Thor to be released internationally BEFORE the US?

[MIB41]

Wow... It just never fails to amaze me how studios work so hard to make films profitable, only to undermine that goal by releasing them in secondary markets first where policing bootlegs is less manageable. That will seriously bite into their bigger market because so many will have access to it. Unbelievably dumb.
Here are the release dates.

Thor International Release Schedule | Superhero Hype

[clemso]

Aw yeah .. I'll let you know what happens on April 29th

[boynightwing]

Is there some big European sporting event going on the same day as the American release? I know there were many movies released early during the Fifa Soccer because they knew that nobody in Europe would likely go to the movies when they could stay home and watch soccer.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Superman II was released to international markets many months prior to it's US release. It's not a common practice, but it's not a new one either.

It still stinks though.

Chris

[Mikey]

Forgetting about bootlegs for a second, I think it might be a good idea to release it internationally before the USA.

Generally superhero movies do good internationally.

Releasing in outside the US first will not only generate interest, but will also get it good reviews before it hits the United States.

[Meule]

Aw yeah .. I'll let you know what happens on April 29th

And I'll let you know what happens on April 27nd

And why are we the secondary market?

[Meule]

Wasn't Batman Begins released before the US as well? I think Belgium was also the first here

[highquality]

And why are we the secondary market?

Did Belgium even make the Top 10?

Seriously though, I chuckle sometimes out our "We're first in everything" attitude, even when we're usually not.

[Meule]

Did Belgium even make the Top 10?

Seriously though, I chuckle sometimes out our "We're first in everything" attitude, even when we're usually not.

Let's forget about Belgium for a second and take Europe as a whole.
The United States has a total resident population of 310,681,000. According to the United Nations in 2009 the population in Europe was 831.4 million. Yeah, secondary market

[MIB41]

And I'll let you know what happens on April 27nd

And why are we the secondary market?

Sorry Meule. No disrespect intended in the slightest. Hey look at our national deficit? We're morons here. No, I was just referring to the market size (theater wise). Typically films make 65 to 70% of their total gross on the first weekend. That's why most films are released in the biggest markets first, to maximize that bottom line. Releasing a yet unproven franchise overseas first, just seems to beg for complications getting the best business in the broader market later, due to bootlegs and any bad word of mouth that could turn away potential ticket buyers. But, once again, that was intended solely as a business perspective. My sincerest apologies.

[Brazoo]

Weird - but that article said they did the same thing with Iron Man 2 so there must be some logic there if they tried it.

Maybe releasing in non-American markets first cuts down on demand for bootlegs because people who are anticipating the movie can go see it right away?

[Meule]

Sorry Meule. No disrespect intended in the slightest. Hey look at our national deficit? We're morons here. No, I was just referring to the market size (theater wise). Typically films make 65 to 70% of their total gross on the first weekend. That's why most films are released in the biggest markets first, to maximize that bottom line. Releasing a yet unproven franchise overseas first, just seems to beg for complications getting the best business in the broader market later, due to bootlegs and any bad word of mouth that could turn away potential ticket buyers. But, once again, that was intended solely as a business perspective. My sincerest apologies.

Don't worry, I wasn't offended or anything, just wondered why you consider the US the primary market when Europe has almost 3 times as many inhabitants.
It's like Heath said, I've noticed that "we're first" attitude in the US before, always makes me smile

[Mikey]

Belgium is the home base of NATO

As far as i'm concerned that makes it the most important country in Europe

[Brazoo]

I know what you're talking about with the US first thing - but I don't think this is the case here. I don't think MIB41 was being insensitive, and didn't make up the term secondary market - in this particular case it makes sense.

American movies have traditionally been released by American distribution first - so production companies think of foreign markets (especially foreign language markets) as secondary markets.

[BlackKnight]

And why are we the secondary market?

When you are American, Everything Else is Second .