Universal Becomes Latest Film Studio To Blacklist Russia

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its sixth day, Universal Pictures says that it will pause its upcoming theatrical releases in Russia, joining numerous other Hollywood production companies that have done the same.

In a statement Tuesday, a spokesperson for Universal said: "In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Universal Pictures has paused planned theatrical releases in Russia."

Unlike many of the other major studios that have halted theatrical releases in Russia, Universal did not provide a list of its upcoming films that will no longer be shown on Russian screens.

Two large Universal films that are expected to be on the blacklist in Russia, though, include seven-time Oscar nominee Belfast, slated for a March release, as well as June's Jurassic World Dominion, which is expected to be one of the biggest movies of 2022.

Universal's announcement comes following a large slate of other Hollywood studios that have similarly paused Russian releases in the wake of the Ukrainian invasion. The first domino to fall was The Walt Disney Company, which said in a statement February 28: "Given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia."

"We will make future business decisions based on the evolving situation. In the meantime, given the scale of the emerging refugee crisis, we are working with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other humanitarian assistance to refugees," a Disney spokesperson said.

Following Disney's decision, numerous other production companies released similar statements saying that they would also be cutting ties with the Russian box office for the time being.

This includes Sony Pictures, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures, whose upcoming March release The Batman is expected to be another one of the year's biggest films. In a statement released Monday, though, Warner Bros. reiterated that Batman would not be seen in Russian theaters for the foreseeable future.

"In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film The Batman in Russia," a WarnerMedia spokesperson said. "We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy."

These decisions from the major entertainment players regarding Russia represent a blow to one of the largest Hollywood markets outside of the United States.

In 2021, Russian cinemas grossed just over $445 million, according to Box Office Mojo, accounting for approximately 2.8 percent of worldwide film ticket sales. This represents an 83 percent increase from the pandemic-stricken year of 2020.

Beyond the film studios themselves, other facets of Hollywood have expressed their opposition to the Russian invasion.

"In these dark and uncertain times, with war returning to the European continent, SAG-AFTRA stands in solidarity with our colleagues in Ukraine," a spokesperson for the Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) said in a statement sent to Newsweek. "We insist that all nations recognize and respect the freedom of the press and ensure that our members and journalists of all nations working in the war zone are kept safe from harm."

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) also sent Newsweek a statement saying: "[The MPA] stands with the international community in upholding the rule of law and condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On behalf of our member companies, who lead the film, TV and streaming industry, we express our strongest support for Ukraine's vibrant creative community who, like all people, deserve to live and work peacefully."

The entertainment industry outside of Hollywood has also made its voice heard, as the Ukrainian Film Academy (UFA) has released a petition online calling for an international boycott of the Russian film industry. As of Tuesday, the petition had garnered nearly 4,000 signatures.

Follow our live updates on the war on Ukraine here.