Cocaine Bear Gets Early Digital Release

Universal Pictures has surprised movie fans by releasing the surprisingly success film Cocaine Bear digitally in the US, just two and a half weeks after its theatrical release on February 24th. This is a rare move for a major studio, as films usually have an exclusive theatrical run for several months before being made available for digital purchase or rental. And it will no doubt rake in even more money with home audiences having already grossed $66 million in box offices worldwide.

Cocaine Bear, directed by Elizabeth Banks, is a character-driven thriller based on true events that took place in Kentucky in 1985. The film tells the bizarre and fascinating story of a large black bear who consumed a large amount of cocaine, worth approximately $15 million, that had been dropped from a plane by convicted drug smuggler Andrew Thornton. The bear’s stomach was found to be packed to the brim with cocaine, causing it to suffer from multiple health issues, including cerebral hemorrhaging, respiratory failure, hyperthermia, renal failure, heart failure, stroke, and ultimately death.

The film explores the aftermath of this unusual event, as an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converge in a Georgia forest where a terrifying apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more more of the addictive substance. And it has no issue with mauling anyone or anything that gets in the way.

The film features an impressive ensemble cast, including Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, Ray Liotta, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kristofer Hivju, Kahyun Kim, Christian Convery, Brooklynn Prince, and newcomer Scott Seiss. The film was produced by Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Aditya Sood of Lord Miller, Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman of Brownstone Productions, and Brian Duffield, with Robin Fisichella and Nikki Baida serving as executive producers.

Cocaine Bear has been praised for its unique and captivating storyline, as well as the impressive performances of its cast. Fans of the film were thrilled to hear about its early release on digital platforms, which can be purchased for $24.99 or rented for $19.99 on US streaming platforms. The decision to release the film digitally so soon after its theatrical release is a sign of the changing times in the movie industry, as more and more people choose to watch films from the comfort of their own homes. Nevertheless, the film has proved to be a commercial and critical success, and its release on digital platforms is sure to bring it to an even wider audience.

In the UK, Cocaine Bear is still chalked for a DVD/Blu-Ray release in December, but digital release dates could be brought forward based on the impact of the early release overseas.

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