Third Biggest Theater Chain May Boycott 'Tower Heist' Over VOD

You were not the only real person to scoff thinking of Universal providing the approaching action comedy 'Tower Heist' to citizens of Atlanta, Ga. and Tigard, Ore. via on-demand services for that high, high cost of $59.99 three days after its release. Theater proprietors did too! Instead of show their disdain with snarky tweets and/or mind shakes though, one company has made the decision to do something: Cinemark, the country's third biggest theater chain behind AMC and Regal, stated on Thursday that it wouldn't screen 'Tower Heist' in a of their 300 theaters when the studio follows through using its on-demand plan. "Cinemark recognizes and appreciates the altering technological landscape and related challenges that Universal and also the other galleries are facing within the in-home window," stated the organization inside a statement (via LAT). "But that recognition apparently wasn't enough to aid the exam.Inch This is not the very first time galleries have attempted to shut the theatrical window for on-demand gain: this past spring, four galleries (Universal, Fox, The new sony and Warner Bros.) teamed for any test run of Home Premiere, which offered new releases on VOD just two months after their initial theatrical debut. (The standard theatrical window is 3 months.) That service permitted customers the opportunity to watch films for $29.99. 'Tower Heist' director Brett Ratner and 22 other filmmakers signed instructions towards the galleries early in the year nevertheless shortening the theatrical window could "irrevocably harm the business model in our film industry." Ratner launched this statement concerning the current plans for 'Tower Heist': "Brett is made conscious of Universal's compensated video-on-demand test out 'Tower Heist' yesterday. [He] was told the studio is fully safeguarding the theater proprietors against deficits in the box office. Brett did skip the look of the test." Universal has yet to comment. [via LAT] [Photo: Universal] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED