While Avengers: Age of Ultron is doing an impressive business at the global box office in its first weekend, many small towns in Germany were left without the Marvel blockbuster.
Hundreds of cinema owners have refused to show the film, after Disney raised the rental fee, reported a website.
Traditionally the film studio would take 47.7 per cent of box-office receipts, but for the superhero sequel, Disney has requested 53 per cent which has angered many smaller cinemas. 193 towns in Germany have been affected by the boycott, and in total, the film will not be showing on 686 screens on which it otherwise might have.
“We are worried, particularly about eastern Germany. When prices go up, then we have a serious problem that could force movie theatres to close,” Karl-Heinz Meier, a spokesman for cinema advocacy group IG Nord said.
As well as the raised fee, Disney has cut the money that it usually contributes towards advertising, as well as advances for 3D glasses.
A statement from the studio read, “It goes against our company policy to publicly comment on confidential details regarding our business relationships.” (PTI)
