No Time To Die's release date was pushed back seven months, and there are a few reasons why the delay is so long. The film was previously scheduled to open in April 2020, ranking as one of the most anticipated titles in the first half of the year. With hype building thanks to a visible marketing campaign, the latest James Bond movie was expected to break franchise box office records as it looked to end Daniel Craig's 007 tenure on a high note. Fans are still very excited to see No Time to Die on the big screen, but they're going to have to wait a while before they get a chance to watch it.
Recently, it was announced No Time to Die was delayed to November 2020, in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The virus already impacted the movie in a couple of ways prior to this, as No Time to Die's Chinese premiere and press tour were cancelled back in February. Obviously, safety is the top priority (as it should be), but the release date change is nevertheless frustrating for viewers who were counting down the days until No Time to Die debuted. Stepping back to analyze the situation, MGM, Universal, and EON didn't have many other options.
The official statement made reference to the "global theatrical marketplace," indicating the studios were concerned coronavirus would hurt No Time to Die's box office numbers. James Bond films are usually massive draws around the world, and No Time to Die sports the franchise's largest production budget ($250 million) - meaning it's imperative it earns as much as it can. With Chinese movie theaters closed and other countries seeing diminished attendance, releasing a massive tentpole (that has the potential to hit $1 billion) now doesn't seem like the wisest decision. Clearly, everyone is hoping that in seven month's time, coronavirus is contained and things can proceed as normal, allowing No Time to Die to have a fruitful run where it can take advantage of moviegoing crowds at full strength.
Another factor to consider here is MGM, Universal, and EON want No Time to Die to be in a position where it can thrive at the box office, meaning a secondary objective was avoiding high-profile competition. Looking at the 2020 calendar, there aren't any realistic windows during the ever-crowded summer movie season, where titles like Black Widow, F9, Wonder Woman 1984, Tenet, and more will be vying for ticket sales. It simply isn't feasible to release No Time to Die during that busy time of year, as the studio wants to maximize the possible profits. Granted, November 2020 has other blockbusters like Eternals and Godzilla vs. Kong (assuming they are not moved to stay clear of Bond), but No Time to Die will still likely find great success in the fall. After all, the last six James Bond movies premiered in November, so the month has become 007's home.
Again, it's understandable if fans are disappointed they have to wait seven more months for Bond's return (especially since we were about one month away from No Time to Die's release), but it's good to keep in mind the studios didn't make this decision lightly and there was a lot of strategizing behind the film's new date. The film industry is a business and the executives care about the bottom line. Everyone involved with No Time to Die knows it can be one of 2020's highest-grossing films, so the onus was on the studios to put it in a position where it can rake in money at the box office. Considering the situation, November was the best and obvious choice for No Time to Die.
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