In response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several major American film studios have announced that they will be halting the release of upcoming projects in Russia. Russia is one of Europe’s largest cinema markets, and has ranked among the top nations globally.
This means highly anticipated movies like The Batman will not be available, and comes on the heels of organizations like Formula 1, Eurovision, and the Champions League making similar decisions in response to Russia’s hostile invasion.
The animated Disney film Turning Red, set to be released via Disney+ stateside, was due out theatrically in Russia. Not anymore. “Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia, including the upcoming Turning Red from Pixar. We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation,” Disney wrote in a press release.
A Netflix spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that the streaming service would not be adding Russian state-owned channels. According to The Moscow Times, beginning in March 2022, Netflix would be required to host a batch of 20 different free channels that disseminate pro-government propaganda. The law went into effect in late 2020 and applies to any company with more than 100,00 daily users. Netflix has been actively expanding its footprint in Russia, and drawing this line will likely affect its growth there.
Sony Pictures is also holding back the Marvel-affiliated Jared Leto thriller Morbius, while Paramount will not release the action comedy flick The Lost City with Sandra Bullock, and the second Sonic the Hedgehog film. But Warner Bros. Pictures’ decision to hold off on releasing The Batman is the most notable of the bunch. According to The Wall Street Journal, $200,000 of tickets had already been sold in Russia, and the studio has expended considerable resources marketing the movie there.
“In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film The Batman in Russia,” a Warner spokesperson said in a press statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy.”
Around the world, an increasing number of businesses have imposed restrictions on Russia. Per Reuters, companies like Visa and Mastercard “have blocked multiple Russian financial institutions from their networks,” while Russian payment cards are not currently allowed on Google Pay or Apple Pay. The United States, European Union, and Japan have all stated that sanctions like travel bans, halting exports, and freezing financial assets will be put into effect.
There has also been some protest from the domestic film industry, too. Oleg Berezin, head of the Russian Association of Theater Owners, resigned his position due to his anti-war views. A group of successful Russian cinematographers came together to publish a letter opposing the invasion. “The so-called ‘military operation’ will isolate Russia from the rest of the world for decades, expel it from the international cultural scene, lead to devastating consequences for its economy, and stain us and our children with deserved disgrace,” it read.
Prominent Russian musicians and visual artists have also canceled upcoming performances as a statement of protest against Vladimir Putin and the Russian military’s actions. The Ukrainian Film Academy has been vocal in calling for the international film community to boycott Russian releases and filmmakers.