Rich Fiscus
26 Oct 2007 0:34
More than a week before its theatrical release, the movie American Gangster has shown up on P2P networks, and has even been spotted on DVD on the streets of Los Angeles for a mere $5. The movie, which stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, follows such hits as Ratatouille, Sicko, and Hostel: Part II, which were also leaked on the internet before being officially released.
Wall Street Journal sources indicate Universal Studios, who owns the film, is confused about the source of the leaks because there weren't any advance copies distributed. Some internet sources have indicated that it's from a DVD Screener, which at one time was a common source for Oscar nominated movies, although its become less common since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began adding Watermarks to all DVDs sent to academy members. Other sites have reported that the copy is of low quality, which combined with Universal's statement of confusion would seem to indicate it's not actually a Screener.
Although the availability of the movie just a week and a half before its U.S. debut may not have much impact on domestic ticket sales, it's well in advance of the movie's planned international release in February of next year. That means there's plenty of time for it to make its way to potential audiences outside the U.S.
Source: Slashfilm