I read some tweets today from frustrated folks who want to see Don Cheadle’s "Miles Ahead" (which opened on 4 screens over the weekend) but cannot just yet because it hasn’t premiered in their respective cities. And some of those people said that they’d bootleg it if they had to.
No, please, don’t bootleg it.
Yes, it’s frustrating that a film you really want to see isn’t yet playing at a theater you have access to, but you’ll have to be patient and wait for it to get to you. I know we’re living in a time when we’re all only a matter of a few clicks away from just about anything we want, whenever we want it – including movies – but it’s not always that simple. "Miles Ahead" is not "Batman v Superman" which opened on 4200 screens nationwide, with a marketing budget that’s reportedly in the $150 million range (on top of its roughly $250 million production budget, for a total of at least $400 million). "Miles Ahead’s" entire budget (the cost to make the film, market and release it) is a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of that. So it simply can’t be expected to open nationwide simultaneously (whether it’s 1,000 screens or 4,000).
Films of its ilk are typically released with this strategy: an initial very limited opening (usually in LA and NYC), followed by a gradual expansion over several months. You have to understand how the exhibition process works, especially in terms of how theaters book films, as well as their relationships with studios/distribution companies, how important money (marketing power, box office potential) is in all of this, and more. I’ll maybe write up a post in the future breaking this down further, including all the different strategies that can be employed in the process of distributing a film.
But for now, just don’t bootleg the film. It’s actually *small* films like this that could really use your financial support. As you’ve probably heard before, how well a film does during the early days of its release often determines how much more aggressive the distributor and theaters will be in continuing to book it. This is particular true for indies like "Miles Ahead."
So if you’re waiting to see "Miles Ahead," I lifted the below playdates from the film’s website which lists all the upcoming cities and theaters it’s scheduled to open in through the end of this month. Take a look below; hopefully you’ll find a theater near you. Do keep in mind that this is just for through the end of April. There might be playdates eyed for months after April which will be announced later. Although that might depend on how well the film does at the below locations, and collectively, through the next 4 weeks or so.
| Release | Theater Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/8/2016 | CAMELVIEW AT FASHION SQUARE 14 | SCOTTSDALE | AZ |
| 4/8/2016 | UNIVERSITY TOWN CTR 6 CINE | IRVINE | CA |
| 4/8/2016 | BALDWIN HILLS 15 + XTREME | LOS ANGELES | CA |
| 4/8/2016 | EMBARCADERO CENTER CINEMA | SAN FRANCISCO | CA |
| 4/8/2016 | AMC PROMENADE 16 | WOODLAND HILLS | CA |
| 4/8/2016 | ATLANTIC PLUMBING CINEMA | WASHINGTON | DC |
| 4/8/2016 | E-STREET CINEMA | WASHINGTON | DC |
| 4/8/2016 | ARCLIGHT CHICAGO | CHICAGO | IL |
| 4/8/2016 | CENTURY CENTRE CINEMA | CHICAGO | IL |
| 4/8/2016 | RIVER EAST 21 | CHICAGO | IL |
| 4/8/2016 | CENTURY EVANSTON 18 | EVANSTON | IL |
| 4/8/2016 | ARCLIGHT BETHESDA | BETHESDA | MD |
| 4/8/2016 | AFI SILVER THEATRE & CULTURAL CENTER | SILVER SPRING | MD |
| 4/8/2016 | MAGIC JOHNSON 9 PLEX | NEW YORK | NY |
| 4/8/2016 | SHIRLINGTON 7 THEATRES | ARLINGTON | VA |
| 4/8/2016 | ANGELIKA FILM CENTER & CAFE MOSAIC | FAIRFAX | VA |
| 4/15/2016 | SHATTUCK 10 | BERKELEY | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | ARCLIGHT LA JOLLA | LA JOLLA | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | CINEARTS @ PALO ALTO SQUARE | PALO ALTO | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | CENTURY 16 DOWNTOWN | PLEASANT HILL | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | ANGELIKA CARMEL MOUNTAIN 12 | SAN DIEGO | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | HILLCREST CINEMA FIVE | SAN DIEGO | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | CINEARTS AT SANTANA ROW | SAN JOSE | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | REGENCY CINEMAS SIX | SAN RAFAEL | CA |
| 4/15/2016 | DANBURY 16 | DANBURY | CT |
| 4/15/2016 | GARDEN CINEMA | NORWALK | CT |
| 4/15/2016 | RENAISSANCE PLACE CINEMA | HIGHLAND PARK | IL |
| 4/15/2016 | LINCOLNSHIRE STADIUM 20 + IMAX | LINCOLNSHIRE | IL |
| 4/15/2016 | LOEWS BOSTON COMMON | BOSTON | MA |
| 4/15/2016 | COOLIDGE CNR. MOVIEHOUSE | BROOKLINE | MA |
| 4/15/2016 | KENDALL SQUARE CINEMA 9 | CAMBRIDGE | MA |
| 4/15/2016 | EMBASSY CINEMA 6 | WALTHAM | MA |
| 4/15/2016 | LAGOON THEATRE 5 | MINNEAPOLIS | MN |
| 4/15/2016 | UPTOWN THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS | MN |
| 4/15/2016 | EAST HANOVER 12 | EAST HANOVER | NJ |
| 4/15/2016 | LOEWS NEW BRUNSWICK 18 | NEW BRUNSWICK | NJ |
| 4/15/2016 | AMC GARDEN STATE 16 | PARAMUS | NJ |
| 4/15/2016 | ROCKAWAY PLAZA 16 | ROCKAWAY | NJ |
| 4/15/2016 | MONTGOMERY CINEMAS 6 | ROCKY HILL | NJ |
| 4/15/2016 | NITEHAWK CINEMA | BROOKLYN | NY |
| 4/15/2016 | JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER | PLEASANTVILLE | NY |
| 4/15/2016 | PORT CHESTER 14 | PORT CHESTER | NY |
| 4/15/2016 | STONY BROOK 17 | STONY BROOK | NY |
| 4/15/2016 | LOEWS ROOSEVELT RACEWAY 10 | WESTBURY | NY |
| 4/15/2016 | LOEWS PALISADES CENTER 21 | WEST NYACK | NY |
| 4/15/2016 | ESQUIRE 6 | CINCINNATI | OH |
| 4/15/2016 | RITZ THEATRES 5 | PHILADELPHIA | PA |
| 4/15/2016 | ARBOR CINEMAS @ GREAT HILLS | AUSTIN | TX |
| 4/15/2016 | MAGNOLIA THEATRE | DALLAS | TX |
| 4/15/2016 | CINEMARK WEST PLANO 20 | PLANO | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | TIKAHTNU STADIUM 16 & IMAX | ANCHORAGE | AK |
| 4/22/2016 | HOLLYWOOD 18 | HUNTSVILLE | AL |
| 4/22/2016 | FESTIVAL PLAZA 16 | MONTGOMERY | AL |
| 4/22/2016 | FIESTA SQUARE 16 | FAYETTEVILLE | AR |
| 4/22/2016 | ARROWHEAD 14 | GLENDALE | AZ |
| 4/22/2016 | MOVIES 10 | LAKE HAVASU CITY | AZ |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY ORO VALLEY MARKETPLACE | ORO VALLEY | AZ |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC DESERT RIDGE 18 | PHOENIX | AZ |
| 4/22/2016 | ESPLANADE 14 THEATRE | PHOENIX | AZ |
| 4/22/2016 | LOFT CINEMA 2 | TUCSON | AZ |
| 4/22/2016 | MEDIA CENTER EIGHT | BURBANK | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | OTAY RANCH 12 | CHULA VISTA | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC COVINA 30 | COVINA | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY FOLSOM 14 | FOLSOM | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 20 HUNTINGTON BEACH | HUNTINGTON BEACH | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | UA MARKETPLACE MOVIES 6 | LONG BEACH | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | PLAYA VISTA 9 | LOS ANGELES | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | RAVE 18 | LOS ANGELES | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | SUNDANCE SUNSET CINEMA | LOS ANGELES | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 20 GREAT MALL | MILPITAS | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | MONTEREY CINEMAS 14 + XD | MONTEREY | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | ATLANTIC TIMES SQUARE 14 | MONTEREY PARK | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | ONTARIO MILLS 30 | ONTARIO | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC 30 AT THE BLOCK | ORANGE | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY STADIUM 25 | ORANGE | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CINEMAS PALME D’OR | PALM DESERT | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | STADIUM 9 PALM SPRINGS | PALM SPRINGS | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | PROMENADE STADIUM 13 | ROLLING HILLS ESTATES | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 16 GREENBACK LANE | SACRAMENTO | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | TOWER THEATRE 3 | SACRAMENTO | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC VAN NESS 14 | SAN FRANCISCO | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | EMPIRE THREE CINEMAS | SAN FRANCISCO | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC SARATOGA 14 | SAN JOSE | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | PALM THEATRE 2 | SAN LUIS OBISPO | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | NICKELODEON FOUR | SANTA CRUZ | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | ROLLING HILLS 20 | TORRANCE | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 25 | UNION CITY | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY DOWNTOWN 10 | VENTURA | CA |
| 4/22/2016 | SOUTHLANDS STADIUM 16 | AURORA | CO |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 16 | BOULDER | CO |
| 4/22/2016 | MAYAN THREE | DENVER | CO |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC HIGHLANDS RANCH 24 | HIGHLANDS RANCH | CO |
| 4/22/2016 | WESTMINSTER PROMENADE 24 | WESTMINSTER | CO |
| 4/22/2016 | PLAINVILLE 20 | PLAINVILLE | CT |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC AVENTURA 24 | AVENTURA | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | PALACE 20 | BOCA RATON | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | SHADOWOOD SQUARE 16 | BOCA RATON | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | BOYNTON BEACH 14 | BOYNTON BEACH | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC REGENCY 20 | BRANDON | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | PARADISE 24 | DAVIE | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | DESTIN COMMONS 14 | DESTIN | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC MERCHANTS CROSSING 16 | FT MYERS | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | BELL TOWER 20 | FT MYERS | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | GAINESVILLE 14 | GAINESVILLE | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | BEACH BLVD CINEMA 12 | JACKSONVILLE | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | O CINEMA WYNWOOD | MIAMI | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | SOUTH BEACH 18 | MIAMI BEACH | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | HOLLYWOOD 20 | NAPLES | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | HOLLYWOOD 16 | OCALA | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | WOODLAND SQUARE 20 THEATRES | OLDSMAR | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC ORANGE PARK 24 | ORANGE PARK | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | DISNEY SPRINGS 24 | ORLANDO | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | HOLLYWOOD 20 | SARASOTA | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | SARASOTA 12 | SARASOTA | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC SUNSET PLACE 24 | SOUTH MIAMI | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC TALLAHASSEE MALL 20 | TALLAHASSEE | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | GOVERNOR’S SQUARE 12 | TALLAHASSEE | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC VETERANS 24 | TAMPA | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC INDIAN RIVER 24 | VERO BEACH | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | WINTER PARK VILLAGE 20 | WINTER PARK | FL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC MANSELL CROSSING 14 | ALPHARETTA | GA |
| 4/22/2016 | UA TARA CINEMA 4 | ATLANTA | GA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC AVENUE FORSYTHE 12 | CUMMING | GA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC BARRETT COMMONS 24 | KENNESAW | GA |
| 4/22/2016 | SUGARLOAF MILLS 18 | LAWRENCEVILLE | GA |
| 4/22/2016 | KAHALA MALL 8 | HONOLULU | HI |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 20 JORDAN CREEK | WEST DES MOINES | IA |
| 4/22/2016 | FLICKS FOUR | BOISE | ID |
| 4/22/2016 | GALAXY 14 CINE | BLOOMINGTON | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | UNIVERSITY PLACE 8 | CARBONDALE | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | ARCLIGHT GLENVIEW | GLENVIEW | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | QUARRY THEATRE 14 | HODGKINS | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | YORKTOWN CINEMA 18 | LOMBARD | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | RANDHURST 12 | MT PROSPECT | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | SHOWPLACE 16 NAPERVILLE | NAPERVILLE | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | PEORIA THEATRES @ LANDMARK | PEORIA | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | SHOWPLACE 16 | ROCKFORD | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | STREETS OF WOODFIELD 20 | SCHAUMBURG | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | VILLAGE CROSSING 18 | SKOKIE | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC SOUTH BARRINGTON 30 | SOUTH BARRINGTON | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | PARKWAY POINTE 8 | SPRINGFIELD | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | CANTERA 17 | WARRENVILLE | IL |
| 4/22/2016 | SHOWPLACE 11 | BLOOMINGTON | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | VILLAGE PARK CINEMA 17 | CARMEL | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | STADIUM 16 | EVANSVILLE | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | KEYSTONE ART CINEMA | INDIANAPOLIS | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | SHOWPLACE 12 TRADERS POINT | INDIANAPOLIS | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | SHOWPLACE 16 | SCHERERVILLE | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | SHOWPLACE 16 | SOUTH BEND | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | HONEY CREEK WEST 8 | TERRE HAUTE | IN |
| 4/22/2016 | LIBERTY HALL | LAWRENCE | KS |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC TOWN CENTER 20 | LEAWOOD | KS |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC STUDIO 30 | OLATHE | KS |
| 4/22/2016 | GLENWOOD ARTS (LEAWOOD) | OVERLAND PARK | KS |
| 4/22/2016 | KENTUCKY THEATRE 2 | LEXINGTON | KY |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC NEWPORT ON THE LEVEE 20 | NEWPORT | KY |
| 4/22/2016 | BATON ROUGE 16 | BATON ROUGE | LA |
| 4/22/2016 | ELMWOOD PALACE 20 | HARAHAN | LA |
| 4/22/2016 | AMHERST CINEMA ARTS CENTER | AMHERST | MA |
| 4/22/2016 | LOEWS LIBERTY TREE MALL 20 | DANVERS | MA |
| 4/22/2016 | FRAMINGHAM 16 | FRAMINGHAM | MA |
| 4/22/2016 | CAPE ANN COMMUNITY CINEMA | GLOUCESTER | MA |
| 4/22/2016 | CHARLES THEATRE | BALTIMORE | MD |
| 4/22/2016 | WHITE MARSH 16 | BALTIMORE | MD |
| 4/22/2016 | COLUMBIA MALL 14 | COLUMBIA | MD |
| 4/22/2016 | RIO 18 | GAITHERSBURG | MD |
| 4/22/2016 | RAILROAD SQUARE CINEMA | WATERVILLE | ME |
| 4/22/2016 | MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR | MI |
| 4/22/2016 | GREAT LAKES 25 | AUBURN HILLS | MI |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC LIVONIA 20 | LIVONIA | MI |
| 4/22/2016 | MAIN ART THEATRE 3 | ROYAL OAK | MI |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC FORUM 30 | STERLING HEIGHTS | MI |
| 4/22/2016 | ZINEMA 2 | DULUTH | MN |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC EDEN PRAIRIE MALL 18 | EDEN PRAIRIE | MN |
| 4/22/2016 | SOUTHDALE 16 CINEMA | EDINA | MN |
| 4/22/2016 | ROCHESTER GALAXY 14 CINE | ROCHESTER | MN |
| 4/22/2016 | ROSEDALE 14 | ROSEVILLE | MN |
| 4/22/2016 | RAGTAG CINEMA | COLUMBIA | MO |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC CREVE COEUR 12 | CREVE COEUR | MO |
| 4/22/2016 | CAMPBELL 16 CINE | SPRINGFIELD | MO |
| 4/22/2016 | TIVOLI THEATRE 3 | ST LOUIS | MO |
| 4/22/2016 | MANOR TWIN | CHARLOTTE | NC |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC CONCORD MILLS | CONCORD | NC |
| 4/22/2016 | SOUTHPOINT CINEMA 17 | DURHAM | NC |
| 4/22/2016 | WEST ACRES 14 THEATRES | FARGO | ND |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC OAKVIEW 24 | OMAHA | NE |
| 4/22/2016 | CHERRY HILL 24 | CHERRY HILL | NJ |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC HAMILTON 24 | HAMILTON | NJ |
| 4/22/2016 | READING MANVILLE 12 | MANVILLE | NJ |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 14 | ALBUQUERQUE | NM |
| 4/22/2016 | RIO 24 | ALBUQUERQUE | NM |
| 4/22/2016 | UA HIGHRIDGE 8 | ALBUQUERQUE | NM |
| 4/22/2016 | VIOLET CROWN CINEMA | SANTA FE | NM |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY ORLEANS 18 | LAS VEGAS | NV |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY SUNCOAST 16 | LAS VEGAS | NV |
| 4/22/2016 | TOWN SQUARE 18 | LAS VEGAS | NV |
| 4/22/2016 | RIVERSIDE 12 | RENO | NV |
| 4/22/2016 | SPECTRUM CINEMA 7 | ALBANY | NY |
| 4/22/2016 | MONTROSE MOVIES 12 | AKRON | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | NIGHTLIGHT CINEMA | AKRON | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC EASTON TOWNE CENTER 30 | COLUMBUS | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC LENNOX TOWN CENTER 24 | COLUMBUS | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | THE NEON | DAYTON | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | CINEMARK 24 | VALLEY VIEW | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | CROCKER PARK STADIUM 16 | WESTLAKE | OH |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC QUAIL SPRINGS 24 | OKLAHOMA CITY | OK |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC SOUTHROADS 20 | TULSA | OK |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 16 | BEAVERTON | OR |
| 4/22/2016 | DARKSIDE CINEMAS | CORVALLIS | OR |
| 4/22/2016 | BROADWAY METRO | EUGENE | OR |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 16 EASTPORT | PORTLAND | OR |
| 4/22/2016 | HOLLYWOOD THEATRE 3 | PORTLAND | OR |
| 4/22/2016 | SALEM CINEMA | SALEM | OR |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC NESHAMINY | BENSALEM | PA |
| 4/22/2016 | ZOETROPOLIS | LANCASTER | PA |
| 4/22/2016 | PLYMOUTH MEETING 12 | PLYMOUTH MEETING | PA |
| 4/22/2016 | WATERFRONT 22 WITH IMAX | WEST HOMESTEAD | PA |
| 4/22/2016 | CHERRYDALE STADIUM 16 | GREENVILLE | SC |
| 4/22/2016 | REGAL DOWNTOWN WEST 8 | KNOXVILLE | TN |
| 4/22/2016 | GREEN HILLS COMMONS 16 | NASHVILLE | TN |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY 12 | ABILENE | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC BARTON CREEK MALL 14 | AUSTIN | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | LOOK CINEMAS | DALLAS | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FT. WORTH | FT WORTH | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | FIREWHEEL 18 | GARLAND | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC GRAPEVINE MILLS 30 | GRAPEVINE | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC STUDIO 30 | HOUSTON | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | CENTURY ODESSA 12 | ODESSA | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | BIJOU CINEMA BISTRO | SAN ANTONIO | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC FIRST COLONY 24 | SUGARLAND | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | CINEMARK AT MARKET STREET 5 | THE WOODLANDS | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | CINEMARK 14 | WICHITA FALLS | TX |
| 4/22/2016 | BROADWAY CENTRE CINEMAS 6 | SALT LAKE CITY | UT |
| 4/22/2016 | AMC HOFFMAN 22 | ALEXANDRIA | VA |
| 4/22/2016 | TYSONS CORNER 16 | McLEAN | VA |
| 4/22/2016 | LINCOLN SQUARE STADIUM 16 | BELLEVUE | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | PICKFORD FILM CENTER | BELLINGHAM | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | LOEWS ALDERWOOD 16 | LYNNWOOD | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | MERIDIAN 16 | SEATTLE | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | OAK TREE SIX CINEMAS | SEATTLE | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | RIVER PARK SQUARE 20 | SPOKANE | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | GRAND TACOMA 3 | TACOMA | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | PARKWAY PLAZA 12 | TUKWILA | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | CITY CENTER CINEMA 12 | VANCOUVER | WA |
| 4/22/2016 | ORIENTAL 3 | MILWAUKEE | WI |
| 4/22/2016 | MAYFAIR MALL 18 | WAUWATOSA | WI |
| 4/29/2016 | MOXIE CINEMA | SPRINGFIELD | MO |
