Disney CEO Bob Chapek believes Short Theatrical Release Windows Are Here To Stay For Good

The pandemic has continued to shutter theaters and halt film production all over the world. Even as jobs slowly make their way back in the industry productions face a large expense in order to follow safety protocols and protect everyone employed on the job. Theaters continue to stay shuttered through most of the world which is why Disney CEO Bob Chapek thinks that the short theatrical release to PVOD will likely be sticking around for good. In a recent virtual investment conference hosted by Morgan Stanley (via Deadline) Bob addresses why believes that may be the case as he says:

“The consumer is probably more impatient than they’ve ever been before, particularly since now they’ve had the luxury of an entire year of getting titles at home pretty much when they want them. So I’m not sure there’s going back. But we certainly don’t want to do anything like cut the legs off a theatrical exhibition run.”

I have to say I agree with Bob Chapek on people growing custom to quickly being able to watch a new released film at home. The pandemic has forced people all over the world to adapt to a new lifestyle and modify their homes with offices and ways of entertaining themselves so that they don't have ever leave unless its for something important. With those modifications I'm sure millions have built excellent home theaters over the past year that provides with them with the comfort that going to a public movie theater won't be able to compete with. That being said I also agree that movie theaters should not go away because they are a fun activity to do with friends or on a date and showcase movies the way each filmmaker wants their film to be seen by audiences. But who knows when crowds will be able to pack a theater again while home theaters continue improve and flourish causing Studios to adapt to that change by shorter theatrical release windows, raising the question will people even want to go back to theaters after investing so much into their own theater experience at home?