What are Black Bear and Row K Entertainment doing in the film distribution market?

Black Bear and Row K Entertainment are new indie distributors that are focusing on releasing mid-budget films, a strategy that is seen as counterintuitive in the current industry landscape.

How are Black Bear and Row K Entertainment able to thrive in the challenging film distribution market?

Black Bear and Row K are able to thrive by focusing on efficient spending, diverse content, and filling the void left by the shuttering of similar mid-budget distributors as streaming has drawn audiences away from theaters.

What challenges are the film distribution industry facing that have led to the rise of Black Bear and Row K?

The film distribution industry is facing challenges such as the decline of mid-budget distributors like CBS Films and Millennium, and the lack of "lightning-in-a-bottle" hits to support newer companies like A24 and Neon, as streaming has drawn audiences away from theaters.

Home / Business and Economy / Indie Distributors Bet Big on Mid-Budget Films Amid Streaming Shift

Indie Distributors Bet Big on Mid-Budget Films Amid Streaming Shift

10 Nov

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Summary

New distributors Black Bear and Row K target mid-budget films
Streamers draw audiences from theaters, challenging indie distributors
Fewer "lightning-in-a-bottle" hits to support smaller distributors

Indie Distributors Bet Big on Mid-Budget Films Amid Streaming Shift

In the face of a challenging film distribution landscape, two new domestic distributors, Black Bear and Row K Entertainment, are pursuing a counterintuitive strategy: releasing mid-level-budget films. This move comes as many independent films continue to struggle at the box office, and the prevailing wisdom favors either low-budget indies or low-nine-figure franchise hopefuls.

The decision by Black Bear and Row K to focus on mid-budget films is driven by the changing dynamics in the industry. As streamers have drawn a large share of adult audiences away from theaters, many similar mid-budget distributors like CBS Films, Millennium, and Overture Films have shuttered in the 2010s. While newer companies like A24 and Neon have emerged, there have been far fewer "lightning-in-a-bottle" hits like "Twilight" or "Everything Everywhere All at Once" to support them.