Hollywood’s Stance on Russian Film Market Boycotts Appears to Shift

Lionsgate seems poised to be the first major studio to reverse its boycott of the Russian film market. They recently announced plans for a June 5 release in Russia for the John Wick spin-off, Ballerina, featuring Ana de Armas.

The studio indicated it was ready to “move forward in Russia on a case-by-case basis,” a decision influenced by a changing emotional landscape and the “passing of time,” despite the ongoing conflict that continues to affect both Russians and Ukrainians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fswsrfpkbw

Not all Hollywood studios appear ready to follow Lionsgate’s lead, though. Several major summer releases aren’t scheduled for Russia, which is notably the sixth largest film market globally. Films like Marvel’s Fantastic Four: The First Step, Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Final Calculation, and Universal’s Revival of Jurassic World currently have no plans for release in Russia, although this could change.

As Lionsgate opens the door, other studios might reconsider their positions.

According to reports from Variety, Russian producers and distributors recently attended the Cannes Film Festival for the first time in years, indicating a willingness to engage in deals. A prominent producer remarked, “It seems like things are open. I came across a lot of Russian buyers on the street yesterday, so they’re here and ready to do business.”

In response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, all major U.S. film studios initiated boycotts of the Russian market, publicly supporting the Ukrainian arts community. This led to a halt in film openings in Russia from companies like Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros.

Interestingly, many small independent films have not participated in these boycotts. Some American films still find their way into the Russian market; for instance, the Oscar-winning film Anora made its debut in Russia in 2024, earning around $3 million in ticket sales.