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 The strategy is a shift from
Comcast's earlier plan to send the film
exclusively to theaters beginning Oct. 15.
Hollywood studios have been experimenting with
release patterns as cinemas work to recover from
COVID-19 closures and media companies try to
boost interest in their streaming offerings.
Cinema operators including AMC Entertainment,
Cineworld Plc and Cinemark Holdings Inc say the
streaming option eats into their business and
have urged studios to stick with theater-only
debuts.
"Halloween Kills" stars Jamie Lee Curtis in a
follow-up to the 2018 revival of the classic
horror franchise. People who want to stream the
new movie at home will need a subscription to
the $5-a-month Peacock Premium or to Peacock
Premium Plus, which costs $10 per month. The
film will not be available on the free version
of Peacock.
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 Universal employed the same
strategy for "The Boss Baby" animated family
sequel in July. That movie generated $105.8
million in global box office sales, and Comcast
executives said it also helped boost subscribers
to Peacock.
For theaters, the Delta variant of COVID-19 has
slowed a hoped-for comeback in moviegoing.
Upcoming films scheduled for this year include
James Bond movie "No Time to Die," sci-fi epic
"Dune" and Marvel movie "Eternals."
Some movies, including Tom Cruise's "Top Gun:
Maverick," have been delayed until next year.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles;
Editing by Matthew Lewis and David Gregorio)
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