Suspiria set for digital-only release on Amazon Prime and MUBI
David Farnor | On 24, Mar 2019
Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria will be skipping physical formats and released online in the UK, following its cinema run.
The remake of the classic Dario Argento flick stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Chloe Grace Moretz. It explores a darkness swirling at the centre of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2018, before Amazon Studios released it in cinemas in the USA. In the UK, streaming service MUBI snapped up the distribution rights, releasing it in British cinemas.
MUBI, a subscription streaming service with a focus on arthouse and world cinema, has been stepping up its theatrical presence in recent years, with several other films distributed in UK cinemas to date, including On Body and Soul, Slack Bay and The Apparition. Suspiria was released in cinemas by MUBI on Friday 16th November 2018. Now, four months on, fans have been awaiting word on a home entertainment release. Amazon, however, has confirmed that it not be releasing the movie on DVD or Blu-ray in the UK. Instead, it will be releasing the film on Amazon Prime, where subscribers can stream it. This is despite the fact that it has been released with a collector’s edition disc set in Germany and on DVD and Blu-Ray in the USA.
As a consolation gesture, Amazon will release the film on Amazon Prime in the UK a week earlier than in the USA, with the film available for subscribers from Friday 26th April 2019.
“Hope that is a bit of good news,” tweeted the Suspiria movie account. “And thank you for all your support of Suspiria.”
We reached out to confirm with Amazon whether the film will be available to purchase or rent via iTunes or other streaming platforms, but at present, it will only be available to stream on Amazon Prime from next month (a subscription costs £5.99 a month for Amazon Prime Video, or £79 a year for a full Amazon Prime membership).
We can confirm, however, that MUBI will also be releasing the film on its subscription streaming platform in the future. The exact date is not yet known, but it widens the accessibility of the movie online to beyond Amazon Prime (a MUBI subscription costs £9.99 a month). Watch this space for more information on that streaming date – and, indeed, whether plans change for transactional digital purchases or physical formats in the future.
Suspiria is available to watch online on Amazon Prime Video as part of a Prime membership or a £5.99 monthly subscription.
MUBI to release Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria in UK cinemas
24th August 2018
MUBI has acquired the UK theatrical rights to Luca Guardagnino’s remake of Suspiria.
The film, which is based the original Argento horror from the 70s, stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Chloe Grace Moretz. It explores a darkness swirling at the centre of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist.
The film is an Amazon Studios production and is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival next week, before Amazon releases it in US cinemas in October. Now, we have definite news on a UK cinema release, with MUBI snapping up the theatrical rights to the movie.
“We’re very excited to work with Amazon and Luca on the release,” MUBI CEO Efe Cakarel told Variety, who first confirmed the acquisition. Cakarel added that he had “never seen anything” like it. “It’s terrifyingly beautiful….With Luca behind the lens, UK audiences are in for a real treat.”
MUBI, a subscription streaming service with a focus on arthouse and world cinema, has been stepping up its theatrical presence in recent years, with 11 films distributed in UK cinemas to date, including On Body and Soul, Slack Bay and, most recently, The Apparition. While those have typically opened to around 20 venues across the country, MUBI will be aiming much wider for Suspiria, with 100-plus locations planned.
“We really believe in the cinematic experience, and we’re very committed to getting these films seen on a big screen,” said Cakarel.
The deal marks something of a coup for the streaming company, with StudioCanal often releasing Amazon Studios pictures in UK cinemas. It also marks a slight shift in MUBI’s typical strategy, as the subscription service usually acquires both theatrical and VOD rights to release titles exclusively online for their members.
MUBI will release Suspiria in UK cinemas on Friday 16th November 2018. You can watch the full trailer for the film here.