Movies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 are getting a second chance at a theatrical release, including Nicolas Cage‘s 97% Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes gem Pig. Theaters across the country shuttered their doors in response to COVID, as numerous films lost their big-screen debuts, with many ending up on streaming services. This affected large-scale releases, such as The Matrix Resurrections and Disney’s live-action Mulan. It also had a drastic fallout on independent releases, which are now poised to get their due.
As reported by Variety, the “Lost Films of COVID” series aims to highlight seven indie releases whose theatrical plans were negatively affected when theaters shut down. The idea originated with Filmbot CEO Max Friend, with the ticketing organization leading the charge. The “Lost Films of COVID” will play at select locations in December, including theaters in Brooklyn, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and more.
The list of movies includes lauded works and several genres from five beloved indie studios. Neon is joining in with Cage’s Pig, the profoundly moving drama from writer-director Michael Sarnoski, and The Painter and the Thief, a Norwegian documentary about an art thief and the artist they stole from. The other films in the series include Wolfwalkers, an Academy Award-nominated Irish animated movie, The Wild Goose Lake, a Chinese film about the fallout from a gangster’s mistake, and Relic, a horror film from IFC.
A24 is also participating, with Red Rocket, writer-director Sean Baker’s precursor to his Academy Award-winning Anora. Red Rocket is even being shown in 35mm in some locations, with the director stating:
“We made ‘Red Rocket’ specifically for the big screen and it makes me so happy to know that audiences who didn’t have the chance to see it that way, finally will.”
First Cow, Kelly Reichardt’s tale of two travelers on the run who secretly use a prized cow, is also part of A24’s additions to the series. Reichardt is happy to be taking part, saying:
“Boy, oh boy, how great that First Cow is going to play at the lovely Nitehawk Cinema and other independent theaters in the good company of so many other films that got socked away during COVID. I’m sitting here now listening to the music of the late-great John Prine. Maybe this series can be an ode to all the folks we lost during the pandemic.”
Theatrical Re-releases Aren’t Just For Blockbusters Anymore
General audiences tend to see large-scale theatrical releases, such as when a film hits an anniversary, as with Jaws‘ recent return in IMAX. Disney often uses them to great success in sing-alongs, which can seem gimmicky, but audiences have shown an affinity for the ability to participate. Still, these are reserved for films that have already generated revenue and often carry staggering budgets.
The “Lost Films of COVID” is taking smaller films, often made on shoestring budgets, with little in terms of a marketing budget, and giving them another shot to reach the audiences they may have missed due to unforeseen circumstances. While many rave about Cage’s performance in Pig, or Simon Rex’s in Red Rocket, both movies were poised to garner more attention, ultimately falling through the cracks due to the COVID pandemic. Audiences are likely to be able to catch many of the lauded films in the series on streaming, but the “Lost Films of COVID” could generate new interest and, if successful, expand to more locations and/or add new films.
- Release Date
-
July 16, 2021
- Runtime
-
92 minutes