If a movie is on DVD is it still in theaters?

Answer 1

It's possible that a movie is so successful, than even after it comes out on DVD it's still in theaters, like what happened with Avatar. This happens mostly with foreign movies, because they come out at our theaters way after they're out on DVD in the countries of origin.

Answer 2

Yes, it has been known to happen. For example, the movie Walk The Line (the Johnny Cash biopic) was so popular that it played in first run theatres for a very long time, and was still playing in theatres when the film was released on DVD.

Another instance is when a movie has stopped playing in first run theatres and gets picked up by second run theatres (usually discount theatres). Sometimes the film has been released on DVD before starting its second run. When discount theatres play a film that has already come out on DVD, it is because they have received a very favourable rental rate on the print and their anticipated revenues outweigh the rental costs.

Another situation comes in the form of classic films such as Gone With The Wind and Lawrence of Arabia that may be re-released in theatres even though the film is widely available on DVD. (Usually the re-release has to do with technological advances that have improved the presentation of the original.)

Sometimes when a movie is celebrating a big anniversary, it may be re-released into theatres, such as when Dirty Dancingcelebrated its 20th anniversary, usually coinciding with a "collector's edition" DVD re-release.

Finally, when movies have played in theatres earlier in the year, have come out on DVD, and are later nominated for an Academy Award, sometimes the film may be re-released in theatres in order to capitalize on the new publicity, especially if the film does win an Oscar.