LAS VEGAS, March 17 (UPI) -- A top movie executive says the distinction between the U.S. box office and the global box office is disappearing, The Hollywood Reporter said Thursday.
Speaking at an event sponsored by The Reporter at the ShoWest movie convention in Las Vegas, Sony Pictures Entertainment Vice Chairman Jeff Blake said major movies are increasingly opening on the same day worldwide. Day-and-date opening is largely a response to fears that opening a big movie on different dates increases the risk of financial losses due to piracy.
"We don't think domestic and international anymore," said Blake, who is also president of worldwide marketing and distribution at Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. "Day-and-date is something everyone will continue to do. With piracy concerns, you almost can't not do it."
Speaking at the inaugural ShoWest Marketing Summit, Blake said day-and-date can complicate the process of choosing the right release date for a movie. He noted that, while July is the best box-office months in the United States, summer moviegoing is not an established tradition overseas.
