‘Greyhound’ tells the story of a Navy Captain in World War II who was given the responsibility of protecting an Allied convoy against German U Boats in the ‘Battle of Atlantic’.
Due to the uncertain situation of Covid 19 around the world, the film rights were taken by Apple TV in May for around $70 million from Sony Entertainment. And this investment paid off well.
Certainly the film engaged audiences as a summer hit and would have been a certified box office money spinner had it released on the big screen.
Nonetheless, it not only generated the biggest opening weekend but also brought in 30% of new viewers for Apple TV, which certainly indicates that ‘Greyhound’ became a game changer for Apple.
The film’s release eclipsed other popular Apple TV + shows such as ‘Defending Jacob’, a limited series starring Chris Evans.
Although it is going to take long months for us to have a movie theatre experience, such OTT releases can benefit both audiences and streaming platforms.