As COVID-19 continues to impact day-to-day living in the US, movie theaters are still trying to figure out what the new rules governing movie releases should be. The latest bump in a summer without blockbusters hitting theaters has cinema chains second-guessing themselves and second-guessing tentative deals to finally decide how and when new movies should get in front of theaters: After AMC Theaters and Universal have reached a compromise between theatrical and home digital releases, Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi said he isn't seeing the rationale behind a reduced 17-day theatrical window.

　　"We believe an exclusive theatrical window is critically important," Zoradi told analysts on a call (via The Hollywood Reporter). "While we have publicly stated we're willing to have conversations with our studio partners to evolve with them, we are mindful that an overly aggressive shortened theatrical window could have an adverse impact on the mid-to tail-end of a film's life.

　　Last week, Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger was also similarly skeptical, saying, "People need to be aware that the first big movie from Universal is coming only in six months so there is no pressure here… But we clearly see this as a wrong move at the wrong time."

　　Later in the call, Zoradi clarified on the character of conversations happening between major movie studios to help offer more transparency on what has been a messy, protracted process: "I wouldn't say there's been any aggressive new discussions that we're in the middle of. I would characterize it as ongoing... We are open and active with discussions, but relative to negotiations, I would stop there."

　　David Wolinsky on Google+