Weinsteins Scale Back Theatrical Release for The Road at the Last Minute

Posted by on November 26th, 2009   Filed under: Books/Comics, Drama, Industry News, Sci-fi
Source: The Playlist

theroadscaledback

If you’ve been patiently awaiting the release of The Road on the big screen this Thanksgiving weekend, you may be shocked to find that it’s not actually getting the wide release that was initially intended. After being delayed for over a year, but finally starting to build some positive buzz at various festivals, John Hillcoat’s adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel was set to hit theatres everywhere on Wed. November 25th. According to Box Office Mojo, however, the movie is debuting on just 111 screens, and The Playlist reports that this puts it in just 31 major cities.

So what happened? Is this just another example of The Weinstein Company’s cash flow problems? Or did they decide at the last minute that they couldn’t compete with Old Dogs, Ninja Assassin and Fantastic Mr. Fox (not to mention New Moon)? It’s hard to say. Perhaps they changed their strategy at the last minute and now hope to build Oscar buzz with a slow roll out, although there don’t seem to be immediate plans for future expansion. Either way, it’s unfortunate because many of the people who have seen it so far believe it to be one of the best movies of the year — even if it is a bit dark and depressing. Are you looking forward to The Road? If so, is it playing near you, and will you drive a longer distance just to see it?



  • Primal

    I’ve been looking forward for a while now. Only showing at one theater down here at southern cali in Pasadena. About a 40min drive to get there from where I live.

  • Nate

    It’s playing in Minneapolis, about a 20 min. drive for me. I’ll be making the journey probably next week.

  • James

    Waited for months to see it and now if I want to see it I have to drive for 4 hours to Atlanta. I can’t believe it can’t get one showing anywhere in North or South Carolina!

  • Soop28

    I am extremely happy to say it’s playing here in Ottawa, On.I’ll be catching it on Friday when it opens on Friday. As a huge fan of the book, I’ve been following the production of film since it’s commencement, and am extremely excited to finally get a chance to watch it.

    Hope you all can to, at some point.

  • I’ve waited a year for this film because of the delay…and now this. The nearest theater is 3 hours away. The Weinsteins have jerked me around for long enough. I’ll wait till DVD.

  • Dave

    I was so excited because I read the book while I was out in Afghanistan. I was getting 15 days of leave and I have to leave today (Thanksgiving sitting in the ATL airport waiting for a flight to Kuwait) so the night before I left I assumed I would be able to catch it before I head out, just a nice way to end the last night I had back in the states for a while…ah, well, it is only playing in Chicago (3 hours away, too much driving for the last night). I’ll just have to wait a couple months for the DVD now.

  • Alex

    It’s not playing anywhere in Western New York, Erie, PA has one small theater, But it is playing in TORONTO tomorrow Nov 27. Very strange! What could be the cause of this?

  • gonzo13

    This is completely ridiculous, Im in new orleans and it dosent play witin 6 hours from here. This is just one more reason for me to give up on the movie theaters and just download. if anybody finds a good bootleg dont be greedy. and also F#%% buying or renting the dvd ill wait till someone puts it online. Save your money people there stealing it by putting movies like old dogs or new dogs or dead dogs out for you to watch.

  • Falsk

    Ugh. That’s a shame. I mean, it’s definitely not the feel-good movie of the season, but to cut it back because of that? It’s really sucky.

  • Me

    Some articles ive read called it the perfect Thanksgiving release in some ways. Watchmovies.net mabye fingers crossed?

  • Justice

    Well, the Weinsteins really know how to screw up a movie release (*coughGrindhousecough*) so this isn’t surprising. I would imagine anyone would really have to think twice before working with them. Its a shame because I know a lot of people were really looking forward to seeing this, especially after so many delays.

    Lucky for me, I have a few theatres playing it nearby.

  • Alex

    I guess I’m lucky because it’s playing at the art theater I normally go to to see movies which is literally walking distance from my school. I tried to see it tonight, and about 20 mins in, the power went out. I ended up going to a different theater and seeing Fantastic Mr. Fox instead, (which was really good, and I’ll get back to see The Road later this weekend.

  • Ingrid

    I live in North Carolina and am so disappointed! This was a book that has stayed with me for over a year, the images and humanity so haunting. Seeing good reviews only to find out I will not be able to see it on the large screen-This was one movie I would have paid money to go and see.

  • I hadn’t heard about this, but was thankful when I went to my theater on Wednesday, it was playing there, which is surprisingly, since Erie, PA rarely ever gets ANY of these limited release movies, especially one this limited.

    With that said, it’s a good movie. The Weinstein’s are imbeciles – and they wonder why they are running out of money.

  • Aaron F.

    Saw it opening day and it was everything I hoped it would be. A very faithful adaptation with some outstanding performances. Oh, and it’s incredibly bleak if you’re unfamiliar with the novel it’s based on. I will be seeing it again.

  • Tim B.

    I work at a Barnes and Noble in SW Virginia. Almost all of my coworkers were excited about this movie only to have it playing about 5 hours away. Everyone is very disappointed.

  • Lee P

    It is not playing in Tallahassee either….sigh

  • Anne

    Read the book, have been waiting for ever just like everyone else. I officially hate the weinsteins, the closest theatre is hours and hours away, and I don’t get why there were previews advertising a wide release when they just go and pull this crap. Totally justifies just watching it illegally on the internet.

  • that motherfucker from vancouver

    good flick, but that kid took me right out of it every time. bad casting right there.

  • Sam

    Closest for me is Boston, about 90 minutes away, I don’t think I’ll make the voyage, just wait for DVD :(

  • Alison

    It’s not playing in Louisville, Ky either…I’m extremely disappointed…I have read the book and I am a huge Viggo Mortensen fan…It’s supposed to be one of his best performances…and possibly one of his last.

  • Lydia

    Closest to me is four hours away in Chicago. I taught he novel this semester and was psyched to see the adaptation, so needless to say, very disappointed. I have a friend checking the internet for it but it’s not the same as the big big screen. I’d still drive to Louisville (2 hrs) or Indy (1 hr).

  • Chris

    I’m in Birmingham, AL, and i’ve been following the progress of this movie for damn near 2 years, only to find out it’s playing 2 hours away in Atlanta. Read the book twice (my all-time favorite book/author)….i will be scavenging the net for illegal downloads. F*ck the Weinsteins!

  • nicholas

    this movie is playing in boston which is like an hour and a half from me, but luckily i have friends that live there so i guess i’ll make the trip… since when do oscar nominated movies get such limited releases?

  • smz

    Nowhere in Charleston, SC or anywhere in SC or NC from what I have found. I was disappointed when it was pushed back last year and now this? I’ve decided I wont bother seeing it if we ever do get it in Charleston nor will I pay for a dvd. I am not normally one to pirate, but because I am so fed up with this, I just might. :(

  • Talray

    It looks like it’s playing in ONE theater in the entire state of Oregon. What a bunch of stupidity. Gaaarh.

  • EricLR

    Not playing here in SC. It’s a shame. I really wanted to see this film. But I’m pretty sure a 6 hour drive back and forth to Atlanta is not gonna happen.

  • I can’t find the original comment, but I remember someone mentioned to skip The Road and instead watch Brotherhood of the Wolf. I think rus in chicago then commented wondering what the connection between the movies was. I just realized that the original commenter probably meant to say Time of the Wolf, a 2002 dystopian, post-apocalyptic film directed by Michael Haneke (not to be confused with the 2003 film of the same name with Burt Reynolds).

  • Joe

    I’ve seen time of the wolf. Wasn’t nearly worth watching in my opinion. Several times the movie focuses on people sleeping or in a dark room just doing nothing. I love post apocalyptic cinema, but I do expect some sort of plot. I was dying to see The Road and it really upsets me that it was cut down. I really hope it opens up to a wider release but I doubt it. A 3 hour drive is a bit overkill for a 2 hour film.

  • Due to to the way the relaese has been postpoined, and now the LIMITED relaese….I will not tke the time to go see the movie. The Weinstein Company has lost money witk the way they have handled the release of this movie. Many people I know will not go to the theater to see the movie. We will wait for the video release…if that ever occurs? They missed the boat on this one….

  • Mike Perron

    I was surprised when it went to such a limited release. FOrunately for me it is showing here in Halifax. It is an excellent film and follows very closely to the book. In fact I have seen it twice.
    Doesn’t make sense to me.

  • generic

    Rediculous that this movie is not being released everywhere. First time I have ever considered trying to find a bittorrent of a new movie online.

  • Anonymous

    After years of downloading films, I was finally able to say, good or bad, this was a film I was willing to shell out 20 bucks to watch in theaters. Good job, Weinstein, for reinforcing one of the many reasons to pirate. I kind of hate you right now. I guess we can just hope for a quick release to DVD.

  • Rascoe H.

    AAAARRRGGGHHH! I bought this book like 3 years ago or whenever the heck it came out and read it in like 2 days. There was talk of a movie already in production so the appetite was wet…been telling friends about it for over a year; kept getting pushed back for the perfect release time or something…Then, it barely comes out, never saw any trailers on TV, well maybe like one I think. Figured our local RC theater would get it maybe the next week, then the next, still no sign of”The Road” 2 months later. Pissed in North Carolina.