After a wave of recent release date delays, the only major studio release still scheduled for release in April 2020 is coronavirus outbreak that has been inspiring citizens around the world to stay indoors and isolated. On top of that, movie theaters in numerous foreign countries like China and Italy have been closing entirely. Under those conditions, major movie studios have realized that this isn't the ideal time to premiere a number of theatrical releases of 2020 previously scheduled to debut in either March or April 2020.
The first movie to delay itself in response to the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic was the MGM titleF9: The Fast Saga, previously set for release more than two months from now, decided to delay its debut for eleven months.
While so many movies are being delayed, Trolls World Tour, hailing from Universal Pictures and April 10, 2020. In the process, it's become the only major studio release on the calendar for April 2020.
The only other movies still planning on debuting in wide release in April 2020 are ones hailing from significantly smaller studios. A pair of indie label releases, Antebellum, which is still scheduled for release on April 24. Screen Rant has confirmed that Lionsgate has not changed Antebellum's release date. Even if Antebellum doesn't delay, though, it being a release from mini-major studio Lionsgate would still make Trolls World Tour the only major studio production set for an April 2020 release.
The reason for Universal keeping Mr. Peabody & Sherman and The Road to El Dorado, each DreamWorks Animation feature released in March or April has managed to gross at least $175 million domestically. With that kind of impressive spring box office track record at their back, it's no wonder Universal is willing to take on the Coronavirus and release Trolls World Tour in this timeframe.
Even with Trolls World Tour sticking around, April 2020 will be more devoid of major studio releases than any other month in recent history. Such an unprecedented move comes about as the film industry navigates uncharted waters in figuring out the best way to release movies in the era of the coronavirus. Such navigation can result in drastic last-minute decisions, like the choice to pull A Quiet Place: Part II from its planned theatrical just a week prior to its debut. Considering that, there's always the possibility Trolls World Tour delays its release in the coming weeks. If that came to , that would leave April 2020 lacking in major studio features.
