Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced the renewal of its agreement to handle all marketing, sales and distribution services for Open Road Films' Blu-ray releases. The deal applies to all Open Road theatrical titles over the next three years, through 2017.
Among many other Open Road Films titles, USHE will release the current hit family film
The Nut Job, which opened on January 17, 2014, taking in over $25.7 million at the holiday weekend box-office as the biggest independent animated film opening of all time. Upcoming 2014 titles from Open Road Films that will be handled under the deal with USHE include
Sabotage, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Joe Manganiello, Sam Worthington, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Max Martini, Josh Holloway, Olivia Williams, and Mireille Enos;
A Haunted House 2, starring Marlon Wayans, Jaime Pressly, Gabriel Iglesias, Affion Crockett and Cedric The Entertainer;
Chef, written by, directed by and starring Jon Favreau along with Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Oliver Platt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey, Jr; and Eli Roth's
The Green Inferno.
"Universal has been a valuable partner in every way as we have grown Open Road Films," commented Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films. "[USHE President] Craig Kornblau, USHE marketing head Hilary Hoffman and their entire team have been an asset to our business and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to work with them."
Added Kornblau, "In a very short time, Tom and his team have developed Open Road Films into a premier film distribution concern, They have a proven track record in assembling compelling and promising movie slates as evidenced with such releases as The Grey, A Haunted House and most recently, The Nut Job. We are thrilled to extend our current home entertainment partnership with this talented group and look forward to the next chapter of our collaboration."
Blu-ray announcements for
The Nut Job,
Sabotage,
A Haunted House 2,
Chef,
The Green Inferno and others will arrive throughout 2014.