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: Reports indicate a Blu-ray release date in Japan is set for 2/28/24, so there’s hope a US release date is concurrent. We’re sticking with our estimate for now.
PVOD Estimate: February/March 2024
Theatrical Release Date: September 22, 2023
Tracking: With no announcement and no pre-order listing, it’s looking unlikely we’ll see this get a digital release in 2023. It is a re-issue, so it’s possible A24 skips a PVOD release and jumps right to an SVOD premiere, maybe to kick off their Max partnership. Either way, we’re pushing back our estimate.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: January/February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: October 4, 2023
Tracking: Still no announcement from Sony Pictures Classics, and no pre-order available. The film was just short-listed for the Best Live-Action Short Oscar, so SPC could be waiting for a possible nomination to release to streaming. For now, we’re still sticking with our estimate.
PVOD Estimate: January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: October 27, 2023
Tracking: A bit of movement this week, as Angel Studios launched the title on their streaming platform on 12/11, which makes it available to their ‘Angel Investors.’ If they follow the Sound of Freedom playbook, After Death should have a PVOD launch three weeks later, which would mean a 1/2/24 debut. We’re adjusting our estimate to reflect that timeline.
PVOD Estimate: Early January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 2023
Tracking: Still no announcement, and no pre-order listing yet. We’re pushing our estimate back a bit to reflect the lack of messaging. It could still surprise with a sudden holiday launch, but we’re leaning more towards 2024.
PVOD Estimate: January 2024
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. We’ll hopefully hear some news in the next week or two.
PVOD Estimate: Mid January 2024
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 Still Small Voice is being distributed by Abramorama Films, whose digital releases are all over the map. The film was short-listed for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. Look for it to get fast-tracked to PVOD if it gets nominated.
PVOD Estimate: Late January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: Still no pre-order or announcement from Searchlight Pictures. We anticipating news in early January. For now, we’ll stick with our estimate.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Mid January 2024 (Hulu)
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERE HITE
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: One of the acclaimed doc titles not to make the Best Documentary Feature short list. Look for an announcement soon on a PVOD date.
PVOD Estimate: Mid January 2024
Theatrical Release Date: November 17, 2023
Tracking: Continuing its hot streak, Fallen Leaves was short-listed for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. With two Golden Globe nominations, look for MUBI to capitalize with a late January release.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Mid/Late January 2024 (MUBI)
Theatrical Release Date: November 22, 2023
Tracking: We laid out our official forecast, and haven’t changed our minds since. Seems to be losing a bit of steam at the box-office, so look for updates after the holidays.
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: A PVOD date of 1/2/24 is expected.
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 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. The film did become available for pre-order on iTunes this week, so there’s hope an earlier launch is planned. We’ve adjusted our estimate a bit to reflect.
PVOD Estimate: Late February/Early March 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 8, 2023
Tracking: With a strong showing in its limited release, and an impressive Golden Globe nominations haul, Poor Things is firing on all cylinders. The film's box-office performance over the holidays will likely dictate its streaming strategy. For now, we’re sticking to our initial estimate.
PVOD Estimate: Late February 2024
SVOD Estimate: Late March 2024 (Hulu)
Theatrical Release Date: December 15, 2023
Tracking: It’s looking like Wonka will be the top choice for moviegoers over the holidays. The film is available for pre-order with select digital retailers (Amazon, iTunes), and it’s priced for PVOD ($24.99). Still, we’re thinking Warner Bros will look to maximize the box-office success. For now, we’re holding on our estimate.
PVOD Estimate: Late January/Early February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 15, 2023
Tracking: Expanding semi-wide in the next week, we’ll see if American Fiction takes the Saltburn route (5 weeks to SVOD) or the Foe route (4.5 weeks to PVOD). We suppose major Oscar nominations and breakout box-office could delay streaming, but we’ve seen nothing to indicate Amazon MGM has much patience. Prove us wrong!
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Late January 2024 (We think it’ll be either PVOD or Prime Video, not both)
Theatrical Release Date: December 15, 2023
Tracking: Expanding to more cities over the holidays, we think A24 will be in it for the long haul. Oscar nominations are likely, and the indie has shown patience with even their smallest titles. This one will take its sweet time to get to streaming.
PVOD Estimate: Late February/Early March 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: Searchlight Pictures is rolling this out slowly, with a four theater limited release today, and then a slight expansion (+2 theaters) on Christmas. Look for a wider theatrical release in January, with a probable PVOD date around the Oscars in March.
PVOD/SVOD Estimate: Early March 2024 (Hulu)
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: Sony’s winter rom-com (set in the summer) opens wide today, and we’ll see if it get any kind of traction in theaters. No pre-order up yet, so we’re not sure if the studio will fast-track it to PVOD (their Spring rom-com LOVE AGAIN had a three week window) or regular VOD (NO HARD FEELINGS had a nearly two-month window). We’re not optimistic this will break out in theaters, so we’re leaning towards a shorter window. Seems like a perfect fit for Valentine’s Day.
PVOD Estimate: Early/Mid February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: Unless this film tanks super-hard in theaters, we’re expecting Warner Bros to give it some breathing room in theaters before it reaches digital. Both THE FLASH and BLUE BEETLE arrived on PVOD after a month in theaters, but we’re estimating a bit of a longer window for Aquaman.
PVOD Estimate: Early February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: Sony Pictures Classics opens this in limited release today, with the hopes of getting Anthony Hopkins some Oscar attention. But reviews have been mixed, so it’s likely to do the usual SPC roll-out: slow expansion, followed by a regular VOD/digital release after 90 days.
VOD Estimate: Late March 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: A24 is opening this wrestling drama semi-wide over the holidays, and it’ll be fascinating to see if it finds an audience. We’re thinking the digital release strategy will be similar to their other 2023 dramas (BEAU IS AFRAID, PAST LIVES), both of which enjoyed two month theatrical windows.
PVOD Estimate: Late February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: Ketchup Entertainment’s only other previous 2023 release, the Ben Affleck thriller(?) HYPNOTIC, opened wide in May, and then quickly transitioned to PVOD after 18 days. We’re expecting this Jessica Chastain/Peter Sarsgaard drama to hang in there a bit longer, but not much longer. Oscar nominations feel like a long shot, but you never know.
PVOD Estimate: Early February 2024
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2023
Tracking: Universal gave their previous animated feature (TROLLS BAND TOGETHER) a full 30-day theatrical exclusive run, which was a break in strategy from their usual 18-day PVOD turnarounds. We’re expecting they do the same for Migration, which hopes to have similar box-office staying power as last year’s PUSS IN BOOTS sequel.
PVOD Estimate: Late January 2023
Next week we’ll begin tracking:
