Entertainment companies are looking for new ways to survive during the global coronavirus pandemic, and one way Disney has found is to hold a sale on dozens of movies, ranging from classics to new blockbusters.
Forbes reports that consumers in the United States will be able to take part in a flash sale of Disney films from April to May. Different films will be featured every week under specific themes, with prices as low as $4.99.
The current sale is under the theme “Feel Good Movies,” featuring titles like “The Joy Luck Club,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “The Greatest Showman.”
The Hollywood Reporter points out that most of the movies that are part of the “Feel Good Movies” collection usually cost $14.99 to purchase digitally. The sale significantly lowers the price of these movies to $4.99.
On Apr. 24 to May 4, Disney will have “Star Wars” movies on sale for $9.99. The most recent installments of the franchise, such as "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," usually cost $19.95 to buy, while older ones cost $14.99.
Meanwhile, May 19 to 25 will be themed the “Princess Collection” and will sell movies like “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Sleeping Beauty” for only $9.99.
There will also be films from 20th Century Fox that will be part of the sale since the studio was recently acquired by Disney. Aside from the “Star Wars” films, “Little Miss Sunshine,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” other Fox films that will go on sale include “The Devil Wears Prada,” “There's Something About Mary,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” and “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Sales like these will probably become even more common as film companies struggle to recoup losses incurred because of the coronavirus-induced lockdowns. Because of lockdowns enforced in March, the North American box office suffered a $600 million deficit. A $5 billion loss is also expected for the global film industry because of the lockdowns.
It also doesn’t look like moviehouses will be opening up anytime soon as the coronavirus continues to spread around the world. In the APr. 15 situation report of the World Health Organization, there have been 70,082 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world. This brings the global total to 1,914,916 people. New deaths caused by the coronavirus now amount to 5,989 people, bringing the worldwide total to 123,010 people.
The Apr. 15 update provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pegs the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States at 605,390 people. Fatalities caused by COVID-19 is at 24,582 people.