“Anyone But You” is indeed the new twist in the plot, and that too for all the right reasons. A film like this, an R-rated comedy, screams for an OTT release; at least that’s what you generally expect. However, the success of a film like this showcases how relevant theaters really are.
There is still a massive debate regarding the audience of OTT and the moviegoers, and that is the quest to establish superiority. However, the recent trend does suggest that the dynamics of entertainment are shifting from a theater-based model to personal entertainment.
But some films just make an exception out of it. Last year, it was “Five Nights At Freddy’s”; the film got its release on OTT and in theaters simultaneously. But its ginormous rise can be understood as it is a horror, and the ambiance matters a lot.
However, “Anyone But You” bends all the rules. Being an R-rated comedy with some major essence of romance, the film doesn’t even ask for a theatrical experience; it’s quite the contrary. You will just like to stream a film like this on some lazy Sunday evening.
Even with a production value of $25M, the film has already grossed $150M, $76.3M from the US domestic market, and the rest covered by the 48 international markets.
With stats like these, people will crave its OTT release even more. Even some international markets are waiting for its release, a positive gesture for romantic comedies. Especially when it was speculated that the genre is dying, content like this revives the entirety.
So yes, theaters are far from being dead, and OTT isn’t replacing it anyway. Though the latter one is becoming the first choice, the former one still holds the glory and the pride.