Amazon has set a new release date for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, days following the film's original release date. The fourth and final entry in the Hotel Transylvania franchise has had an interesting development. It is the first film in the series not directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. It sees Adam Sandler and Kevin James depart the project and Brian Hull and Brad Abrell take over their roles.
It is now the first film of the series not to get a theatrical release. The film had multiple release dates, including July 23, 2021, August 6, 2021, and December 22, 2021. The film was set to open in theaters on October 1, 2021, but in August 2021, Sony Pictures sold the movie to Amazon Studios, where the film will be released on Prime Video due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Sony eventually gave Hotel Transylvania: Transformania release date to Venom: Let There Be Carnage, where it set the record for the biggest opening weekend of 2021.
Related: Hotel Transylvania 4: Why Adam Sandler Didn't Return (& Who Replaced Him)
Now it appears that Amazon has set a new release date for the film, as the studio announced that Hotel Transylvania: Transformania will release on the streaming service on January 14, 2022, in over 240 countries and territories on Amazon Prime Video. This will be the first time a film in the franchise has opened in January. Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke and Sony Pictures Animation President Kristine Belson said of the release date in an official press release:
Jennifer Salke: "The success of the Hotel Transylvania franchise over the years speaks for itself. Audiences around the world have fallen in love with the films created by the brilliant Genndy Tartakovsky, and the latest installment is the perfect ending to an incredible journey. We could not be more excited to work with Sony, Genndy, Jennifer Kluska, Derek Drymon, Selena Gomez, and the talented producing team to bring this funny, heartwarming film to our customers early next year.”
Kristine Belson: "The Hotel Transylvania franchise has been exceptional for Sony Pictures Animation, spanning nearly a decade and introducing the world to Genndy Tartakovsky's singular vision, and we’re so proud of what our extraordinary directors Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon have brought to this special property. These films have thrilled audiences and paved the way for so many artists working in CG animation, and now the family saga of Dracula and his daughter Mavis, son-in-law Johnny, and monster BFFs is coming to a close. We are thrilled to work with Amazon to bring this film to families everywhere.”
The news of the release date comes days after many parents and fans filled complaints on Amazon's social media, wondering where the film was on October 1, 2021, the film's original release date and one that was still present on the Sony website. Amazon spent $100 million to acquire the distribution of Hotel Transylvania: Transformnania from Sony Pictures, so it was not likely they would forget about releasing the film, and in the original announcement of the purchase, no mention was made about the release date, either staying on the October 1, 2021, slot or moving from it. Though now, it will not be available for families to watch over the Halloween season as many had planned.
Releasing Hotel Transylvania: Transformania in January is likely to upset and confuse many as the film is completed, and a Halloween adjacent release date seems ideal. Various streaming services have high-profile October releases to cash in on the month of Halloween, including Halloween Kills on Peacock and Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin on Paramount+. It would seem that Amazon Studios would want to have a high-profile release on their streaming service to draw viewers to their service.
Source: Amazon Studios