As theatres close, new movies will now be available online

In an effort to curb the spread the COVID-19, movie theaters across the US and Canada announced this week that they are shutting their doors. AMC and Regal, the two biggest theatre chains in the US, confirmed on Monday that they are going dark. Cineplex in Canada is following suit and major film studios are responding by announcing that new titles will be made available for Video on Demand in the coming days.Universal is the first major film studio to add four of its biggest new titles to VOD. The studio announced on Monday that The Invisible Man, Emma and The Hunt, which were in theatres up until this week, will be available to rent on demand for $19.99 starting Friday, March 20. The Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick film Trolls: World Tour, a sequel to the 2016 hit animated film, will also be moving to VOD early. The Dreamworks film will be available for rent on demand starting Friday, April 10, the same day the film is set to be released in theatres.[video_embed id='1921157']RELATED: Ike Barinholtz and Jason Blum wonder if 'The Hunt' could ever happen in Canada[/video_embed]Warner Bros. 2020 film Birds of Prey has already made $177 million worldwide and will likely draw in more revenue now that it’s also being released to VOD. Director Cathy Yan responded to Deadline’s article about Universal’s decision to add its titles to streaming platforms early and said that she would not be opposed to her Margot Robbie film also moving to VOD early, making it available to fans who are self-isolating in the wake of COVID-19.

I would not be opposed to putting Birds of Prey on VOD earlier. https://t.co/TrKynikHLx

— Cathy Yan (@CathyYan) March 16, 2020

Cineplex announced on Monday that it was closing all of its 165 cinemas across Canada, which accounts for 1,695 screens. The Canada-wide chain said that its theatres will be closed until at least April 2. Landmark Cinema in Canada will also be closing their theatres.Stateside, AMC confirmed that they will be going dark at their 630 locations and 11,000 screens across the US for at least six to 12 weeks. Regal Cinemas, the second largest theatre chain in the US behind AMC, followed suit and said they too will be closing their 542 theatres, although they have not specified for how long their closure will last. Landmark Theatres, which operates 49 locations, as well as Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, Showcase Cinemas, Bow Tie Cinemas and Harkins Theaters have all followed suit and announced closures.The release of big budget films have been delayed throughout North America and the world following the outbreak of COVID-19. Streaming giant Disney+ has responded to the move towards self-isolation by making some of its biggest titles, including Frozen 2 and Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker, available early.While there are many things to stress about at the moment, finding something to watch isn’t one of them. Streaming platforms like Crave and CTV are also continuing to add new films and TV shows as well as beloved classics to their online platforms in order to help people get through this difficult period of self-isolation.

"This is how it starts."

From the creator of HBO’s #TheWire and based on the novel by Philip Roth, #ThePlotAgainstAmericaHBO starts tonight only on Crave. pic.twitter.com/v3EKDhDauO— Crave (@CraveCanada) March 16, 2020

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