Heads-up! The Irishman will Get a Limited in Theaters
Netflix is trying to bag some shiny Oscars
After a lot of brouhaha about the playdate of the film “The Irishman” on Netflix and major theater owners came to terms, it’s now official it will hit the big screens on November 1 and it will debut on Netflix on November 27.
Spanning decades, the film chronicles one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history, the disappearance of legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa, and offers a monumental journey through the hidden corridors of organized crime: its inner workings, rivalries, and connections to mainstream politics.
The Oscar hopeful flick was directed by Martin Scorsese with an all-star cast led by Oscar winners Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. Pacino plays Union leader Jimmy Hoffa, De Niro plays his friend and alleged killer Frank Sheeran, while Pesci play Russel Bufalino boss of the Bufalino crime family.
But the talent doesn’t stop there, as The Irishman’s roster is both top-heavy and deep. In addition to these heavy hitters, the film will also feature Oscar winner Anna Paquin, two-time Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale, two-time Emmy nominee Jesse Plemons, and Emmy-winner Ray Romano.
In case you weren’t keeping count, the cast of The Irishman features actors who have been nominated for a combined 19 Oscars, 35 Golden Globes, and 27 Emmys (Mentioning the Emmys reminds us of Game of Thrones), and have collectively taken home five Oscars, five Golden Globes, and seven Emmys. And that’s just in front of the camera.
Theaters could stand to make a lot of money with an all-star cast like that.
Feature films typically adhere to a 90-day theatrical release before they are available to rent or stream. But Netflix has gotten in the habit of flouting this rule, much to the dismay of theaters owners and the movie industry. Netflix put movies in theaters in their bid to win awards, since film awards require a theatrical run for their candidates.
Steven Spielberg said all Netflix’s releases are TV movies and has suggested they should be ineligible for awards like Oscars.
A film like The Irishman will keep 150 million subscribers and more glued to their seats to Netflix’s streaming service. The tactic poses a threat to the business model of movie theaters, which make their money from the box office and concession sales.
What happens if The Irishman wins, it’s not remote, most of the Oscar awards? Netflix will be crowned the king of movies and streaming too (Speaking of Netflix being king, have you seen the trailer for The King? It’s bloody great!). Things will get more complicated if traditional companies like Walt Disney and WarnerMedia follows suit.
