JJ Abrams Defends Sean Parker’s $50 Home Movie Model to Theater Owners

“Star Wars” director J.J. Abrams on Monday boldly defended Sean Parker’s controversial proposal to allow new movies to stream at home the day of their release to an auditorium full of theater owners, imploring: “We have to adapt.”

Abrams spoke on stage at the annual CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas, where several thousand exhibitors had gathered. As he accepted the Showman of the Year Award, he called for the film industry to adapt to technological change, obliquely defending his support for Parker’s Screening Room plan to allows customers to stream new movies for $50 after buying a set-top box for roughly $200.

“Much has been said of other technologies that threaten the theater experience — and of course I am no expert, and I’m open to all points of view and good ideas to keep theaters thriving — but we need to do everything we can in this age of piracy, digital technology and disruption to be thoughtful partners in the evolution of this medium,” Abrams said.

Also Read: Sean Parker's Screening Room Proposal Is Hot Topic at CinemaCon

“As the world evolves, all of us are evolving with it,” he said, urging the crowd, many of whom are known to oppose the new system, “We have to adapt.”

His comments come a month after the news broke that Abrams was among A-list directors like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson who are backing the Napster founder’s home entertainment plan.

Also Read: What's So Great About Screening Room? The Inside Story of Sean Parker's Day and Date System

Abrams let the exhibitors know that he still embraced the theatrical experience: “It’s going to be required of all of us. We need to meet that challenge with excitement and create solutions and not fear. But in my view it’s simple: There is nothing better than going to the movies and there never will be.”

Parker’s proposal to upend the traditional theatrical business caused outrage for some in the exhibition community when it was announced months ago, as it would erase the current window of exclusivity theaters have with films before they hit VOD platforms for at-home consumption.

12 Hollywood Heavyweights for and Against Sean Parker's Screening Room Proposal

AGAINST: Roland Emmerich
The "Independence Day: Resurgence" director joined the chorus of Parker detractors saying, "it's crucial that we support and protect the cinematic experience."
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FOR: Peter Jackson
The "Hobbit" helmer said the device "does not play off studio against theater owner. Instead it respects both, and is structured to support the long term health of both exhibitors and distributors."
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FOR: Steven Spielberg
Perhaps the most important of all backers, Mr. Spielberg is also an advisor to Parker.
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AGAINST: James Cameron
The "Titanic" and "Avatar" director joined producer Jon Landau in blasting the conceit, saying, "we don’t understand why the industry would want to provide audiences an incentive to skip the best form to experience the art that we work so hard to create.”
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FOR: Martin Scorsese
The iconic director also serves as one of Parker's advisors.
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FOR: J.J. Abrams
The gatekeeper of the "Star Wars" universe sits on Parker's panel of advisers.
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AGAINST: Jon Landau
The mega-grossing producer blasted Parker's notion in a joint statement with director James Cameron, saying "both Jim and I remain committed to the sanctity of the in-theater experience. For us, from both a creative and financial standpoint, it is essential for movies to be offered exclusively in theaters for their initial release."
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AGAINST: Christopher Nolan
The "Interstellar" director echoed support for Screening Room dissenters James Cameron and Jon Landau, saying "it would be hard to express the great importance of exclusive theatrical presentation to our industry more compellingly than Jon Landau and James Cameron did."
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FOR: Ron Howard
In remarks with Grazer, Howard said "Screening Room uniquely provides [a] solution."
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AGAINST: M. Night Shyamalan
The "Signs" director has opposed the proposal, tweeting, "Once filmmakers & theater owners open the door to this idea, there is no going back. The movie going experience is something to fight for!"
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FOR: Brian Grazer
In a joint statement with director Ron Howard, the prolific producer said Screening Room is "fair, balanced and provides significant value for the entire industry that we love. We make movies for the big screen and for as many people to see it."
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FOR: Frank Marshall
The prolific producer is on a board of Parker's advisors for this specific concept.
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