its usual 60-day window, with a PVOD release before its eventual Hulu launch. Can’t wait to watch it on Disney+!
PVOD Estimate: Late February 2024
SVOD Estimate: Late March 2024 (Hulu)
We’ll add new theatrical releases to the tracking report every week!