On Saturday, March 23rd moviegoers across the U.S. will have the chance to see DC’s Shazam! over a week early. Fandango is partnering with multiple theater chains and offering an “Early Access” screening for the film, similar to previous such early screenings. The shows will be at 4PM and 7PM on that day.
For it’s last DC film, Warner Bros. partnered with Amazon Prime to offer early Saturday screenings of Aquaman. This time, it appears that Warner is instead choosing to partner with Fandango, the online ticketing platform which has recently been the host of a similar Early Access screening for How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Warner has also had a Saturday Early Access screening for The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, although that wasn’t through a platform.
As opposed to Amazon Prime, Fandango’s VIP program is free and only requires a sign-up.
Early Access screenings have become common for family-friendly films, with some of them grossing over or near $2 million. Various studios have taken advantage of this, with most screenings being on a Saturday around a week or two before standard release. The Early Access Amazon Prime screenings for Aquaman grossed $2.9 million.
Other films that had received Saturday Early Access screenings in the past have been Bumblebee, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Hotel Transylvania 3.
Fandango’s President Paul told Variety earlier this year that family-orientated films adapt well to such screenings due to family audiences being “big-time planners”.
Tickets for the film and the screenings are not on sale just yet, but should live soon as showtimes are currently populating. We expect most major theater chains, such as Regal Cinemas and AMC Theaters, to offer the screenings as they did for previous Early Access events. Fandango is likely to send out email blasts informing registered users when they can purchase tickets.
UPDATE 03/13/2019: Tickets are now on sale and Fandango has put out a press release today. As expected, Shazam‘s family friendly tone seems to have been a factor as Fandango’s President pointed it out. Below is an excerpt from said press release.
Nearly two weeks before the film’s April 5 release date, fans and members of Fandango VIP, Fandango’s free-to-join rewards program, can get a first look at the film in screenings taking place at approximately 1,200 select theaters and 40 exhibition circuits nationwide.
“We’re thrilled to work with Warner Bros. on our early access screening program, helping eventize movies and generate buzz before opening weekend,” says Fandango President Paul Yanover. “‘Shazam!’ is a film that appeals to the whole family, and we’re delighted that Fandango VIP fans will be among the first to see the film two weeks before it officially hits theaters.”
Jeff Goldstein, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Domestic Distribution, states, “Fandango is a terrific partner and we’re excited to work with them to bring this film to their VIP members ahead of release. ‘Shazam!’ is not only a great superhero action movie, but a really funny one, full of heart and charm, and we look forward to Fandango audiences being among the very first to experience it on the big screen.”
Shazam! opens everywhere nationwide with standard preview screenings beginning at 4PM on April 4th.
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Images: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc / Fandango
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