Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’ Shifts Dates

COMMENTS (18)

• I haven’t read the novel or seen the play, but let me guess: the film ends with boy and horse coming back home in an overdose of kitsch, thus breaking no new Spielberg ground whatsoever.

  Comment by Ripsnorter — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 12:27pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Go and see the play and read the book then, duh….. then get back to us ;o)

    Comment by Samantha — Thursday October 14, 2010 @ 8:02am PDT  Reply to this post

    • That’s okay, Sam, you can spoil it for me: so they both end with the boy and horse coming back home in an overdose of kitsch? Right up Spielberg’s street then. Or were you really overwhelmed by the end of War Of The Worlds?

      Comment by Ripsnorter — Thursday October 14, 2010 @ 12:47pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Disney clearly wanting to protect their 2011 fiscal year by moving one movie out. Watch for more moves as the year unfolds (especially if other Secretariat type failures continue).

  Comment by forever — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 1:16pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Disney doesn’t control the release dates of DW films, so that clearly had nothing to do with it.

    Further, they are only a distributor, so their earnings exposure and upside is limited to P&A and distribution fees, respectively. Moving a film to December does nothing for their year except push potential revenue out, as they’re spending the P&A (which they have to expense) in 2011 either way. In other words, moving a movie to December is a negative for Disney, not a positive.

    Comment by Uh — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 2:15pm PDT  Reply to this post

    • Disney’s fiscal year ends on Sep 30, so the vast majority of their P&A for this film will be in their 2012 fiscal year.

      While they may not “control” the release dates, DW doesn’t move things without Disney’s extreme input and explicit approval. I would hesitate to say things like this happen with equal input … it’s probably skewed toward Disney as far as who makes the decisions on release dates for DW films.

      Comment by Timmy — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 2:31pm PDT  Reply to this post

    • UH,
      clearly you do not understand how ditribution deal works from the accounting side of things, so let me enlightened you. Because Disney front P&A they have to account for the deal on a gross basis (meaning that until they recoup all the costs they have to expense them). Once recouped, the profit becomes the distribution fee and after that point there is no cost affecting their P&L (good or bad).
      Now, why it is important to move a title to FISCAL 2012 for Disney (meaning after October 1st) is because when a film gets released you will have to expense all the P&A and that will be always greater than rentals (unless this is a huge blockbuster which I doubt), meaning that they will not recoup withing the first few months until video goes out (and even sometimes after Pay TV). Moving the film to October means that they reduce the expenses that would show on their P&L in 2011 (they will still have some of course).
      Although DWS has last decision on release dates, Disney has a word about it because they advance P&A.
      Hope that helps

      Comment by forever — Friday October 15, 2010 @ 5:14pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Rip, with all due respect, posting comments that begin with “not read the novel or seen the play” are difficult to digest. Why don’t you google the name and read the reviews of the London production. I have been fortunate to have seen this touching epic which has broken new ground in many ways. That doesn’t mean this will be an easy translation to the screen but there is no one I would trust more with the project then Spielberg. And for the record I have no affiliation with anyone involved. Frankly I wish I did. I wish they were taking investors. Anyone want to give me some nice odds on this one for “Best movie” next year.

  Comment by relgan — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 1:43pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • I’m with you on this one relgan – this has holiday hit and Best Picture nomination written all over it – International markets will love this too as it deals fairly with those on both sides of the war, shows humanity in the midst of war.

    Comment by Will — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 1:54pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • I can meet you halfway on this one relgan, because while I haven’t read the book or seen the play I am aware of its subject matter and have read some reviews. In fact, the play is on my ‘to see’ list when I’m next in London, least of which is that the ‘horse’ has received the highest praise. But I do have my doubts about Spielberg and his tendency to lay on what I see as kitsch, viz. the family reunion scene in War of the Worlds. At the same time, for other viewers (and much more so American as opposed to European ones) it’s taken at heartfelt face value. I was at the Berlin press screening and press conference for this film and the journalists reacted very negatively. I suppose I am concerned he will over egg this particular pudding.

    Comment by Ripsnorter — Thursday October 14, 2010 @ 12:57pm PDT  Reply to this post

• I’m only interested to see Benedict Cumberbatch in this film. The story itself isnt enough of a draw.

  Comment by Holly — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 1:49pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Have you researched it? Give yourself an idea, by, going to see the play or reading the book.. ;o)

    Comment by Samantha — Thursday October 14, 2010 @ 8:04am PDT  Reply to this post

• I am surprised they wouldn’t want War Horse to be eligible for Academy Awards. With a Dec. 28 release date, it will not meet the 7 day requirement. Unless they do a limited run on the 25th and then go wide?

  Comment by gene — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 2:27pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • It will be Oscar eligible. The full week doesn’t have to play entirely in 2011 to be eligible.

    Comment by American — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 9:31pm PDT  Reply to this post

• A boy and a horse

  vs.

  A boy and his dog

  Comment by Declan — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 3:37pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Another DreamWorks movie to watch out for, I have not read the book about this also but I will better see this on big screen instead.

  Comment by Steve Jobs — Wednesday October 13, 2010 @ 3:41pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Two new Spielberg movies in one week! Although I’m betting that War Horse will open in limited release before going wide in January or perhaps February.

  Comment by Mr. Pricklepants — Thursday October 14, 2010 @ 3:30am PDT  Reply to this post

• “The KOREAN WAR, and NOT the long gone World Wars,
  is rapidly emerging as –the–pivotal conflict of the 20th
  century viz a viz the 21st.”

  —Over-produced PC moral alibis as Spielberg and Hollywood
  BALK and RUN form the 20th –30th –40th –50th and NOW
  60th Anniversary of the

  ———————-KOREAN WAR————————.

  NOT GOOD

  Comment by anonYMus — Wednesday December 28, 2011 @ 7:35pm PST  Reply to this post