“Send Help” Almost Went Direct To Streaming

The Sam Raimi-directed dark comedy/survival thriller “Send Help” is looking to conquer the box-office once again.

The title is on track to hold the top spot for a second weekend and grossed $34 million in its first week – not bad for a $40 million budget film.

Turns out though that the 20th Century Studios title was originally set up at Sony Pictures, not a huge surprise as Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures production company also lives there. So why isn’t Sony releasing it?

The Wrap reports that in the wake of COVID, Sony began eyeing a potential streaming premiere for the film which is when Raimi put his foot down, picked up his movie and took it to 20th Century Studios. Raimi tells the outlet:

“The studio, at the time, said, ‘We can’t make this as a theatrical film. We could make it as a lower-budget, controlled streaming film’. I don’t mean to be a snob, but I’m designing this as an audience experience.

I wanted the interaction of the theater to make it work, because I know that flavor, and I need that. I design my movies to play upon the audience in the theater. I really do. I think it’s a different approach you take.”

Sony itself is coming off a rough run – they sent “KPop Demon Hunters” direct to streaming where it was a smash success, but is seen as having left money on the table. Several titles have either underperformed or flopped, even with critical acclaim like “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”.