U.K. Movie Chains Yank 'Night at the Museum'

Angered by Fox's decision to release Night at the Museum on DVD just 97 days after it opened in British theaters, several top theater chains in the country have shut down the movie, Daily Variety reported today (Friday). The trade publication noted that a similar exhibitor revolt occurred last weekend in Germany when several theater operators pulled all Fox films to protest the studio's decision to release Eragon on DVD early. Ordinarily movies are released to home video four to five months after their theatrical release. Fox maintained, however, that it had not changed its general policy and that the decision to release Museum on DVD on April 2 was tied to the early arrival of the Easter holiday shopping season this year.