Movies

Well, Maverick’s wings got clipped, as Paramount Pictures just pushed the Top Gun sequel’s release into 2022. Similarly, the next “Mission Impossible” flick is turning into “Mission Not Possible Next Spring” — it’s just been pushed back several months as well. And there have been quite a few other delays, too.

I understand that there are contracts with movie stars, and releases are supposed to happen a certain way at a certain time. But really, why anyone is holding onto movie theatres in a digital age is beyond me. I would PAY DEARLY for the privilege of watching these movies at home without a lot of strangers nearby, social distancing, and barcalounger chairs.

Look, I like the movies, but I haven’t been in a theater in ages. I might not be the demographic any of these theatres care about — in fact, I’m pretty sure I’m not — but there are a zillion people who would pay for the ability not to go to the theater or wait to see a top-flight movie. I get that the movies don’t want their distribution partners going belly-up, but if the pandemic has proven anything, it’s that the days of physical releases are over.

A movie is a movie no matter where we watch it, assuming that we aren’t forced to squint at a screen the size of a laptop or cellphone. Give us the privilege of watching where we want and when we want, and give us the option to pay. Waiting is silly when consumers would gladly pay now.