Lionsgate’s ‘Ballerina’ Sets Russia Release as Studios Say Cold War Thaw Is ‘Inevitable’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Which studio will be the first to restart releasing movies in Russia, following a three-year halt due to the nation’s invasion of Ukraine, remains to be seen and is an intriguing question.

It seems that the movie “Ballerina,” starring Ana de Armas, will be released by Lionsgate on June 5, distributed by Atmosfera Kino in Russia. However, a representative from Lionsgate declined to comment. Yet, someone with knowledge of the situation told EbMaster that the studio is now open to proceeding with releases in Russia on an individual basis, which they attribute to a change in sentiment over time.

This decision is made with optimism that other leading film studios may follow suit, given Lionsgate’s move, amid a drop in international box office earnings and the belief that a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine could be reached, considering U.S. President Donald Trump’s emphasis on this matter during his second term’s early days. Neither “Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps” nor “Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” which had a premiere at Cannes on Wednesday and aims for a large international audience, are expected to be screened in Russia. Contrarily, Universal has no plans to release “Jurassic World Rebirth” in the country.

One active producer in Cannes remarked, ‘It appears things are getting underway.’ Yesterday, I encountered numerous Russian investors out and about. It seems they’ve arrived and are prepared for transactions.

As a movie reviewer, let me share my thoughts on the recent diplomatic dance between the U.S. and Russia. Earlier this year, following secretive discussions in Saudi Arabia, President Trump declared his intentions to forge some economic partnerships with Moscow. Meanwhile, our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, hyped up the “extraordinary business opportunities” that American companies could potentially seize once a peace treaty is reached with Ukraine. It seems we’re waiting for the closing credits to roll on this geopolitical drama before the economic sequel begins.

In Hollywood’s case, such public displays have paved the way for a return to being one of the top six global movie markets, a position held prior to the war. As Schuyler Moore, a partner at law firm Greenberg Glusker, remarks, “It’s simply a matter of understanding which direction the wind is blowing here.

In February 2022, the major movie studios, including Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros., as represented by the MPA, publicly declared their “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s artistic community. They also announced that they would halt operations in Russia. However, since then, certain films, such as Universal’s “Oppenheimer,” have discreetly premiered in the region. The film earned $2.4 million there, having won an Oscar.

Despite the war, independent films have consistently been released in Russia, and companies from America like A24, Neon, and FilmNation have persistently introduced their movies there. They usually collaborate with distributors based in other European countries. Last year, one of Neon’s best picture winners, “Anora,” which features Russian actors and dialogue, premiered in Russia and earned almost $3 million out of its total global earnings of $57 million. This has turned out to be a profitable venture, as indie distributors are eagerly filling the void left by Hollywood blockbusters’ absence from Russian cinemas post-studio withdrawal.

According to an informed individual, they’ve experienced a tremendous boom, and business has been thriving exceptionally well. The prices were incredibly competitive, making it their most thrilling market over the last two years.

In 2021, foreign movies, backed by major studio releases, made up about 75% of total box office income and grossed approximately $410.3 million, as reported by Maxim Ostry, editor-in-chief of the trade magazine Booker’s Bulletin. Among the top 20 highest-earning films that year, only one was not an American production. The two Sony comic-book blockbusters, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” ($32.4 million) and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” ($24.7 million), topped the list.

Before the pandemic, those figures reached unprecedented heights, as American films raked in close to $1 billion at the box office in 2019 alone, earning Russia the position of leading European market for U.S. movies that year, according to Olga Zinyakova, president of the Karo cinema chain.

To this day, Russia remains one of the leading global markets for American independent films like Neon’s serial killer thriller “Longlegs,” which earned a staggering $4.5 million in Russia (second only to the U.K.), and A24’s erotic drama “Babygirl” starring Nicole Kidman, which has made $3 million at the Russian box office so far, trailing only behind the Netherlands and the U.K.

Despite the ongoing challenges faced by the worldwide box office following Hollywood strikes and China’s shift towards self-reliance, the prospect of recovery is compelling. Shawn Robbins, Fandango’s director of movie analytics, explains that “from the perspective of box office earnings, such a turnaround would represent a substantial enhancement for the global market as a whole.” He further adds that the potential return of studio profits from these regions could mark a significant advancement in the film industry.

A top executive from a significant film studio views the resumption of work in Russia as an eventuality, having received inquiries from local exhibitors keen on collaboration again. However, no formal talks regarding specific movies have been initiated yet. Generally, it’s understood that it may take some time before things get back to how they were prior to this change.

According to Zinyakova, “The market has changed. Some viewers found themselves disconnected due to the sudden departure of the studios, but Russian cinema seized this moment and flourished instead.

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2025-05-14 11:41